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Being part of Srila Prabhupada's entourage also meant the extra responsibility to be on-call at all times.

Pusta Krsna Swami: In the very early hours of the morning, Srila Prabhupada would rise and begin translating, speaking into his dictaphone for anywhere from two to four hours. At any time between 1am to 4.30am, Prabhupada might ring his bell. I'd be sleeping, or more likely listening to him translating, while I was half awake. Prabhupada was my alarm clock. If Prabhupada wanted to discuss something, he'd call me in. I would enter, offer my obeisances and sit on the floor across from his marble table and Prabhupada would just talk to me. It was an informal setting; generally he would speak to me on something that he had just written. It seemed like a very natural thing to do -- when we hear something exciting, we want to talk about it with others; similarly Prabhupada was eager to discuss Krsna katha, and if no one else was around it would be the servant, or as in my case, the secretary, that Prabhupada would call.

Security was not the only thing strictly enforced during Srila Prabhupada's visit. As always, Prabhupada required absolute quiet during his dictating. As he had explained, every word was "document" and had to be chosen very carefully. Devotees were asked not to chant on their beads in "Prabhupada House", particularly in the early morning. Kitchen staff were repeatedly requested to avoid banging pots and pans in the temporary kitchen that was situated directly below Prabhupada's quarters. Especially, everyone was requested not to slam doors. Devotees were happy to comply, although on more than one occasion they had to be reminded.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu