Nava Yauvana dasa and Syama Rani devi dasi
Most Respected Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept our most humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa-puja, we are meditating on the anxiety of a dutiful, virtuous, and selfless leader who lives only for the sake of others.
“O great souls, will he become as saintly a king, as pious in his very name and as famous and glorified in his achievements, as others who appeared in this great royal family?” [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.12.18]
Mahārāja Yudhiṣthira always saw himself as a humble servant of a glorious lineage of pious and devoted kings. He deemed it his duty to leave behind an heir apparent who would be a faithful and competent representative of his predecessors. The war had taken the best of men from the Kuru dynasty, including the chivalrous and pure hearted Abhimanyu. Now the future of this dynasty, which Lord Kṛṣṇa had wanted to rule the world, rested on this just born child Pariksit. Pariksit Maharaja, by the blessings and training of his grandfather, grew up to be a very capable and fitting representative of this lineage so much so that he could even challenge Kali personified:
…..Please tell me of the perpetrator of these mutilations, which blackmail the reputation of the sons of Prtha.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.17.13)
An upstart living being who commits offenses by torturing those who are offenseless shall be directly uprooted by me, even though he be a denizen of heaven with armor and decorations. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.17.15)
All our acaryas in the parampara and our Srila Prabhupada exemplified this pure chivalry in preserving and perpetuating the transcendental teachings of Lord Caitanya. Śrīla Prabhupada writes in his well-known song: Śri Śrimad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thākura, who is very dear to Lord Gaurānga, the son of mother Śacī, is unparalleled in his service to the Supreme Lord Śri Kṛṣṇa. He is that great saintly spiritual master who bestows intense devotion to Kṛṣṇa at different places throughout the world. By his strong desire, the holy name of Lord Gaurānga will spread throughout all the countries of the Western world. In all the cities, towns, and villages on the earth, from all the oceans, seas, rivers, and streams, everyone will chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa….
How anxious Srila Prabhupada must be, as was Maharaja Yudhisthira to see that the same mood of chivalrous faithfulness is meticulously preserved among his followers. Maharaja, we feel Srila Prabhupada would be very happy and greatly satisfied in heart by your steadfast service to him and innumerable sacrifices for the sake of the movement he set up to benefit the world. Part of the responsibility you have accepted in service to Srila Prabhupada, is to train and empower devotees whom Srila Prabhupada brought to you, to carry forward the same mood of selflessness and pure adherence to the parampara teachings.
We are among the many fortunate beneficiaries of the profuse blessings and unique empowerment you have bestowed upon our beloved teacher, Sir, to purely live and represent these teachings and train others to do so. Sir and Mataji have sacrificed immensely for protecting and nurturing us in devotional service. On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa-puja, we recommit ourselves to untiringly endeavor to live these teachings with meticulous purity and we seek your merciful blessings to cultivate the selfless mood of service to the disciplic succession in our hearts.
Your aspiring servants,
Nava Yauvana dāsā and Śyama Rāni devi dāsi