Jaladuta

The Voyage of
Compassion
(Aug 13th to Sept 17th, 1965)
Mangalarathi Reading Material to be read from
Aug 13th to Sept 17th to specially remember
the historic voyage of SrilaPrabhupada to America
on the order of his spiritual master

Today is 13th of August

On this day in 1965, SrilaPrabhupada boarded the cargo
ship MV Jaladuta from Calcutta and travelled for 35 days
to reach America. He had embarked on this historic
voyage on the order of his spiritual masters order to
spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. We begin
from today a short reading after Mangalaarati to
especially remember this significant crossing of a pure
devotee of Krishna from India to America.
August 13, 1965 : Calcutta
Reading from SrilaPrabhupadaLilamrita, Volume 1: Bhaktivedanta
Swami took a taxi down to the Calcutta port. A few friends and
admirers, along with his son Vrindavan, accompanied him. He
writes in his diary: "Today at 9 a.m. embarked on M.V. Jaladuta.
Came with me Bhagwati, the Dwarwan of ScindiaSansir, Mr. Sen
Gupta, Mr. Ali and Vrindaban." He was carrying a Bengali copy of
Caitanya-caritamrta, which he intended to read during the
crossing. Somehow he would be able to cook on board. Or if not,
he could starve- whatever Krishna desired. He checked his
essentials: passenger ticket, passport, visa, P-form, sponsor's
address. Finally it was happening. SrilaPrabhupada boarded
Jaladutta Cargo Ship and started for West for Preaching on the
order of his Guru Maharaj.
For thousands of years, Krishna-bhakti had been known only in
India, not outside, except in twisted, faithless reports by
foreigners. And the only swamis to have reached America had
been nondevotees, Mayavadiimpersonalists. But now Krishna was
sending Bhaktivedanta Swami as His emissary.
SrilaPrabhupada
later
recollectedduring
a
th
SrimadBhagavatam class in Vrindavan on Nov 6 ,
1972: And for a sannys like me, I had so much
2

difficulty to obtain the permission of the government

to go out. So much difficulty. I remember all those...
How, oh, with what great difficulty I got out of this
country. And because I, some way or other, by Ka's
grace, I got out of this country, I could spread this
Ka consciousness movement all over the world.
Otherwise, it was not possible. I wanted to start this
movement from India, but I was not at all
encouraged. I was not at all encouraged.

14th August
Today is the 2nd day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 14, 1965 : On Sail in Bay of Bengal
SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy: Today ship
started at about 11 o'clock in the morning majestically. I do not
feel any jerking whatsoever. But on reaching the Bay of Bengal,
there is tilting of the ship and little rolling also. The roughness
increased gradually on the upper Bay of Bengal and I felt sea
sickness. There was vomiting tendency and dizziness and I felt
uncomfortable the whole day and night. The sea was foamy all
through. It appeared like a big plate of water extending to 40
square miles but factually it was endless so, today. It is a vivid
example of God's Maya because it appears like something but
factually it is something else.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

15th August
Today is the 3rd day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 15, 1965 : On Sail in Bay of Bengal
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SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy: Today in

the morning I woke up and felt a little better but I felt no hunger.
Took only a glass of lemon sikanjie [lemon drink: nimbupani] but
the head dizziness is continuing. Up to 10:30 I was in the
captain's room, radio room, chatting with the officers. In the radio
room they were despatching news to other ships. The captain's
room is full with nautical paraphernalia. I saw a chart of different
appearancial(?) photo of the sea. The grades are 0 to 10 degrees
and I think we are passing on the sea between 4 to 7 points the
scene of the 10th point was furious and the 12th serious. The
captain advised me to take more solid food.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

16th August
Today is the 4th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 16, 1965 : On Sail in Bay of Bengal near to Sri
Lanka
SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy: Today
early in the morning I saw that the ship is plying on the surface of
the sea almost on 0 degree of waves. Yesterday night was
comfortable and although I did not take my lunch, I took a little
chara-murki [puffed rice:chidwa] with milk. The ship ran all the
night yesterday smoothly and the sky although not very clear
there was moon light in the night. In the morning there was
sunshine but after 11 the sea became a little more rough showing
foamy waves from distance. After passing the latitude of
Trichinopoli we experienced a dark cloud subsequently raining all
over the sea. The siren sounded on account (of) hazy vision to
warn other ships coming from opposite direction. At about 12
noon it is raining heavily and the ship is stopped moving
occasionally sounding the siren. There is constant sounds of
thunderbolt. This is the first time I am experiencing heavy rains in
the midst of deep ocean. From 12 noon we are passing through
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cyclonic weather. The ship is tilting too much. I felt sea sickness
all day and night. At 3 p.m. the ship turned towards Ceylon coast
and we are now in the Ceylon water.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

