View source for Prabhupāda at Seventy - Executing His Guru’s Order

In 1965, at the age of seventy years, Śrīla Prabhupāda set out on a journey that would change the course of history. Leaving the peaceful atmosphere of Vṛndāvana, he boarded a cargo ship to bring the message of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to the Western world, showing us the true meaning of surrender and love for his spiritual master.

<div class="toc-right">__TOC__</div>

=== The Mood of Spiritual Enthusiasm ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda often emphasized that the secret to his success was simple: he had the enthusiasm to try. Even when he was seventy years old and had no idea how he would survive in a foreign land, his heart was full of the desire to serve, proving that ''bhakti'' is always an active force.

* [[Vaniquotes:The whole basis of the devotional service is utsaha. Just like unless there was utsaha, how a man of seventy years old, without any hope, could go to such distant place from Vrndavana to New York? The only platform was utsaha|The whole basis of the devotional service is utsaha. Just like unless there was utsaha, how a man of seventy years old, without any hope, could go to such distant place from Vrndavana to New York? The only platform was utsaha.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Bhakti is activity. Just like personally, up to seventy years, I was practically doing nothing. But at the age of seventy years, by the grace of God, Krsna, there was inspiration; I went to Western country - not to sit down there silently|Bhakti is activity. Just like personally, up to seventy years, I was practically doing nothing. But at the age of seventy years, by the grace of God, Krsna, there was inspiration; I went to Western country - not to sit down there silently.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:At the age of seventy years by the grace of Krsna there was inspiration|At the age of seventy years by the grace of Krsna there was inspiration.]]

=== Surrendering to His Guru's Instruction ===

For many years, Śrīla Prabhupāda meditated on the order he received to preach in English. It was at the age of seventy years that he felt the time was right to fully execute this mission, showing his disciples that we must always be ready to act when the Lord calls.

* [[Vaniquotes:My Guru Maharaja ordered me long, long ago, when I was twenty-five years old, my Guru Maharaja ordered me to go to the foreign countries and preach Caitanya's message. But somehow or other I could not assimilate his order until I was seventy years old|My Guru Maharaja ordered me long, long ago, when I was twenty-five years old, my Guru Maharaja ordered me to go to the foreign countries and preach Caitanya's message. But somehow or other I could not assimilate his order until I was seventy years old.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When I was seventy years old I decided, Now I must do and execute the order of my Guru Maharaja. And thus this movement was started in 1965 from New York|When I was seventy years old I decided, Now I must do and execute the order of my Guru Maharaja. And thus this movement was started in 1965 from New York.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Whatever little success is there, that was only this qualification, that I wanted to serve him. That's all. Otherwise, there was no business of coming here at the age of seventy years. You have seen all my room in the Radha-Damodara temple?|Whatever little success is there, that was only this qualification, that I wanted to serve him. That's all. Otherwise, there was no business of coming here at the age of seventy years. You have seen all my room in the Radha-Damodara temple?]]

=== Facing Hardships with Faith ===

The path was not easy for Śrīla Prabhupāda. At seventy years old, he suffered three heart attacks and paralysis, yet he survived by Kṛṣṇa's mercy. His perseverance is a personal testament to his absolute faith and his fatherly concern for the fallen souls.

* [[Vaniquotes:She (captain's wife) said, "Swamiji, if you can survive your seventieth year then you'll live for 100 years." Somehow I survived my seventieth year. I don't know whether I'll live 100 years but seventieth year was severe - three heart attacks & paralysis|She (captain's wife) said, "Swamiji, if you can survive your seventieth year then you'll live for 100 years. Somehow I survived my seventieth year. I don't know whether I'll live 100 years but seventieth year was severe - three heart attacks and paralysis.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Even at the old age of 70, I started for America. There, for a full one year I had to experience great difficulties in my single handed mission on this account|Even at the old age of 70, I started for America. There, for a full one year I had to experience great difficulties in my single handed mission on this account.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:At the age of seventy years, nobody goes out. At least from Vrndavana nobody goes at the age of seventy years. But Krsna asked me. I thought that I must go, Guru Maharaja wanted it, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Let me try|At the age of seventy years, nobody goes out. At least from Vrndavana nobody goes at the age of seventy years. But Krsna asked me. I thought that I must go, Guru Maharaja wanted it, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Let me try.]]

=== A Life of Constant Service ===

Even after establishing a global movement, Śrīla Prabhupāda did not stop. From the age of seventy years onward, he traveled the world many times and wrote dozens of books, proving that the body may age, but the spirit of a devotee remains forever dedicated to the service of others.

* [[Vaniquotes:At the age of 70 I had the energy to go outside India and apart from other various duties, engage myself in writing books even at night without sleep. All these have been done in accordance with the direction of my Prabhupada Gurudeva|At the age of 70 I had the energy to go outside India and apart from other various duties, engage myself in writing books even at night without sleep. All these have been done in accordance with the direction of my Prabhupada Gurudeva.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I began my traveling in foreign countries at very ripe old age, seventy years. Ten years I'm traveling. This is the fifteenth tour all over the world|I began my traveling in foreign countries at very ripe old age, seventy years. Ten years I'm traveling. This is the fifteenth tour all over the world.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I told you that in my horoscope it was declared that after seventieth year, I shall go to foreign countries and I shall establish many temples. In my horoscope that is. Now I see it is coming practically|I told you that in my horoscope it was declared that after seventieth year, I shall go to foreign countries and I shall establish many temples. In my horoscope that is. Now I see it is coming practically.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s journey beginning at seventy years of age stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all of us. He demonstrated that the physical limitations of the body are secondary to the spiritual power of a surrendered heart. By leaving the holy land of Vṛndāvana to fulfill the vision of his predecessors, he showed us that the greatest comfort is found in the service of the Lord. His life is a reminder that it is never too late to dedicate oneself fully to Kṛṣṇa, and that the grace of the spiritual master can empower a devotee to achieve the impossible.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Age_of_Seventy_Years (Prabhupada)|Age of Seventy Years (Prabhupada)]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])
[[Category:Vanipedia Gemini - Articles]]
[[Category:Vanipedia Articles - Who Is Śrīla Prabhupāda‎]]
[[Category:Vanipedia Articles - Ācārya, Guru and Spiritual Master‎]] 

<div id="vani-provenance" style="display:none;" data-source="Vanipedia" data-author="Srila Prabhupada Vani Temple" data-license="CC BY-NC-SA 4.0" data-origin-url="{{fullurl:{{PAGENAME}}}}">This content is a part of Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani Temple. Source: https://vanipedia.org</div>