Page 24 - SBV (English)

xxii Preface

Mahäräja was largely compensated when, some fifteen years after his departure,
I gained access to various narratives and insights recorded in transcriptions
of conversations with him. Another valuable source for me was the body of
statements by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda about
his guru-mahäräja.
Several times when I thought my task nearly complete, important research
material that I was previously unaware of became available to me. Thus the
undertaking seemed to assume a life of its own, gradually expanding to an extent
I had not imagined upon its commencement. Major input was proffered by a
Russian disciple of Çrépäda Bhakti Pramoda Puré Mahäräja who, on Mahäräja’s
order, had learned Bengali and spent years collecting and preserving the printed
väëé of Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura, during which he became closely acquainted with
it, and with many orally preserved anecdotes about Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura. This
devotee (who requested anonymity) graciously spent several weeks with me,
combing over the text, providing suggestions, clarifications, relevant material,
and photos of Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura. His contribution significantly meliorated
the growing tome.
Since Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté’s vaibhava (grandeur and glory)
is principally manifested in his viläsa (pastimes) and väëé (teachings), Çré
Bhaktisiddhänta Vaibhava attempts to give an intimate look at his viläsa through
reminiscences of those who lived with him, and to thereby reveal his attributes,
character, and achievements, insofar as they may be apprehended by limited
sensibility—for a great person is known not only by his achievements and
instructions but also by his conduct, his commitment to live by what he professes,
and his genuine regard and empathy for others, as manifested at each moment
and in every detail of his life. In addition, Çré Bhaktisiddhänta Vaibhava presents
drops from the vast and fathomless ocean that constitutes Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
Sarasvaté’s väëé, which being inseparable from and the very meaning of his
viläsa, reveal not only his extraordinary intellectual depth, but even more, the
magnitude of his transcendental personality. And because that personality is
saturated with and nondifferent from bhakti-vinoda, Çré Bhaktisiddhänta Vaibhava
necessarily also provides some insights and anecdotes illuminating the renown
of Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura.

printed in the early 1940s, yet the work was stopped. According to one source, years later
a devotee retrieved the galley proofs from Sundaränanda Vidyävinoda Prabhu’s home,
but the bag in which he kept them was stolen. However, apparently it was deliberately
destroyed. (See vol. 1, p. 309, fn *)