17th August
Today is the 5th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 17, 1965 : On Sail at Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy: Today
morning the sky is scattered with cloud. The ship is going toward
western side. I feel a little bit well after passing my stool. The ship
is running against wind current. The sea is little rougher. At 10:30
we saw the south coast of Ceylon with a white light house. Two
ships passed from the opposite side. Some daring fishermen were
fishing in small boats. From distance they appeared to be almost
drowned in the water but next moment they appear to be safely
working. There is sunshine but the sky is not clear. The captain
informed me that by next six hours we shall reach Colombo port.
The hilly southernmost Ceylon coast is said to be 4 to 5 miles
away from our ship. This means the fishermen were fishing in
small boats 5 to 10 miles away from their native coast. Certainly
very daring job. At about 2 p.m. we have now turned towards
northern front. The sky is cloudy but we are forwarding steadily.
Today I was better than other three days. At 3 p.m. the Colombo
city became faintly visible from the ship. The colour of water in
the India ocean is different from that of Bay of Bengal. The ship
reached exactly at 4:30 in the port but the management of
Colombo port could not receive the ship for want of berth and
then it is anchored on the shore waiting to enter the port. At
about 9 p.m. the ship was escorted by the Pilot and we entered
the dockyard but there were many ships from various countries
including passenger and cargo ships. At night the dockyard ships
assumed a brilliant spectacle on account profuse light. We rested
5

the whole night the ship being anchored. Next morning barges
loaded with goods arrived near the ship.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

18th August
Today is the 6th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 18, 1965 : On Sail at Colombo
SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy:Today I felt
quite normal and the sea-sickness completely removed. The ship
remained silent the whole day on account of hazy sky and only a
few loads of goods were admitted. I wanted to see the Colombo
city but I could not make any arrangement. The ship was standing
at the midstream and I did not like to go alone.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

19th August
Today is the 7th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 19, 1965 : Colombo and in Arabian sea
SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy:Today I
informed my situation to Captain Pandia and he was very kind to
take me to the shore in a motor launch. We dropped at Elizabeth
gate talked with some Ceylonese clerks and then in a taxi we
went to the office of Narottam&Pierera Co. The manager Mr.
Banka was a Gujarati gentleman and he received us well. He
arranged for me a good car to go round the city. The office quarter
6

was quite busy and many foreign offices and renowned Banks
were there. I saw the Governor General's House, the Parliament
House, the Town Hall (and) one very nice sea-side Hotel and
passed through very nice clean roads, bazars. The city appeared
to be nice and clean and the small bungalows nicely decorated. It
appears that people although not very good looking they are not
uncultured neither they are tasteless. The city is quite up to
resembling an Indian city like Madras and Poona. The buses and
taxis were clean to see. The bus stands almost crowded like that
of the Indian cities. The offices conducted almost in Indian style.
The culture and civilization is Indian cent per cent but artificially
India and Ceylon is divided. We starting for Cochin at 6 p.m. The
ship started at 7 p.m., the pilot being late in reaching the ship. It
ran for the whole night and next day up to 3:30 p.m. and reached
the coast of Cochin. The ship is standing on the coast of Cochin
without entering the dock.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

20th August
Today is the 8th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 20, 1965 : On Sail in Arabian sea
SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy:Today the
captain arranged for a meeting on board the Jaladuta on account
of Janmastami day and I spoke for an hour on the philosophy and
teachings of Lord Sri Krishna. All the officers attended the
meeting and there was distribution of Prasadam. The matter was
radiographed to Smt. SumatiMoraji in Bombay. The ship is
stranded on the Arabian Sea about 4 miles away from the coast.
We are in this position from 3:20 p.m.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy
7

21st August
Today is the 9th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
Today SrilaPrabhupadamade no entry in his Jaladuta Dairy.
August 21, 1965 : On Sail and Cochin
Today was seventieth (70th) birthday of SrilaPrabhupada,
observed (without ceremony) at sea. That same day the ship
arrived at Cochin, and SrilaPrabhupada's trunks of SrimadBhagavatam volumes, which had been shipped from Bombay to
Cochin, but yet to be loaded in to the ship.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

22nd August
Today is the 10th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 22, 1965 : On Sail and Cochin
SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy:Today at
about 10 a.m. we are now in the dockyard of Cochin. The dock is
peculiar because it is by nature full of small islands. Some of the
islands are full with nice hutments formerly known as British
Island. I saw my books from Bombay arrived in five cases and the
agents loaded them on the ship at 4 p.m. The agent M/s Jairam&
Sons kindly sent their car for my driving in the city. Out of the
group of islands two big islands joined by an iron over-bridge are
known as Cochin and Ernakulam. The iron over bridge was
constructed by the Britishers very nicely along with railway lines.
The railways line is extended up to the Port. There are many
flourishing foreign firms and banks.

