Prabhupāda’s “Give Me” - An Invitation to Loving Service
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s relationship with his disciples and his spiritual master was defined by a beautiful, reciprocal exchange of love. When he asked for land, money, or even a simple letter, he was not acting as a worldly beggar but as a loving father providing an opportunity for his children to advance. By sharing his personal needs and his intense desire to fulfill the mission of his spiritual master, Śrīla Prabhupāda allowed his followers to become intimate partners in his global preaching efforts.
Childhood Desires for the Lord
Even in his earliest memories, Śrīla Prabhupāda’s requests were centered on the Lord. He often recounted how he begged his father for Deities and a ratha cart, illustrating that a home filled with bhakti and an affectionate father can plant the seeds of a lifetime of service.
- In my childhood, when I was five or six years old, I requested my father that "Father, give me this Deity. I shall worship." So father purchased for me little Krsna, Radha.
- I asked my father, "Oh, I shall worship Krsna. Give me." So my father gave me Radha-Krsna, so I, whatever I was eating, I was offering Them. So the statement of the sastra and my practical experience corroborates.
- In my childhood, Radha-Govindaji were the source of my enjoyment. I asked my father to give me Radha-Govinda deities and he gave me and I worshiped. And I also asked him to give me ratha.
- My father was very much affectionate, and in my childhood, whatever I wanted from my father he would at once give me.
Preaching Success as His Life-Breath
Śrīla Prabhupāda was incredibly personal with his students, telling them that their success in opening branches and printing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam actually increased his physical life span. He begged them to stay busy in Kṛṣṇa’s service, as their enthusiasm was the "ambrosia" that sustained him in his old age.
- All these newses are to me life-giving ambrosia, so the more you open branches, the more I increase my duration of life. Therefore, if you all my students want me to live for some days more, go on opening nice branches as many as possible.
- As soon as I remember that you are trying to fulfill my desire of trying to open ten centers, it gives me renewed vigor and life. Please do it nicely.
- I am praying to my spiritual master to give me strength to finish this work. I am neither a great scholar nor a great devotee; I am simply a humble servant of him, and to the best of my ability I am trying to please him by publishing these books.
- My Guru Maharaja particularly gave me this assignment (the production and distribution of our Krsna Conscious literature). Please assist me to your best capacity in this regards.
Requests for Facilities and Cooperation
To establish a global movement, Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently requested land, buildings, and legal cooperation. He approached these matters with the gravity of a general in Kṛṣṇa’s army, asking his disciples and friends to provide the necessary groundwork so that the message of Lord Caitanya could reach every town and village.
- I am serious about this building and if you desire you can give me some land on lease terms. Of course there is ample land in Vrindaban to start this institution, but my aim is to start it in the land of Sri Sri Radha Damodara Temple.
- If he agrees to give me a plot of land as requested in my letter than it will be a practical gesture of our full cooperation. If you can kindly help in this matter it will be a great service to Srila Prabhupada.
- I want to see that you are always busy. Busy-ness. That will give me pleasure. Laziness I don't want. Personally I was never lazy. I did not like laziness.
- Where is the site plan? Give me the length and breadth of the site. I can give it to Saurabha. He'll make a nice building plan.
The Exchange of Gratitude and Love
Behind every request was Śrīla Prabhupāda’s immense gratitude. He never took the service of his disciples for granted, often telling them how much pleasure their efforts gave him. He saw their cooperation as the direct mercy of Kṛṣṇa and his spiritual master, creating a bond of love that transcended time and space.
- And you are all helping me to fulfill the order which Guru Maharaja gave me. So I am so much grateful to you, and I am sure Krishna will bless you a million times over, for doing this work.
- Just like you are giving me so many garlands. Why you are giving me? Because you love me.
- Krishna is giving us all facility to serve Him, and I am so pleased with the nice cooperation that my students are giving me in spreading this most important philosophy around the entire world.
- You have given me great pleasure and I thank you for your attempt to please me.
Reciprocity in the Guru-Paramparā
Śrīla Prabhupāda's requests were deeply linked to his own surrender to his Guru Mahārāja. By asking for assistance in the production and distribution of literature or the construction of temples, he invited his followers into a relationship of shared accountability, where their cooperation became the strength by which he fulfilled his spiritual master's mission.
- I am praying to my spiritual master to give me strength to finish this work. I am neither a great scholar nor a great devotee; I am simply a humble servant of him, and to the best of my ability I am trying to please him by publishing these books.
- My Guru Maharaja particularly gave me this assignment (the production and distribution of our Krsna Conscious literature). Please assist me to your best capacity in this regards.
- I also do not feel separation from my Guru Maharaja. When I am engaged in His service His pictures give me sufficient strength.
- And you are all helping me to fulfill the order which Guru Maharaja gave me. So I am so much grateful to you, and I am sure Krishna will bless you a million times over, for doing this work.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s requests were the ultimate expression of his mercy. By asking us to give him our time, our energy, and our resources, he was helping us detach from the material world and attach ourselves to the service of Kṛṣṇa. His personal vulnerability—admitting that our letters gave him life and our laziness gave him pain—shows the height of his compassion. He did not want anything for himself; he wanted everything for the pleasure of his Guru and for our ultimate benefit. We can only feel inspired to give him our very hearts in return for the boundless spiritual treasure he has given to us.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Give Me (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.