On November 4, 1997, VNN noted that, in their preliminary investigation, they found the following conversation on the tapes. Some of the transcriptions reviewed as of that date matched the folio, and some could not be found on the folio. Sound files for this conversation were posted on the VNN website.
Room Conversation, Vrindavan 11/9-10/77
Devotee: What did Prabhupada just say?
Unknown (Indian accent): Prabhupad just said that this morning his condition was bad.
Bhavananda: SP was complaining about mental distress this morning.
Kaviraja: (Hindi)... mental distress?
Prabhupada: (Hindi)... poison.
Kaviraja: (Hindi)
Devotee: Some one gave him poison.
Kaviraja: (Hindi)
Tamal Krishna: Prabhupada was thinking that someone was poisoning him. That was the mental disturbance.
Kaviraja: (Hindi)
Tamal Krishna: What did Kaviraja say?
Unknown (Indian accent): He said that when Srila Prabhupada is saying that there must be some truth behind it.
Devotee: What is ....?
Devotee: That someone gave him some poison - powdered (many voices - hindi)
Tamal Krishna: Srila Prabhupada, Shastraji says that there must be some truth to it if you said that. So who is it that has poisoned? Pause......
Kaviraja: (Hindi - asking SP)
(Hindi conversation)
Devotee: What did he say?
Unknown (Indian accent): He said that it is quiet possible that Mercury is a kind of poison.
Kaviraja: Very poison...
Bhavananda: What medicine was he taking before that.
Unknown (Indian accent): He is referring to a big case husband poisoning the wife.
Tamal Krishna: No poison is strong enough to stop the harinam.
Room Conversation, Vrindavan 11/10/77Jagadisa: Srila Prabhupada, can you tell us why you want to go on the parikrama?
Bhakti-caru: (Bengali) (break)
Prabhupada: ...good paddy.
Tamala Krsna: This seems like suicide, Srila Prabhupada, this program. It seems to some of us like it's suicidal.
Prabhupada: And this is also suicidal.
Tamala Krsna: Hm. Prabhupada said, "And this is also suicide." Now you have to choose which suicide.
Prabhupada: The Ravana will kill and Rama will kill. Better to be killed by Rama. Eh? That Marica--if he does not go to mislead Sita, he'll be killed by Ravana; and if he goes to be killed by Rama, then it is better.
Tamala Krsna: Who is this Prabhupada's talking about?
Devotees: Marica.
Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada? I mean, just judging the symptoms, which is all that we can do, certain symptoms have certainly picked up. For instance, you're passing more urine, stool is coming naturally, and you're able to drink milk without getting any cough. These things were never there before.
Prabhupada: Hm. That will continue.
In his report, Balavanta dasa notes: “another tape from the same location dated November 10, 1977, the original of which is also with the Archives, contains a whisper which was picked up by the tape recorder. The statement in the whisper refers to poison. This tape was digitally processed for clarity by an independent laboratory in Gainesville, Florida. According to the laboratory technician the following is the probable contents of the whispered statement either:
1. "Lets not poison him and go" or
2. "Lets now poison him and go."The Archives have confirmed that they, too, hear this whisper on their copy of the tape.”
In an article dated November 12, 1997, VNN wrote: “VNN has received reports from other devotees who are analyzing the tapes and according to their findings the passage on the tape could also say:
"Put the poison in" or
"Put the poison in the milk" or
"Put the poison in the cup".or
"Is the poison in the milk?... Hmm..."
“This passage is shortly after Srila Prabhupada mentions "milk" and a loud "click" can be heard on the tape as in a poorly done editing cut.”
Mahabuddhi dasa reports: “On tapes 2, 18, 19 & 20 there are definite conversations regarding Srila Prabhupada's health.”
According to Mahabuddhi, the following occurred on tape 20|T-46: “...on the tape it was mentioned that he could now pass urine where he couldn't before, he could now pass stool without artificial help, and he could now drink milk without coughing and was getting stronger. Jayapataka Swami was speaking to Srila Prabhupada regarding this point and his taking of milk when someone tried to turn off the tape and clear their throat, and a whisper could be heard in which we deciphered on our digitally enhanced equipment as "Let's put poison in his milk!" We could hear this pretty clearly, as it differed from your (Balavanta’s) version from the BBT Tape.
Mahabuddhi further says about tape 20|T-46: “As far as we have heard the following people were heard on the tape as being present at that meeting: Jayapataka Swami (Who was speaking to Srila Prabhupada, and is the least likely to have whispered near the microphone as he was speaking), Tamal Krsna Goswami (Who's whereabouts in the room are not known, as he does not speak until later), Bhavananda dasa (Who by hearing the tape is the loudest and closest to the microphone, when he speaks up again in the conversation) Bhakti Caru Swami, (Who's whereabouts are also unknown as he does not speak to later). No other voices are heard on the tape, so if anyone else is present, they do not speak.”
In an addendum to the above report, Mahabuddhi later wrote, “Upon further investigation it is noted that the area you have reported on in the tape saying "Lets now poison him and go" or something to that effect is a different part of the tape than what we discovered as "Lets put the poison in his milk" which is much more clear and about 30 counter points behind the area you were talking about. There are two distinct poison references on this tape.
"Also, listening later on in the tape shortly after "Poison in the Milk" part, actually Bhakti Caru Maharaja asks Srila Prabhupada in Bengali if he would like milk? Srila Prabhupada agrees, he drinks, and Bhakti Caru asks if it is too hot and Srila Prabhupada answers no it is extremely sweet!”