It is Sunday, the bazar was closed. I saw a peculiar kind of

plantain (banana) available in this part of the country. The island
known as Coachin is not an up to date city. The roads are like
narrow lanes. The part of the city where the foreigners are
residing are well situated. The buildings factories, etc. all big and
well maintained. The Mohamedan quarters are separate from the
Hindu quarters as usual in other Indian cities. The part known as
Ernakulam is up to date. There is a nice park on the bank of the
gulf and it is named Subhas Bose Park. It is good that Subhas
Babu is popular in this part of the country. I saw the Kerala High
Court and the public buildings, the High Court being situated in
Ernakulam it appears that the city is capital of Kerala. This Official
Bhadra 31 days 1887 Saka part of India resembles Bengal
scenario and the city Ernakulum also Cochin appears to me like
old Kalighat or Tollygunge area of Calcutta. The culture is Indian
as usual. Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

23rd August
Today is the 11th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 23, 1965 : On Sail in Arabian sea
SrilaPrabhupada wrote this in his Jaladuta Dairy:Today
Annada Ekadashi, We started towards Red sea on the western
front at about 12:30 noon. The sky was almost clear and there
was sunshine since the starting of the trip from Cochin port. We
are floating now on the Arabian sea. My sea sickness again
began. Headache, vomiting tendency, no hunger, dizziness and
no energy to work. It is continuing. There are sometimes showers
of rain but for a short time. There was a fellow passenger in my
cabin. He is also attacked with sea sickness. The whole night
passed.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy
9

24th August
Today is the 12th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 24, 1965 : On Sail in Arabian sea on the way to Red
sea
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary: Today at about 1/30
p.m. I enquired from wheel-room that we have come only 400
miles off the Indian coast. My sea-sickness is still continuing. I
take my meals once only but today I could not take my full meals
also although I was fasting yesterday. I (am) feeling
uncomfortable.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy and SP Lilamrita Vol 2

25th August
Today is the 13th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
August 25, 1965 : On Sail in Arabian sea on the way to Red
Sea
On this day SrilaPrabhupada made no entry in his Jaladuta Diary,
except the words:

Beginning from today - down.

From today till Sept 3rd, SrilaPrabhupada made no entries in his
Jaladuta Diary. It is on this day he had his first heart attack on
board Jaladuta. The symptoms from previous day persisted, but it
was more than seasickness. The pains in his chest made him
think he would die at any moment.
Reference
Volume 2

Study

:Jaladutta

Dairy,

SrilaPrabhupada-lilamrta

26th August
10

Today is the 14th day of SrilaPrabhupadas

journey on board Jaladuta:
On this day SrilaPrabhupada made no entry in his Jaladuta Diary
Today SrilaPrabhupada encountered second heart attack onboard
Jaladuta.
He tolerated the difficulty, meditating on the purpose of his
mission, but two days of such violent attacks he thought that if
another were to come he would certainly not survive.
On that night, Prabhupada had a dream. Lord Krishna, in His
many forms, was rowing the boat, and He told Prabhupada that
he should not fear, but should come along. Prabhupada felt
assured of Lord Krishna's protection, and the violent attacks did
not recur.
Excerpts fromSrilaPrabhupada-lilamrta- Volume 2

27th August
Today is the 15th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
On this day SrilaPrabhupada made no entry in his Jaladuta Diary
On the evening of January 25, 1977, at JagannthaPur,
SrilaPrabhupadarecalled his heart attack in a conversation with
his disciple:
Prabhupda: So I passed through three heart attacks. One, two
and three. They say that anyone who gets the third heart attack,
he must expire.
Devotee: You had three attacks on the ship?
Prabhupda: Two.
Devotee: Oh. And then one when you got to...
Prabhupda: New York. Third oneparalyzed.
11

Devotee: Very bad one?

