(Click to enlarge photo of Srila Prabhupada, New York 1966)
Devotee: Is it not better just to say, "Kṛṣṇa, whatever You decide"?
Prabhupāda: Huh.
Devotee: "Whatever You give me, that I will accept." Like Kuntī.
Prabhupāda: Why shall I take from Kṛṣṇa? I should give.
Devotee: No, I mean instead of praying to demigods to give me something,
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Devotee: Saying: "Whatever You..."
Prabhupāda: No, a devotee...
Devotee: "Whatever You decide, Kṛṣṇa."
Prabhupāda: A devotee never prays to Kṛṣṇa. They have to undergo so much trouble; still they never pray to Kṛṣṇa... jaya. They know that, "Kṛṣṇa will give us ultimately protection. Let us do our duty." Tat te 'nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇaḥ (SB 10.14.8). When a devotee's in difficulty, he's not disturbed. He thinks, "It is Kṛṣṇa's wish that I should suffer like this. It is not suffering; it is my pleasure." Just like when a patient is undergoing surgical operation, there is pain, but he knows, "It is better for me." Therefore agrees, "Yes, sir. You go on with your knife." So when you're surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa says that, "I shall give you protection," so even in our distressed condition we must know that we are being protected by Kṛṣṇa. We should not be disturbed. Because we create so-called distress and happiness. Actually, this world is distress. Here the so-called happiness is also distress. So why a devotee should be disturbed by distressed condition? Harer nāma harer nāma.
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Los Angeles, January 10, 1974)
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