Srila Prabhupada received a letter from Jadurani dasi, his artist disciple in America, along with an enclosed sketch for the proposed cover of the upcoming unpublished volume of the Fourth Canto, Volume One of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The sketch showed Lord Visnu sitting on the back of his eagle carrier, Garuda. In his eight arms he held, in a clockwise direction, a conch, an arrow, a bow, a disc, a lotus, sword, shield and club. Jadurani enquired whether the items were placed correctly. Srila Prabhupada replied to her letter, confirming that they were. Jadurani also wondered how she should paint Lord Brahma.
In Prabhupada's room in Auckland, devotees had mounted a framed poster of Lord Brahma flying in the sky seated on his carrier, as Krsna and his cowherd boyfriends enjoyed their lunch below. Prabhupada referred to this picture in his reply.
So far Lord Brahma, paint him just like you have painted already in the poster where he is flying on the swan for stealing Krishna's cowherd friends and cows.
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Hanuman Prasada Goswami spoke with Srila Prabhupada in his room about possible service opportunities now that he was a sannyasi. "Srila Prabhupada," he submitted emotionally, "I want to give my life and body to you."
Prabhupada, smiling, reminded him: "How can you give me your life? You have already given it to me. You would have to take it back, and that would make you a cheater!"
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It was brought to Prabhupada's attention that one young boy who had received initiation less than a week ago in Sydney had left the temple and disappeared only the day after Prabhupada's departure for New Zealand. The Sydney devotees had been shocked and had asked that Srila Prabhupada be informed. Prabhupada's response was grave. "As he did not accept me, I did not accept him."
- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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