Prabhupda: Left side paralyzed. I do not know how we were
saved.
Devotee: [chuckles] Ka.
Prabhupda: And one girl, that captain's wife, she studied
astrology. She said, "Swmj, if you can survive your seventieth
year, then you'll live for one hundred years." [Devotees laugh] So,
somehow or other, I survived my seventieth year. I do not know
whether I shall live for hundred years, but seventieth year was
severethree heart attacks and paralysis.
Devotee: All in the same year.
Prabhupda: Then without any family. At that time none of you
were with me. I was alone. I was completely dependent on Ka.
But on the ship I saw that "Ka is with me."
(Evening Conversation -- January 25, 1977, JagannthaPur)

28th August
Today is the 16th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
On this day SrilaPrabhupada made no entry in his Jaladuta
Diary.He must have been recuperating post his two heart attacks.
SrilaPrabhupada had recounted his dream of Lord Krishna and His
assurances to his followers:
SrilaPrabhupadawas concerned that he might pass away, but in
his uneasy sleep that night he had a dream, a vision. Lord Ka
appeared. The Lord was in an open boat, along with His other
incarnations. Ka was rowing the boat, and the boat was pulling
rlaPrabhupda's ship with a rope. Ka was smiling at
rlaPrabhupda and was pulling the ship all the way to America!
rlaPrabhupda did not write about this occurrence in his diary
but simply drew a line through those troubled days, declaring that
12

he had passed over a great crisis in the struggle between life and
death. Years later he related these events to his followers.
(JaladutaDiary: Introduction)

29th August
Today is the 17th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
On this day SrilaPrabhupada made no entry in his Jaladuta Diary.
He must have been recuperating post his two heart attacks.

On January 25th, 1977, in Puri, SrilaPrabhupada recalled his heart

attack onboard Jaladuta and gave a Krishna consciousness
message to his disciples:
Prabhupda: The word apratihat is used. Pratihata means
checking. When your devotional service will make progress in
spite of checking, that is pure devotion.
Ahaitukyapratihatyentmsuprasdati [SB 1.2.6]. And that is
pure devotion. I was attacked by heart attack thrice. While on the
ship, twice.
Devotee: On the ship twice? Oh.
Prabhupda: Consecutively two days, attack. Actually I would
have died on the ship before reaching your country. I could not
understand that was heart attack. The pain was so severe, I
thought, "I am now dying." And it happened on two nights. And I
was very much afraid whether on the third night it will recur.I was
thinking, "If tonight also the same pain comes again, then I'll die."
But third night it did not pain. It was suspended.
So bodily, mental, by enemiesso many impediments will
come. What can be done? We have to tolerate. That is material
world. We cannot expect smooth, very happy. That is not possible.
Ka is advising Arjuna, what to speak of us. What are we in
comparison to Arjuna? He's His personal friend, talking with Him.
He said,tstitikasva. Ka never said, "I have made some
13

magic. You'll have no failure," like that. Tstitikasva: "You just

try to tolerate. That's all." He never gave him any tablet.
[chuckling] As the modern gurus say, "I'll give you some ash.
There will be no more trouble," Ka did so? He said, "No,
tolerate." That's all. He could have said, "I'll give you some ash
You are an ass; I'll give you some ash." [laughter] Neither Arjuna
asked also, "Why You are asking me to fight? Give me some ash.
I'll throw." He was not such a fool that he asked some magic from
Ka and kill his enemies. Actually he fought. This is Bhagavadgt. So face things as they are and depend on Ka. That is our
duty. We must go on with our duty. Don't expect any ash, miracle,
magic. (Room Conversation -- January 25, 1977, JagannthaPur)

30th August
Today is the 18th day of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
On this day too SrilaPrabhupada made no entry in his Jaladuta
Diary. He must have been recuperating post his two heart attacks.
SrilaPrabhupada recalled the travails of his journey and recounted
a Krishna conscious message during a SrimadBhagavatam lecture
on Nov 25th, 1976 in Vrindavan:
I have seen it also. In the mid-ocean, immediately there is fog,
and the ship immediately stops because there is danger of
collision with other ship. At least the ship in which I was going to
your country, Jaladuta, so the captain, Mr. Pandia, he immediately
used to stop in the mid-ocean and sound horn, "gaw, gaw," like
that. So that was danger, very dangerous. When the sea is rough
there is no fog. And as soon as the sea is not rough there is fog.
So whether you will go this way or that way, there is misery.
Therefore this world is called dukhlayamavatam[Bg.
8.15].You subdue something and another problem is there.
(rmad-Bhgavatam 5.6.3 class -- November 25, 1976,
Vndvana)

