490327 - Letter to Pujyapada Kesava Maharaja written from Calcutta

Letters by Date, 1947 to 1964

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

March 27, 1949

(It is an extract from a 1949 letter of Srila Prabhupada. The original letter was in Bengali, and was reprinted, along with this translation, in the summer 2001 edition of Rays of the Harmonist, a magazine published by followers of HH Narayana Maharaja. —Bhakti Vikās Swami)

Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā

By the revered Śrīyuta Abhaya Caraṇa De

Editor of Back to Godhead magazine

Pūjyapāda Keśava Mahārāja,

Please accept my daṇḍavat praṇāma.

Yesterday I became extremely pleased to receive Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā, which you sent me. Although the Patrikāis of medium size, its presentation is very beautiful and its paper and printing is also good. Very few printing mistakes are seen, and can be considered negligible or almost nil. By this it seems that the supervision of the magazine is very well done. Your comprehensive and extensive preaching efforts always attract my heart.

That you always remember me indicates the greatness of character for which you were celebrated even in your previous āśrama before joining the maṭha. But I am so unfortunate that I am unable to render any service to you. Therefore, please forgive my offences and discrepancies out of your magnanimous nature. You amply encouraged me at the time of the first printing of my Back to Godhead magazine. Though engaged in so many activities, you blessed my poor home by placing your foot dust in it.

You inspired us to remember Śrīpāda Narahari Dā* in the very first article of your Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā. We became grateful to you for this in every respect. The affectionate and sweet behavior of Śripāda Narahari Dā will remain illuminated in my heart forever. The pangs of separation from him are in no way less than the pangs of separation from Śrīla Prabhupāda.

The articles in Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā are placed in proper order. You have done excellent work by starting with an article on Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa. Publishing life-sketches of our previous ācāyas, one by one, in the Patrikā will be extremely beneficial for our sampradāya.

I saw a proposal that your Patrikā will also present articles in other languages besides Bengali. By the order of Śrīla Prabhupāda, I started Back to Godhead magazine to put forward discussions in the English language.

When you will print articles in your Patrikā in English, please bless me by accepting a little service from me. I have written many articles and essays in English, and I can send them at your convenience.

Śrī Abhaya Caraṇa De

6 No. Sītā Kānta Banerjee Lane

P.O. Hāṭakhola

Calcutta

27th March 1949

(Translated from Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā 1.2)

*Narahari Dā is the affectionate address for Śrīla Narahari Sevāvigraha Prabhu. In Bengali, Dā means "elder brother."

Edited from the translation reprinted in the summer 2001 edition of Rays of the Harmonist, a magazine published by followers of HH Narayana Maharaja