Interview — July 20, 1972, Paris

Devotee: Yes. I think this gentleman would like to have some interview with Śrīla Prabhupāda. [to other devotee:] You’re going to translate, [indistinct]? 

[to guest:] And you can sit here? And you can sit here, please? 

Prabhupāda: Give him some… 

Devotee: Sit here. 

Bhūgarbha: We have a cushion. [break] …speak any English. [break] 

Prabhupāda: Hmm? 

Bhūgarbha: The listeners probably only speak French. 

Guru-gaurāṅga: [French] 

[devotee translating questions and answers throughout] 

Frenchman: …great spiritual master, you kindly present yourself to the listeners to [indistinct]. 

Prabhupāda: I have already explained what is our mission, what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Already I have explained to some extent, and if he wants some particular answer, he can ask me. 

Frenchman: [French] 

Guru-gaurāṅga: He would like to know who you are, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and how old you are. 

Prabhupāda: I am now seventy-seven. 

Frenchman: [French] 

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translating] For how long are you at the head of this movement? 

Prabhupāda: Well, for the last five years. 

Frenchman: [French] 

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translating] Can you please describe the dress in which you are clothed? 

Prabhupāda: You can ask about some philosophy. Dress, what people will benefit knowing about my dress? Instead of wasting time in that way… I can ask you why you are in dressed in that way… That’s not very important thing. 

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translates and then asks man to please pose questions about the philosophy] 

Bhagavān: Anyone can answer those questions. 

Frenchman: [French] 

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translating] What do you think of the future? 

Prabhupāda: Huh? 

Guru-gaurāṅga: Of the future, Śrīla Prabhupāda. 

Prabhupāda: Future you can guess… Because I am seventy-seven. I may die. But these young men, they are taking. They will live, and they will spread all over the world. 

Frenchman: [French] 

Guru-gaurāṅga: He’s asking about your childhood, Śrīla Prabhupāda. 

Prabhupāda: Hmm? 

Guru-gaurāṅga: He’d like to know something about your childhood, would be my guess. 

Prabhupāda: So? 

Guru-gaurāṅga: Childhood. 

Prabhupāda: My childhood? I was all along a devotee, from my childhood. Yes. My father was a devotee, and he trained me a devotee. 

Guru-gaurāṅga: [again asks man to ask about the philosophy] 

Frenchman: [French] 

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translating] Are you happy? [devotees laugh] 

Prabhupāda: What do you think? What do you think? I’m happy or unhappy? [end] 

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