A Set for Someone
Arvind Prabhu, a devotee in the Brahamchari Trainee group of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Chowpatty was one of the leading book distributors in the recently concluded book marathon. He recalls an interesting experience about distributing a Srimad Bhagavatam set:
It was the third week of the marathon. I had already distributed 1008 Bhagavad Gitas, which was my target, and had become bored of making the same announcements in the local train. Now even the commuters looked familiar. Therefore, I decided to try and distribute Srimad Bhagavatam sets. One day I met a Gujarati gentleman in the local train. "Do you have a Bhagavad Gita?" I asked.
"Yes, I have yours and I have read it." he said.
"Try Srimad Bhagavatam."
"No, thanks."
"No problem. You give me your phone no. I will call you later."
I called the man and convinced him to take a Gujarati Srimad Bhagavatam set. I got the set from the temple, and he promised to collect it from our bookstall at the Nerul train station in the evening. I waited from 5 to 5:30 pm. He did not turn up. I tried calling him, sent SMS, but no reply. I even called him from another number. Yet no response. After two days, I called him again. He picked up.
"You betrayed me," I said. He replied that he was caught up in some business dealing and promised to pick up the set that evening.
Again, I waited for him on the platform. Again, he failed to turn up. The next day, I met a Gujarati man traveling with his 17-18 year old son. I offered them a book and the son took one English Bhagavad Gita. I offered the elderly man Srimad Bhagavatam. "No, thanks," he said. I took his number and decided to follow-up. For three days, he kept on saying no. Then I said, "I will come to your house and show you the set."
I went to his house. The wife and son were out. I gave a lecture for half an hour, after which he seemed convinced. Just when I thought that he was going to take the set, he dropped a bombshell.
"I will ask my wife."
"Oh, no!" I thought. "It took me half an hour to convince this man by showing him the whole set. What will the wife say, when she doesn't know anything about glories of Srimad Bhagavatam?"
I knew the answer. Yet while he was making the phone call, I prayed intensely to the Lord. He returned, and even before he opened his mouth, I knew the verdict of thewife
"No."
But I was not going to give up so easily. Again, I preached to him for half an hour and then I asked. "How long have you been married?"
"20 years."
"Did you, in these 20 years, ever do anything which your wife had asked you not to do?"
"Yes, of course."
"How many times?”
"Many times."
"Please do it one more time. This is your decision. I am sure you will be able to convince her."
He took the set!
Srila Prabhupada transcendental book distribution ki jai!