Tea or Husband? - The Moment That Changed History

My Family Life (Prabhupada)

For thirty years, Śrīla Prabhupāda lived as a dutiful householder, running a business and raising a family. Yet, history knows him as the world's greatest renunciate. What happened? In these personal revelations, Śrīla Prabhupāda pulls back the curtain on his domestic life, showing how Kṛṣṇa gradually severed his material ties to free him for a greater purpose.

A Mismatch Made in Heaven

Arranged marriages were the norm in Vedic culture, but Śrīla Prabhupāda frankly admitted that he and his wife were not compatible.

• I may inform you in this connection about my family life. Actually, I never liked my wife. I was going to marry another, but my father saved me from the danger and he told me that you do not like your wife, that is the grace of Krishna

He realized later that if he had been happily married to a devoted wife, he might never have left home to preach.

The Ultimatum

The turning point came over a seemingly trivial issue: tea. His wife was addicted to it, despite his requests. One day, he gave her a final choice.

• I gave her (my wife) final, that "Either you have to give up your tea or your husband." (laughter) So she agreed to give up husband, not tea. (laughter) So I left my home. That's all

This incident was not the cause, but the catalyst. It was the moment he realized his family could not share his spiritual vision.

Forced by Krishna

Śrīla Prabhupāda often said he was "forced" to take sannyāsa. He had tried to be a businessman and a preacher simultaneously, but Kṛṣṇa wanted 100% of his energy.

• It is by the grace of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura that I was forced to give up my family life, my so-called business life, and he brought me some way or other into preaching his gospel
• I was a householder. I never dreamt. But circumstantially I was forced to accept the sannyasa dress just to become a preacher

The Spiritual Family

He left his home with nothing, but he gained the world. He often comforted his disciples by pointing out that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Father who provides everything.

• I was pet child of my father whom I lost in 1930... But Krishna has sent me so many fathers to take care of me in a far distant place in USA
• Krishna is so kind that although I left my few children born out of this physical body, Krishna has sent many nice beautiful obedient children for propagating my mission

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s life proves that renunciation is not a loss; it is an exchange. He gave up a finite family to embrace the whole world.

• Practically your country is my home now... factually where my spiritual family exists, there is my home

Dive Deeper into Srila Prabhupada's Vani

Srila Prabhupada lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Family Life (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.