Umapati Swami: When Prabhupada yelled at you, your life air would practically leave your body. In Vrindavan in the winter of 1976, I dressed the small Radha-Krishna Deities in the morning and then prepared Srila Prabhupada’s vyasasana for gurupuja. Although so many devotees were there, nobody told me that I shouldn’t be bare-chested. I thought that was how you were supposed to dress. One day, I was about to do the arati when Prabhupada said to me, “You should have something around your shoulders.” Somebody gave me a chadar to wear and I thought, “I’m supposed to wear something because I’m doing the arati.” The next day I wasn’t going to do the arati, so I didn’t bother putting anything on. When Prabhupada came in he said, “I told you to always have a wrapper! You should listen and learn!” When Prabhupada said something like that, your life air would almost leave your body. It took me days to get my composure back. But still I see this as his being mild and compassionate.
Reference: Remembrances by Sidhanta Das- Folio Vedabase
