I was rummaging through the car’s interior for Prasad, sanctified food, frantically. Meanwhile the street urchin who stood outside in the blazing sun grew in desperation and began to gesticulate wildly: he wanted Prasad. He was convinced we Hare Krishna’s carried it wherever we travelled. If not for the car’s glass window that separated us, he would have surely shoved me to accentuate his demand. I waited for the traffic lights to turn green, to zoom off; he hoped it remained red till he got his Prasad.
After a while he darted to the car’s window on the opposite side, where Radhanath Swami sat. As he thumped on the glass, Radhanath Swami glowered at me. “Garud, where is the Prasad?” I fretted. “No Prasad today,” I mumbled. I had seriously erred in not carrying any today. Radhanath Swami’s standing instruction was that the temple chauffeurs always carry Prasad, usually cookies, for the beggars at the stoplights. He knew the beggars loved it.
Radhanath Swami turned to the rear seat where the monks sat, “Does anyone have any Prasad?” Bags were searched in the silence that followed, until horns blared from the vehicles behind; the signal was green and we had to move.
As we lost sight of the boy’s disappointed face amidst the Mumbai traffic, Radhanath Swami turned to me. The compassion he felt for that boy was now a fury; he spelled out, “The next time when we travel, if you don’t carry any Prasad, I shall take off your shirt and trousers and give it away to the poor beggars.” I was mortified, and seeing that he quickly laughed to make me feel better. I laughed along, not knowing what else to do. A voice whispered from behind, “Did you follow what he told just now?” It was monk from the rear seat. He was shocked I was laughing after such a serious warning. Of course, he didn’t know I was sweating inside, and that the sweat glued my shirt and trousers tightly to my body.
After we reached the destination, I apologized to Radhanath Swami. With a loving smile that endeared him to me, he affectionately knocked on my forehead, indicating that he had forgiven me.
–Garud
141 replies on “Radhanath Swami’s Warning”
I will surely try to follow this instruction of H.H Radhanath Swami maharaj. Thanks Maharaj!
Hare Krishna.
Great incident.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your experience i was giving money to beggar last night and my wife asked how come you are doing this? I told her this will please Radhanath Swami from now i will carry prasad with me while driving instead of giving money prasad is better
Swmijis acts are not only for that particular person involved ,but also for the rest of us as an example.
Thank you for sharing.
What a deep compassion HH Radhanath Swami has for everyone! Thank you for sharing. Also its instructive to carry prasad always to distribute.
Swamiji is really compassionate on every soul……
Maharajah heart is full of divine love, which he want to give to everyone freely through personal correction, Prasad, Lecture, or through Kirtan.
Very nice incident. thanks for sharing.
very nice incident, thanks for sharing, haribol, bhakti
HHRNSM’s compassion is beyond ones imagination and understanding and HHRM is very particular about such issues, thank you Maharaj, haribol, rajesh karia
Thank you Prabhu for sharing this.
Thanks for instructing, begger should not be allowed with empty hand.
vary nice lesson for us
Maharaj is so merciful towards all.
Thank you
There is so much that I have to learn from this incident.
hopefully i can follow this and all instructions of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
wonderful passtime hare krishna
HHRNS is very humble and caring for everyone, haribol, rajesh
HHRNSM’s loving gesture knock on the forehead is just so merciful and selfless, haribol, bhakti
radhanath swami is the true messenger of the supreme lord, from this event one can understand how compassionate he is to each and every living entity,
Maharajah compassion for all living being is amazing.
He knows the real power of prasad, which can eventually transform heart.
wonderful pastimes
Thankyou for sharing
excellent thank u very much
very nice ,thank you
so compassionate, simply inspirational, haribol, bhakti
so encouraging, HHRNSM is very concerned about all people in the society, even the beggar of the street is a special being for HHRNSM and Maharaj is always willing to serve them, haribol, rajesh karia
All Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Thank you Prabhu for sharing this wonderful experience.
Hare Krishna
Maharaj’s cmpassion towards all living entites
such a nice lesson
HHRNSM is so compassionate and is an inspiration for us at all times, haribol, rajesh karia
very touching incident and it goes to show how HHRNSM is so particular about the smallest of individuals in life and the importance of how we can find happiness in our lives with the smallest of things, thank you Maharaj for always guiding us, haribol, bhakti
This is very instructive, thank you for sharing.
thanks to share this prabhu !!!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience… I’ll try and follow Maharaj’s instructions next time…
Thank you for shearing with us.
Hare Krsna, will try to keep some Prasad always with me from now onwards.
Very nice instructive pastime.
Thank you so much for reminding me of this valuable lesson which i need to seriously implement in my life.