Room Conversation
with Fate
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
December 27, 1976, Bombay

Radha-vallabha: This is for the theistic exhibition. This is the copy for the sound track, and when the karmis first walk in, this is the sound track that will play.

Prabhupada: No, no. You keep here.

Radha-vallabha: So this is like the introduction for the entire thing. Then it comes up to the point when they see the diorama of yourself, and there’s a certain part where they want to have you thinking.

Prabhupada: But here diorama should be explained in the local language.

Radha-vallabha: Here in India. This is for the American one.

Prabhupada: Oh, American. That’s all right.

Radha-vallabha: So would you like me to read it to you?

Prabhupada: Hm, hm.

Radha-vallabha: This is the very beginning. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the First American Theistic Exhibition. Since time immemorial we have inquired about our origin. We have tried to understand our place in the universe, the nature of birth and death, free will and predestination, time, God, and nature. However, even after countless years of philosophical study and comprehensive research these questions still remain for the most part a mystery. The words you are about to hear were written five thousand years ago in a language no longer spoken called Sanskrit.”

Prabhupada: No longer spoken? Why?

Radha-vallabha: I was just wondering about that myself. No longer spoken on the earth?

Prabhupada: Yes, it is spoken in India. There are many scholars who speak Sanskrit. In Europe also.

Radha-vallabha: So we should just say, “Five thousand years ago in a language called Sanskrit.”

Prabhupada: Which is still continuing, but in a limited circle.

Radha-vallabha: “They come from a text which bears the most profound truths ever revealed to mankind. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2].” It’s that series of verses. “This supreme science was received through the chain of disciplic succession and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost. That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend. Therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science. Preserved by the invincible tradition of spiritual scholars known as the disciplic succession, these original words spoken by Lord Krsna to one of his most intimate devotees were recorded in a book called Bhagavad-gita, Sanskrit for the ‘Song of God.’ Today a unique presentation of this ancient classic has aroused keen interest and deep appreciation from leading scholars in diverse disciplines. It was brought to the West by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is a living link in the chain of disciplic succession. Bhagavad-gita, long viewed with awe by many contemporary and early Western thinkers, is not a simple summary of the Hindu faith, although it is the book of truth for some five hundred million people. It is a scientific study of universal, spiritual truths, far above sectarian doctrines and ethnic beliefs. Bhagavad-gita is a study of the nature and origin of consciousness. Srila Prabhupada, the world’s most distinguished scholar of Vedic writings and a true humanitarian, began his labor of love in this tiny room in a temple in one of India’s holiest cities, Vrndavana.” This is when the scene of your working in the Radha-Damodara room comes on. “Working often throughout the night, Srila Prabhupada painstakingly carried out the request of his spiritual predecessor to bring the message of Bhagavad-gita to the Western world.” Now this is the part that… This will be a recording of you speaking, and it will appear to be you thinking in the display. “Out of many, many human beings, Bhagavad-gita is directed to the one who seeks to understand his position. The Lord has great mercy for human beings, therefore He spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, a saintly prince, to enlighten him. Arjuna was actually above ignorance, but he was put into ignorance on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra just to ask about the meaning of life so that our mission of life can be perfected.’ ” So Bharadvaja wants to know if you could say this one into a microphone so he could use it in the display. (end)