31stAugust
14

Today is the 19th day of SrilaPrabhupadas

journey on board Jaladuta:
On this day SrilaPrabhupada made minimal entry in his Jaladuta
Diary. He must have been still recuperating post his two heart
attacks.
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary: Passed over a great
crisis on the struggle for life and death. A separate statement has
to be written on this crisis area.
Reference: Jaladutta Dairy
Captain Pandia attends a class by SrilaPrabhupada in New
York:
On March 11th, 1966, Captain Pandia visited SrilaPrabhupada in
New York and sat in a Bhagavad Gita class where SrilaPrabhupada
recalled his voyage and related a Krishna conscious message:
Here a very nice word is used: dhra. Dhra means undisturbed.
So this we should carefully note. Our mind in the material
condition is always disturbed, always disturbed. And this is due to
our unfavorable condition. Because we are actually spirit in
identity and we have been put into material conditions. We can
very well experience. And we have, I got experience, and here is
Captain Pandia. He has also experienced. He may be more
experienced than me. When we passed through the sea on the
ship, although we are on the sea, quite safe, still, when there is
some storm, when there is some disturbance on the ocean, we
also become very much disturbed, because that situation is
foreign to us. We are not so much disturbed in the land as we are
disturbed in the ocean because we know that our position in the
ocean is not our natural condition. So we should know that
disturbance is due to our unnatural condition. Otherwise, there is
no question of disturbance. (Bhagavad-gt 2.13 -- March 11,
1966, New York)

1st September
15

Today is the 20th day of SrilaPrabhupadas

journey on board Jaladuta:
Port Suez September 1, 1965 : On Sail and Suez Canal Port
Today Jaladuta entered the Suez Canal Port and stopped. Slowly
recovering from the heart attack,SrilaPrabhupada wanted to stay
in land for some time, so he requested Captain Pandiato visit the
Suez Canal City and Captain gladly accepted the request and
scheduled the visit for tomorrow.
Reference: SrilaPrabhupada-lilamrta Volume 2

2nd September
Today is the 21stday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta: Suez Canal & Port Said
September 2, 1965 : On Sail and Suez Canal
Today SrilaPrabhupada with Captain started for Suez Canal city
and visited various places and after visiting. SrilaPrabhupada said
he liked the visit.
Reference: SrilaPrabhupada-lilamrta Volume 2
During a SrimadBhagavatam class on November 6 th, 1970 in
Bombay, SrilaPrabhupada briefly referred to his visit to the Suez
Canal city:
Even though they (astronauts) have reached the moon planet, it
is not a fact that there is no living entity there. Accepting they
have reached the moon planet, they might have gone to the part
where it is a desert or barren land, because in each and every
planet there is such possibility. In our planet also, when I was
passing through the Suez Canal, I have seen it is a horrible desert.
So if somebody drops in that Arabian desert and concludes that
there is no living entity in this planet, it is simply foolish. (rmadBhgavatam 6.1.6 -- November 6, 1970, Bombay)
16

3rd September
Today is the 22ndday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
September 3, 1965 : On Sail and Suez Canal Port
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary: We started from Port
Said today at about 1 p.m. The Port Said city is nice. It has long
narrow neat and clean roads with lofty buildings. The city is not at
all congested. While passing the rear point of Suez towards
Mediterranean sea, the city is clearly seen. But it is a small city
with some industrial factories. Although in the desert, in the city,
all varieties of vegetables are available. There is also a Marine
drive like Bombay Chowpatty beach. I could see a good park in
the city.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

4th September
Today is the 23rdday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
September 4, 1965: On Sail in Mediterranean sea
SrilaPrabhupada: Today there was a rehearsal for emergency.
We all prepared with belt on the body and the life boat was tested
whether they were in order. There were two boats with capacity to
load 120 persons. But we were all about fifty five on board.
Reference: Jaladutta Dairy

17

5th September
Today is the 24thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
September 5, 1965 : On Sail in Mediterranean Sea crossed
Sicily (Italy)
SrilaPrabhupada: Today in the evening the sky was cloudy and
they expected foggy weather and all of them became little
gloomy. But at midnight we passed Malta Sicily by God's grace it
was all right throughout the night.
Reference Study :Jaladutta Dairy

6th September
Today is the 25thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
September 6, 1965 : On Sail in Mediterranean sea
By the sixth he had recovered a little from his illness and was
eating regularly again for the first time in two weeks, having
cooked his own kichar and purs. He reported in his diary that
his strength renewed little by little.
18

Reference Study :SrilaPrabhupada-lilamrta Volume 2

7th September
Today is the 26thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
September 7, 1965 : On Sail in Mediterranean sea
SrilaPrabhupada: Today Baraha Dwadashi observed, The best
atmospheric condition on the Mediterranean sea. All along we
have seen the Algerian coast.
Reference: Jaladutta Dairy

8th September
Today is the 27thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
Today at about 8 o'clock in the morning and near about Gibraltar
we had a first experience of fog impediment. It was all dark round
the ship and she stopped moving completely. She was whistling
now and then to protect herself from other unseen ships being
collided with. We started at about 11 again.
8/9/65 at about 2/30 p.m. we passed over Gibraltar Port ending at
Tarita(?) Light House. The other side is Spanish Morocco. There is
regular ferry steamer service. The srt.(?) is wide about seven
miles across. We are in the Atlantic.

