Please Hear My Fervent Prayer

With kind offerings still coming in, I wanted to refocus and remember my position as the servant of my own guru maharaja. Here’s my favorite Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada, which I wrote in 1988:

Dearest Srila Prabhupada,

This year, in the wake of a disaster that claimed a friend
And brought the walls crumbling down,
I took up my staff and looked to the road,
Hoping to find you again

To gain your favor I gave up all that I owned
And tried to renounce my pride,
And ever more cautious of women and fame,
I traveled far and wide

Moving once in the north and twice in the south
And east and west in turn,
I learned firsthand of God’s creation
And your kind mercy as well

Soon austerity came, claiming all of my wealth,
But remained a welcome friend,
And strength I gained, and detachment too,
While traveling through foreign lands

With no place to live, or a home of my own,
I learned to take shelter in you,
And the constant vision of birth and death
Kept me learned and true to my vows

In forests and cities, villages and towns,
Repeating your words I roamed,
Witnessing your mercy, as kind as you are,
In delivering the fallen and poor

Disease came in summer, and near death in the fall,
In a jungle far to the south
But your saving grace and Nrsimha’s mace
Kept me safe and protected through all

Oh, how happy I am to serve you like this,
Always preaching and traveling on!
As a flowing river remains always clean,
I pray to remain always pure

In happiness and distress, in heat and cold
I want to keep fighting on
Delivering your message, as you asked me to do
While I’m enthusiastic, youthful, and strong

But Prabhupada, the road it long,
And there are many dangers in between
Where I pause now…
And you rest safely on the other shore

So on this day, so full of grace,
Please hear my fervent prayer:
Within my heart, beyond what’s dark
There’s a shining love for you

So guide me right, keep me in the fight,
And away from Maya’s glare,
And when all is done, and the battles won
Take me home to be with you again

Your eternal servant

Indradyumna Swami




Views: 371 • May 22, 2011 Srila Prabhupada, Vyasa-puja