In the box at left are some verses from the Satakam that focus on Prabhupada's fearless preaching of Krsna consciousness all over the world.
Radhika Ramana Dasa (Ravi Gupta), 20, is pursuing a doctorate in Vaisnava theology at the University of Oxford. His parents run the ISKCON center in Boise, Idaho.
dhrtva ca kanthe nalinaksa-mala
baddhva lalate lasad-urdhva-pundram
nrtyams ca gayams ca mukunda-namany
uccais cacaratra gurur dharitryam
Wearing a necklace of Tulasi beads around his neck, and placing the radiant Vaisnava tilaka upon his forehead, our spiritual master Srila Prabhupada traveled the earth, dancing, and chanting the names of Lord Mukunda in a loud voice.
darams ca putran api bandhu-vargam
samnyasya sarvam grha-dharma-jatam
sarvam jagat sviya-kutumbam evety
abhiprapede guru-sarvabhaumah
Renouncing wife, children, relatives, and everything related to household duties, Srila Prabhupada, the emperor among spiritual masters, considered the entire world his own family.
videsa-yatra asakrt prakurvan
sri-bhakti-siddhantam upadidesa
pascatya-desiya-mano-'mbujanam
vikasakah ko 'pi divakaro 'sau
Traveling repeatedly to foreign countries, Srila Prabhupada taught the doctrine of devotional service. He was the sun who made the lotuslike hearts of the Westerners blossom.
pascatya-desesu krtadhivasah
janas ca te prakrta-bhoga-magnah
ahara-nidradisu jantu-tulyah
dharmena hina iti so 'dhyagacchat
Srila Prabhupada thought like this [onboard the ship to America]: "The people living in the Western countries are absorbed in material enjoyment. In matters of eating, sleeping, and so on, they are no better than animals, and they are devoid of religious principles."
madyam ca mamsam mahileti matva
sva-jivanam vyartham athacarantah
samsara-cakra-bhramanopayatah
katham nu raksya iti duhkhito 'bhut
"Reveling in wine, meat, and women, they are now wasting their lives and are thus wandering in the cycle of samsara. How can they be saved?" In this way, Srila Prabhupada was distressed over their condition.
sri-rama rameti na ko 'pi vakti
sri-krsna krsneti na vakti kascit
nama-dvayam tad muni-sarvabhaumah
santarakam syad iti niscikaya
"Here, no one chants 'Sri Rama, Rama.' No one chants 'Sri Krsna, Krsna.'" Srila Prabhupada, the emperor among sages, was certain that these two names could liberate the people.
na jati-lingady-adhikara-cinta
na desa-kalasrama-yogyata va
na ko 'py upadhir bhuvana-traye 'pi
syad asya mantrasya jape jananam
There is no qualification needed within the three worlds to chant this Hare Krsna mantra. There is no condition of eligibility based on a person's caste, gender, and so on, nor is there consideration of a suitable place, time, or order of life.
svayam parisramya dhanany uparjya
sri-radhika-natha-dayavalambi
vinirmame 'sau guru-sarvabhaumah
sad-bhakti-samrajyam akhanda-dhama
Thus, depending upon the mercy of Sri Krsna, the Lord of Radhika, Srila Prabhupada personally worked hard and collected funds. That emperor among spiritual masters built a kingdom of pure bhakti a territory with no boundaries.
sri-radhika-vallabha-mandiranam
nirmanam asin na param dharitryam
sad-bhakta-cittesv api citram etat
guruttamena pratibha-yutena
With great intuition, the best among spiritual masters, Srila Prabhupada, constructed temples of Lord Krsna, the beloved of Sri Radhika, all over the world. At the same time, he established these temples in the hearts of honest devotees. How wonderful this is!
na bhitir asid hrdaye kadacin
na samsayo va sva-jaye kadacit
nirantaram yasya mano mukunda-
premaspadam tasya katham visadah
There was never any fear in Srila Prabhupada's heart, nor was he ever doubtful of his victory. For one whose mind is constantly absorbed in love for Mukunda, how can there be despair?
sri-radhika-prana-sakhantarango
bhaktottamah sri-prabhupada-devah
no cet katham tavati jiva-kale
tavat krtam karma parair asadhyam
Srila Prabhupada was the best of devotees, an intimate associate of Krsna, the dearest friend of Sri Radhika. Otherwise, how could he accomplish so much in such a short time, that which is impossible for others?
jayatu jayatu dhiman sad-gurunam gurur no
jayatu jayatu yogi nitya-cin-matra-murtih
jayatu jayatu nityam sri-prabhu-svami-pado
jayatu jayatu maya-sarvari-canda-bhanuh
All glories, all glories to our spiritual master, the guru of sadgurus! All glories, all glories to the yogi who is the embodiment of pure and eternal spiritual knowledge! All glories, all glories all the time to the adorable Srila Prabhupada! All glories, all glories to the powerful sun who destroys the night of maya!