9th September
Today is the 28thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:

19

Till 4 o'clock afternoon we have crossed over the Atlantic Ocean

for twenty four hours. The whole day was clear and almost
smooth. I am taking my food regularly and got some strength to
struggle. There is slight lurching(?) of the ship and I am feeling
slight headache also. But I am struggling and the nectarine of life
is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita the source of my all vitality.

10th September
Today is the 29thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
Today the ship is plying very smoothly. I feel today better. But I
am feeling separation from Sri Vrindaban and my Lords - Sri
Govinda, Gopinath, RadhaDamodar. The only solace is Sri
Chaitanya Charitamrita in which I am tasting the nectarine of Lord
Chaitanya's Leela. I have left Bharat Bhumi just to execute the
order of Sri Bhakti SiddhantaSaraswati in pursuance of Lord
Chaitanya's order. I have no qualification, but I have taken up the
risk just to carry out the order of His Divine Grace. I depend fully
on Their mercy so far away from Vrindaban.

11th September
Today is the 30thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
Today the ship ran on very smoothly. The sky was clear and there
was sunshine all the day. At about 7/30 in the morning we passed
on the Azore group islands under the Portugal Republic. There was
again rehearsal for life boat saving at 4/30 p.m. There was
rehearsal of the fire brigadiers also. At night there was profuse
moonlight on the ocean and considerable lurching also. But did
not affect me very much as it used to do in the Arabian sea. The
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Atlantic Ocean is more kind to me than all other seas so far we

have crossed over. It is all Lord Krishna's Grace.
SrilaPrabhupada later wrote in a letter to Sripad Narayan Maharaj
on Oct 4th, 1965, recalling his journey across the Atlantic:
To cross the Atlantic Ocean took ten days. This great sea is
usually full of storms and fog and is very disturbing. But by the
mercy of Krsna, there was no disturbance. The captain of the ship,
the main officer, told me, "This kind of quiet Atlantic I have never
seen in my life." I told them that this is only by Krsna's mercy,
nothing else. After the troublesome storm in the Arabian Sea, I
knew that if I had had to face a storm like that again, I would die.
(Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 4 October, 1965)

12th September
Today is the 31stday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
S. R. Day. Today there is a great deal of lurching although the sky
is clear. Mrs. Pandiya, although a little lady but very intelligent
and learned also. She has foretold about my future. Thanks to her
prediction. All blessings of Lord Krishna for her. The crisis which I
suppose to have crossed is also mentioned by her. If I have
crossed the crisis, then that is Good Will of Lord Krishna, my friend
and philosopher. In the evening there was too much lurching and I
felt a bit sea-sickness. I could not take my food properly. A little
sweets were accepted with some relish. The lurching continued till
midnight.

13th September
Today is the 32ndday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
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SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:

Today is the 32nd day of our journey from Calcutta. After midnight
yesterday the lurching decreased and I felt relief. In the morning
also I could not take my breakfast properly. Then I cooked 'Batichachari(?).' It appeared to be delicious and I was able to take
some food. Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion Lord
Sri Krishna. There is a Bengali poem made by me today in this
connection. At about eleven there is a little lurching. The captain
tells that they had never such calmness of the Atlantic. I said it is
Lord Krishna's mercy. His wife asked me to come back again with
them so that they may have again a calm Atlantic Ocean. If
Atlantic would have shown its usual face perhaps I would have
died. But Lord Krishna has taken charge of the ship.

