On a recent tour of India, Srila Prabhupada became ill and returned home to Vrndavana. Deeply concerned, many of his elder disciples went there to be with him. When they asked how they could assist him, Srila Prabhupada said his recovery depended on Krsna. Rupanuga dasa, one of Srila Prabhupada's eldest disciples, wrote this prayer:
O superior Vaisnavas!
O compassionate Acaryas of the Holy Name!
O supreme authorities, Masters of our fate! Have mercy upon us!
(We are not able to make any prayers, but this is an emergency!)
Sastra teaches that because of disciples' bad behavior, or to allow some personal service, or to exhibit ecstatic symptoms, the spiritual master may display bad health (although he so kindly says it is simply due to old age and personal neglect of his health meaning that he has worked too hard to save us).
But we may not speculate upon the mind of the Acaryas.
Please hear our petition!
We pray; for the kindness of our Grandfather, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura who is by nature merciful upon his spiritual grandchildren.
We pray for the continued compassion of the Six Gosvamis, who are already famous in all the three worlds for saving conditioned souls.
We pray. for the benediction of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most magnanimous Supreme Personality of Godhead.
We pray to Radharani Queen of Vrndavana, protector of our neophyte bhakti (devotional service].
And we pray to Lord Krsna Himself, whom we cannot even approach without the guidance of our Srila Prabhupada.
We, the fallen servants of His Divine Grace; beseech all of our Masters Please give Srila Prabhupada more time! Time to insure the strength of this movement. Time to finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam. And a little more time for us to spend at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace-that we may become pure devotees by his mercy.
We implore you these ten years have passed so quickly, and we are caught far too short of perfection (You know that actually only ten milliseconds have passed in eternal time). Therefore kindly extend his stay, lest we fall from the spiritual path.
O Vaisnava saints!
O Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Our eternal grandfather,
O Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana,
O Radharani, Mother of Bhakti,
O Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Master of all,
O Lord Krsna, the final repose of our love
O Vaisnava Acaryas
Kindly have mercy upon us:
Please don't yet take Srila Prabhupada away!
Kindly grant this emergency prayer…
Your most fallen servant, Rupanuga dasa
Note: Srila Prabhupada has since gradually recovered from his illness and is again engaging in his regular activities, including his translation of and commentary on the Srimad-Bhagavatam.