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(Note: This article can also be downloaded.
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(Note: This article can also be downloaded.
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Before we explain the reasoning behind the changes the critic found objectionable, a little history of Krsna book is in order.
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© CHAKRA 26-Feb-99

Bhagavad Gita Revisited
from Antardwip das JPS

Hare Krishna

I feel that the most important part of the issue concerning the editing of the Bhagavad Gita and other books is not about the authenticity of doing this, but whether it should be done when devotees object to it.

With regard to the authenticity, Maharaj writes: "I sent the same letter not only to Kirtanananda Maharaja but also to every other member of the GBC, most English-speaking ISKCON sannyasis, various other senior ISKCON devotees, and every ISKCON temple president in the English-speaking world."

However, was that enough to gain the acceptance of other ISKCON membership? No, it obviously has failed to win approval from many devotees. While some may be enviously using this to gain political support, most devotees are genuinely perplexed about the editing. Why this should be, when most changes are, frankly, irrelevant, I have a few suggestions:
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© CHAKRA 15-Dec-98

Was the Bhagavad-Gita Changed?
Studying Books of Knowledge
a correspondence


The following is an excerpt from a letter written by Vibhav Krishna das to Jayadvaita Swami:

"After demolishing the faith of people in GBC and the guru system, the latest target is Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-Gita as it is.

"HG Madhu Pandit Prabhu and the devotees of Bangalore ISKCON now point out that "Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-Gita as it is" is not really as it is, the reason being the present available edition has been tampered with. They specifically point out to the purport of Verse no:4.34. "Nor by independant study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life".

"They argue in favour of ritvikvad saying that the original text of the edition prior to 1983 do not contain the above text. This has been added they say by the GBC to support a guru system which was never desired by Srila Prabhupada.

"Could you please clarify this point to enable us to respond to persons who have been thus spoken to and to clear their confusion.

"your servants

"Vibhav Krishna das and others"

Jayadvaita Swami replies:

"The relevant part of the original unedited manuscript—it was apparently typed by Srila Prabhupada himself—reads as follows:

"'Therefore mental speculation or dry arguments cannot lead one to the right path. Neither by self study of the book of knowledge can help one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach therefore a bonafide spiritual master for receiving the knowledge.'

"I'm looking right at a photocopy of the original page. That's what it says, word for word.

"Thank you. Hare Krsna.

"—ys, js

© CHAKRA 28-Nov-98

Responsible Publishing

Prabhupada's Books Must Change
By Hari Sauri Dasa

I am not sure who the devotee is that Ananda prabhu is referring to in his text, but I appreciate his stout defence of Jayadvaita Maharaja, who was indeed given a mandate by Srila Prabhupada to edit his books to increasingly better standards. He trusted that he was competent to do this without changing the message. Having worked with Maharaja on the BTG for a year and also having gone into detail with him in the early 80s on the update of the Bhagavad-gita, I can certify that Jayadvaita Maharaja is meticulous in preserving Srila Prabhupada's message while presenting it in the best way possible.

In case anyone has anyone doubts that this on-going work of improvement should be done, here's what Srila Prabhupada himself said in the last few weeks he was with us.
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CHAKRA 23-Apr-98

Prabhupada's Books Must Change
by Ananda Das
(Reprinted from Com)

Dear Devotees:

Recently a misguided devotee has made a cause celebre of his contention that the ongoing process of improving the scholarly presentation of Srila Prabhupad's books while at the same time making them conform as closely as possible to his intent should be stopped. This devotee contends that at an arbitrary time in the past these books were perfected, and they should thereafter be fixed in time without further changes ever.

This argument, taken to its ultimate conclusion, would eventually make Prabhupad's books a curious historical artifact rather than a spiritual guide for the next 10,000 years, because the English language, as any other language, will not stand still.
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CHAKRA 23 Apr 98

"Jayadwaita Means Parampara"
A recollection by Devamrta Swami
Srila Prabhupada was touring the BBT in 1975, to turn up the heat in the famous book production marathon. He came into my office and I explained to him my service as copy editor--doing the final checks on type-composed copy. Next he walked into Jayadwaita das brahmachari's office. Sitting down on the chaddar of his chief English editor, he declared, "Jayadwaita means parampara."
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The Gita on VNN
by Dravida dasa
I would like to lodge a vociferous protest with whoever runs the Black Peacock download page, accessible on the VNN site within "Interactive Forums." And by extension I lodge a protest with the VNN operators themselves for allowing this travesty.

Among other books, the BP download page offers a Folio version of what they claim is Srila Prabhupada's Macmillan edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is, but in truth it is no such thing.
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Dravida dasa

Reading Many Books
Dravida Dasa explains
changes to BG 10.34
Madhudvisa Prabhu asked for an explanation of Jayadvaita Swami's change to BG 10.34. Here it is.

In the original transcript we find:

Medha, memory, not only to read many books on many subject matter, but to keep them in the memory and produce them when necessary, that is also another opulence.

In the Macmillan edition we find:

One need not read many books on different subject matters; the ability to remember a few and quote them when necessary is another opulence.

In the 1983 BBT edition we find:

And the ability not only to read many books on different subject matters but to understand them and apply them when necessary is intelligence (medha), another opulence.

You decide which version is closer to Prabhupada's original.

The fact is that Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter (7 Sept 1976):

Concerning the editing of Jayadvaita Prabhu, whatever he does is approved by me. I have confidence in him.

We should all follow the lead of Srila Prabhupada.

Editing the Gita
Dravida Dasa forwards a letter
from Jayadvaita Swami
Who would be willing to insist that the reference to the province of "Behar" (old edition, page 185) should not be changed to "Bihar"?

[[MAC 3.20, purp: Being a great devotee of the Lord, he was transcendentally situated, but because he was the king of Mithila (a subdivision of Behar province in India), ...]]

Chapter 16, verses 1-3, purport. Read the first line of the last paragraph in the old edition. Despite what the purport says, the transcendental qualities add up to 26, not 16. Someone typed a "1" instead of a "2," so the count is off by 10.

[[MAC 16.1-3 purp: All these sixteen qualifications mentioned are transcendental qualities. ]]

10.27. They once took a "sea journey." Hardly. Our old friend Neal the typist, the college kid who walked into 26 Second Avenue and volunteered to type, simply heard things wrong. It was "sea churning." But back in the old days in the storefront, no one knew the real story.

[[MAC 10.27 purp: The devotee demigods and the demons (asuras) once took a sea journey. On this journey, nectar and poison were produced, and Lord Siva drank the poison.]]

[[NE 10.27 purp: The devotee demigods and the demons (asuras) once took part in churning the sea. From this churning, nectar and poison were produced, and Lord Siva drank the poison.]]
...and much much more

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