The Bengali poem mentioned in the Jaladuta Diary was a prayer

to Lord Krishna, and it is filled with SrilaPrabhupada's devotional
confidence in the mission that he had undertaken on behalf of his
spiritual master. An English translation of some of the stanzas are
as follows:
I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your
good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krishna only when
SrimatiRadharani becomes pleased with you.
Sri SrimadBhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who is very
dear to Lord Gauranga, the son of mother Saci, is
unparalleled in his service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.
He is that great, saintly spiritual master who bestows
intense devotion to Krishna at different places throughout
the world.
By his strong desire, the holy name of Lord Gauranga 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 Krishna.
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As the vast mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu conquers all

directions, a flood of transcendental ecstasy will certainly
cover the land. When all the sinful, miserable living entities
become happy, the Vainavas' desire is then fulfilled.
Although my Guru Maharaja ordered me to accomplish this
mission, I am not worthy or fit to do it. I am very fallen and
insignificant. Therefore, O Lord, now I am begging for Your
mercy so that I may become worthy, for You are the wisest
and most experienced of all...
The poem ends:
Today that remembrance of You came to me in a very nice
way. Because I have a great longing I called to You. I am Your
eternal servant, and therefore I desire Your association so
much. O Lord Krishna, except for You there is no means of
success.

14th September
Today is the 33rdday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
Today is the 33rd day of our journey and at 3 o'clock in the
morning I saw the sky cloudy with dim moon-light. From morning
till 1 o'clock the sky remained cloudy and at 1/30 p.m. there was a
shower of rain. The sky is still cloudy and the wind is blowing from
south-east corner and raining at intervals. The whole day passed
in that way and the wind assumed a para-cyclonic face with dense
cloud resulting in rain till 9/30 p.m. with regular lightening etc. At
ten o'clock when I was talking in the captain's room the chief
engineer Mr. Travers told me that he had never such experience
of calm & quietness of the Atlantic Ocean. There was always
typhoon, cyclone, fog, etc. at least for days in every trip in the
past(?). I said it is Lord Krishna's Grace. If such things as usual in
Atlantic would have taken place, I would die.
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15th September
Today is the 34rdday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
Today 34th day of our journey As usual I rise up at 3 a.m. and
when I went to veranda I saw the sky almost clear. There was
moon-shine on head(?) and although the wind from south-east
was strong, the ocean was clear visioned and the ship was
passing smoothly. At about 11 a.m. the sky again became over
cast with cloud and it is continued till 3 p.m. There was rainfalls at
intervals but after 4 o'clock the sky became clear and there was
bright sunshine. I was engaged in reading Kaliya Daman Leela
from SrimadBhagwatam specially the prayers by Srimati Naga
Patnis and the last appealing prayer by Kaliya.

16th September
Today is the 35thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
Today is the 35th day of our journey and yesterday night at about
10/30 p.m. we have turned one wheel(?) towards north eastern
corner from the Bermuda latitude towards Boston port. In the
morning the atmosphere was fairly cleared and the ship was
plying very smoothly. The first officer told me that they never had
such experience of the Atlantic ocean and he ascribed the good
luck to me. I said yes it is all Lord Krishna's Grace because due to
my severe type of sea-sickness, He has Himself taken charge of
the ship. In (?) expansion the Lord is rowing the oars. We shall
certainly reach to America port safely. The whole day was clear
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sun-shine but at 4 p.m. the sky all of a sudden became foggy. The
sun became dim covered by foggy weather. The horizon is still
visible. Let us see what is still ahead. The ship is stopped
completely at about 6 p.m. on account of dense fog. Be Lord
Krishna pleased to get out this fog. By the Grace of Lord Krishna
the fog was cleared after 2-3 hours and the ship started. The
whole night was non-disturbing and today on the 36th day of our
journey we reached safely at Boston Port at 5/30 a.m.

17th September
Today is the 36thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
We are now on the dockyard of Boston and at 10 a.m. the custom
officers and others came on the ship. They have now issued the
admittance permission after due checking etc. I saw the Boston
Town with captain It is very nice and I shall describe it in a
separate note. 36th day from starting from Calcutta Port To-day
we are expected to reach Boston Port U.S.A. in the morning ACB
/9/65
We stayed the whole day & night at Boston till 4.p.m. next day.
SrilaPrabhupada recalled his interaction with the immigration
officer in a room conversation on June 8, 1976, in Los Angeles:
Prabhupda: I was extending my visa. In Boston, the immigration
officer came in to my boat. He inquired about this. So he asked
me, "Sir, Swmj, how long you want to stay?" I thought that I
have no shelter, I have no money, but I have got the return ticket.
So I did not know how long [laughs]. He asked me, "How long do
you want to stay?" So I thought, "In these circumstances, I can
stay at most two months, because I have no means where to stay,
how to eat, and where shall I go. So I may struggle for two
months." So I told him, "I may stay at most two months." He
sanctioned two months stay immediately. I could not think that I
25

shall be able to... [laughs] That one month was with sponsorship.
So I thought, "Another one month I can stay, that's all. This
gentleman has sponsored for one month. So that is guaranteed.
Then I can stay another one month. That's all." So after that, I was
staying here and there without any fixity. So I was extending the
visa. Each time, I was paying ten dollars. Another three months,
another three months, like that. And when one year was finished,
they refused: "No extension." (Room Conversation -- June 8, 1976,
Los Angeles)