“If you listen to the tapes and you understand it in the same way - you have to wonder why they moved the microphone away when Jayapataka Maharaja was speaking to Srila Prabhupada, as his voice gets cut off, then you hear the attempt to turn the microphone off, the faint whispers of "lets put poison in the milk" and then you can hear Jayapataka Maharaj still talking to Srila Prabhupada farther away. Whoever taped this tape also moved it and was there when the whisper of poisoning Srila Prabhupada was said. This tape was taped exactly 20 years ago to this date 11/10 and 11/11 . Bhakti Caru was asking in Bengali, my wife understood it but to make absolutely clear it should be double checked by a Bengali speaker. It seems a logical progression in this tape that some question was asked about poison, then an agreement to put it in his milk then the offering of the milk and then it is extremely sweet. If this is true. Tamal Krsna Maharaja, Bhakti-Caru Maharaja, and Bhavananda dasa have a lot of explaining to do.”
At a later date, VNN added to this report: “Further investigation into the final tapes have determined that both Hansadutta dasa (whereabouts in the room unknown) and Bhurijana prabhu (whereabouts in the room unknown) were also present in the room during these Nov 10th discussions in Vrndaban, India.”
On November 16, 1997, VNN reported, “Bir Krishna Swami shares his findings: "I have very very sophisticated sound processing equipment. The clip in question does not mention poison but the whisper says: 'That's not part of the treatment' If you listen carefully you will see that it is what is said." and "If you listen to the sound file posted on the VNN page with very sensitive headphones you will hear that this is actually what is said."
On November 17, 1997, VNN wrote: “VNN is awaiting the results from the forensic lab as well as the transcripts from the Hindi section of the tapes in which Srila Prabhupada apparently clearly states that he thought that he was given poison in a conversation with a kaviraja.
Many of you have requested the sound clip to be available in WAV format. So here it is:
(The whisper starts about 60 seconds after Srila Prabhupada asks for milk) Sound Clip in WAV Sound File (390 kb)
Another whisper has been discovered shortly before the one above which is very faint and is also being analyzed now. As soon as the findings of this analysis becomes available VNN will post it."
On November 18, 1997, VNN posted the following transcript, along with the audio file:
“Srila Prabhupada: "Hmm"
About 7 seconds into the clip there is a whisper which is currently being analyzed: ".... is going down" (that is what we hear)
Person: Giggles
Jayapataka: (speaks about kaviraja)
Srila Prabhupada: "I drink milk?"
Towards the end of this clip is the controversial "poison" whisper.
On November 18, 1997, VNN posted a letter dated the previous day from Bir Krishna Swami:
"I still hear the same thing: "That's not part of the treatment." I only hear the poison thing when I am some distance from the speakers. When I am up close or use good headphones (I have top of the line Sennheisers) I hear the statement about treatment.
What can I do. I have tried my best to hear the poison statement but it disappears when I listen closely as above mentioned."
On November 18, 1997, Ameyatma dasa wrote to VNN:
“My question is what is that loud distorted beep sound as the tape cuts off while Jayapataka speaks and just before the whisper comes on. It does not sound like a start / stop tape deck sound. Also, why would the tape start just as the person starts to whisper? Anyway, I would need to hear both the BBT version and this one to see what are the differences.
I also think, in reference to the Lab report on the Appointment tapes, that it has to be stressed that their preliminary conclusion cannot possibly be given that much credit. What I mean is that unless they were given a number of tapes that were recorded on the same deck at around the same time using the same brand of tape I don't see how they could reach the conclusions they have. They must realize the deck used was most often battery powered and that the tapes may charactoristically display some of the anomolies that he found just in the normal operation of the tapes. I have listened to a number of Prabhupad lecture tapes recorded on the Urih (sp?) tape deck used for Prabhupad and many times heard tape deck related sounds. Especially if the deck was being hand held or carried on the shoulder strap as it often was while recording his walks. And, as the battery power decreased the motor is more suseptable to speed flucuations which was one thing they were looking for on the tapes. Obviously they should examine a number of other known to be 'unedited' tapes to see if the same type of slurring can be found or not.”
On November 24, 1997, VNN wrote:
“A new sound clip has been discovered that is currently under examination. It is located at the end of tape #46 just before the kirtan begins. Some say what can be heard is:
"Poison Ishvara Rasa"“The text is part of a Bengali sentence and has not been completely translated.”
In a letter to VNN dated November 24, 1997, Gadadhar dasa wrote:
RE: "Poison Ishvara Rasa"
Dear Prabhus:
PAMHO & AGTSP.
This is what I could make out of the quote.
AnKi Duloi He rasa - may mean I have anointed my eyes with your taste
Poison Ishvarya Rasa - Poison is godly taste.
but changing the word 'Ishvarya' to "aishvarya" changes the meaning slightly.
Poison Aishvarya Rasa - Poison has opulent taste.
Following is word to word translation:
Anki - Eyes
Duloi - ?
Dhul - dust (similar word - not in quote)
dhuloi - wash (similar word - not in quote)
He - O!
Rasa - taste
poison - poison
Ishvarya- Godly
Aishvarya- Opulent (similar word - not in quote)
Rasa - taste
I asked a Bengali speaking person but he could not help much. The word 'duloi' may be different than what you are saying.
I strongly believe that you need to have it heard directly by a Bengali speaking person, because slight change in what we may think is being said will cause misinterpretation. Secondly, hearing the tape little bit ahead and after the said sentence may help to clarify the context also. Thirdly, even though I feel that my translation is more or less correct, we should not take chances on this point. WE SHOULD CONFIRM IT FROM SEVERAL BENGALI PERSONS AFTER THEY HEAR THE TAPE DIRECTLY - LITTLE BIT BEFORE AND AFTER THIS SENTENCE.
They should be able to find a Bengali Speaking person in Gainsville,
Florida and Miami Florida.
Let me know if I can be of further help.
YS _ Gadadhar Dasa.