An Indian Saying: You will be Intelligent when 80
[August 1973, Bhaktivedant Manor, England, UK]
I sat behind His Divine Grace and rubbed his head with sandalwood oil for a cooling effect. After massaging his head for about 15 minutes, I massaged Srila Prabhupada's back. I used mustard seed oil on his body, so I picked up the bottle to put a small amount in my hand. Srila Prabhupada sat perfectly relaxed. He always enjoyed his massage and this day was no different. Then I stood up and changed positions.
As I took a step to the right to massage Srila Prabhupada's chest, I knocked over the bottle of mustard seed oil. His Divine Grace had warned me many times to always keep the lid on the bottle. Unfortunately, sometimes I did and sometimes I didn't. On this day I had to pay the price.
"You fool," he immediately yelled. "You will be intelligent when you are 80. Go get a cup and bring it here."
I ran out of the room and brought back a stainless steel katori (bowl).
"All right," Srila Prabhupada said. "Put your hand in the oil and then scrape it into the cup."
The two of us sat there until all of the oil from the floor was in the metal cup.
"Now use that oil to finish the massage," he said. Srila Prabhupada never wasted anything.
Srila Prabhupada later laughed and said, "That is an old phrase they would say in India when someone did something foolish. 'You'll be intelligent when you are 80.'"
[Ref. Book: 'Srila Prabhupada Uvaca' by SP's Personal servant- H.G. Srutakirti Das
Chapter 48: Intelligent when you are 80]
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
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