18th September
Today is the 37thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
To-day is the 37th day of our journey & at 4 p.m. we left Boston
Port for New York. In the morning I had telephonic talks with Gopal
P. Agarwal in Butler and he said that his man will receive me at
New York & dispatch me to Butler by Bus or train as convenient. I
tried to contact Dr. Misra but he was not available both yesterday
and to-day. I do not know if he is coming to receive me. To-day I
met two American nice gentlemen Mr. Gardiner &Fryer(?). We
passed a beautiful canal and crossed underneath two
overbridges. But at midnight there was considerable fog
disturbance and the ship moved very slowly. The fog persisted.

While in Boston, Captain Pandia invited Prabhupda to take a walk

into Boston, where the captain intended to do some shopping.
They walked across a footbridge into a busy commercial area with
old churches, warehouses, office buildings, bars, tawdry
bookshops, nightclubs, and restaurants. Prabhupda briefly
observed the city, but the most significant thing about his short
stay in Boston, aside from the fact that he had now set foot in
America, was that at Commonwealth Pier he wrote another
Bengali poem, entitled "MrkineBhgavata-dharma" ("Teaching
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Ka Consciousness in America"). Some of the verses he wrote

on board the ship that day are as follows:
My dear Lord Ka, You are so kind upon this useless soul,
but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You
can do whatever You like with me.
But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why
would You bring me to this terrible place?
Most of the population here is covered by the material
modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life
they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and
therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message
of Vsudeva [Ka]. I do not know how they will be able to
understand it.
But I know that Your causeless mercy can make everything
possible, because You are the most expert mystic.
How will they understand the mellows of devotional service?
O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be
able to convince them about Your message.
All living entities have come under the control of the illusory
energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will
they can also be released from the clutches of illusion.
I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore if You so desire
their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand
Your message...
How will I make them understand this message of Ka
consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and the
most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that
I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.
Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to
speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a
success or failure, as You like.
27

O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your

message. So if You like You can make my power of speaking
suitable for their understanding.
Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I
am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates
their hearts, they will certainly feel gladdened and thus
become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life.
O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have
brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me
dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like.
I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have
strong faith in the holy name of Ka. I have been
designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can
fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.
Signed-the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,
On board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier,
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Dated 18th September 1965.
(SrilaPrabhupadaLilamrta, Vol 2: 12: The Journey to America)

19th September
Today is the 38thday of SrilaPrabhupadas
journey on board Jaladuta:
SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his Jaladuta Diary:
Today is the 38th day of our journey and we reached New York
Port at 12/30 p.m. about three hours later than the scheduled
time.
Reading from SrilaPrabhupadaLilamrita Volume 2:
On the nineteenth of September the Jaladuta sailed into New York
Harbor and docked at a Brooklyn pier, at Seventeenth Street.
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rlaPrabhupda saw the awesome Manhattan skyline, the

Empire State Building, and, like millions of visitors and immigrants
in the past, the Statue of Liberty.
rlaPrabhupda was dressed appropriately for a resident of
Vndvana. He wore kanthi-ml (neck beads) and a simple
cotton dhot, and he carried japa-ml (chanting beads) and an
old chdar, or shawl. His complexion was golden, his head
shaven, ikh in the back, his forehead decorated with the whitish
Vaiavatilaka. He wore pointed white rubber slippers, not
uncommon for sdhus in India. But who in New York had ever
seen or dreamed of anyone appearing like this Vaiava? He was
possibly the first Vaiavasannys to arrive in New York with
uncompromised appearance. Of course, New Yorkers have an
expertise in not giving much attention to any kind of strange new
arrival. (SrilaPrabhupadaLilamrita Vol2: 12: The Journey to
America)
SrilaPrabhupada recalled his arrival during a morning walk in
Bombay, on February 19, 1974:
When I went to America, I went with forty rupees.
MrsSumatiMorarji gave me a free ticket, and I had only forty
rupees. Those forty rupees could not be spent there in the US.
Then, when I was getting down the ship, I asked the captain,
"Captain Pandia,I have not a single dollar with me. So you
purchase one set of my books."
"So what is your price, Swami?"
"Sixteen dollar." He paid me twenty dollars. With those twenty
dollars, I arrived in New York.

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Jaya Srila Prabhupada!!

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