On June 24, 2015, inside the gentle rocking of a moving train, a simple conversation turned a routine commute into a small but significant spiritual commitment. Amid the clatter of wheels and the rustle of newspapers, one passenger named Udit received not just a book, but a practical, loving invitation to weave Lord Krishna’s words into the fabric of his everyday routine.
I offered him a copy of Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
“We already have Bhagavad Gita in our home… Thanks,” he said politely.
“So have you studied it?”
“No… Due to time constraint…”
“You can have this Bhagavad Gita right now and study it after reading the newspaper for a few minutes,” I suggested gently. “Develop this small daily practice: Whenever you sit down to read the newspaper, take just 5 minutes separately for the Gita. That way, you’ll naturally remember to study. When we can read the newspaper every single day without any ‘time constraint,’ why not give the same loving attention to the Gita?”
“Actually,” I continued, “human life is awarded precisely to know the supreme truth and develop love for Him. Kindly utilize it.”
“But what about the one in my home…?”
“Let that one be for your parents and family. This will be your personal copy—which you can carry with you during journeys like this, on trains, buses, or anywhere life takes you.”
He paused, then nodded thoughtfully. “Hmm… Alright… Show me please?”
As I handed him the book, the compartment seemed to quiet for a moment.
I am thankful to him for committing to utilize his time—right in the midst of reading the newspaper—to study the Bhagavad Gita!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, whose Bhagavad Gita, As It Is, fits so naturally into even the busiest schedules, turning ordinary moments into portals of devotion.
This train conversation is a gentle, practical reminder for all of us: We rarely complain about “no time” for the newspaper, social media scroll, or morning coffee. Yet the same 24 hours hold space for Lord Krishna when we decide to create it. Five minutes after the headlines? That’s all it takes to begin. A personal copy carried in the bag or pocket becomes a constant companion—reminding us that while the world reports yesterday’s events, Lord Krishna speaks of eternal truth right now.
Udit’s “Alright” wasn’t a grand vow; it was a small, sincere yes to a simple habit. And that’s often how bhakti grows—quietly, consistently, one verse at a time, right alongside the things we already do every day.
To every reader who picks up a newspaper (or phone) each morning: What if the next five minutes after the news became your sacred pause? A verse, a translation, a reflection on Lord Krishna’s words. No big lifestyle overhaul—just a gentle shift in priority. Human life is short; the newspaper comes and goes, but the Gita stays with you forever.
Have you ever turned a daily habit (coffee, commute, scroll) into a spiritual anchor? Or carried a personal copy of the Gita on your travels? Share your small story below—your simple “alright” might inspire someone else on their next train ride.
More heartfelt train journeys and daily-life awakenings coming soon, all building toward a book filled with these sacred, everyday yeses to Lord Krishna. Keep making space—He fills it with love.