Srila Prabhupada Passtimes:47-I am going not to beg but to give

Giriraj Swami: Sometimes gentlemen would come to meet Srila Prabhupada and discuss with him.

Once I was struck when Srila Prabhupada told one gentleman that the government of India should have a Department of Bhagavad-gita, that Bhagavad-gita is the greatest asset of India and it should be preached all over the world. But then he said, “Unfortunately, the government is neglecting.” Quite often he would say that India’s ambassadors go all over the world and beg,“Give me money, give me rice, give me this, give me that.” And Srila Prabhupada said, “But I am going not to beg but to give. I am giving the knowledge of Bhagavad-gita, and people are appreciating.”

Reference: Following Srila Prabhupada – Remembrances by Yadubara Dasa