The “Revised and Enlarged” edition of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is distributed by today’s ISKCON is very different from Srila Prabhupada’s original Gita. Jayadvaita Swami, who radically changed ISKCON’s Gita in the early 80’s without any authorization from Srila Prabhupada, says in a note in the Revised & Enlarged edition (1983 printing):
“…the Sanskrit editors were by now accomplished scholars. And now they were able to see their way through perplexities in the manuscript by consulting the same Sanskrit commentaries Srila Prabhupada consulted when writing Bhagavad-gita As It Is.”
The BBT editors may think they are very great scholars, qualified to go back to the original scriptures and “correct” Srila Prabhupada’s translations… But Srila Prabhupada didn’t have so much faith in his “Sanskrit Scholar” disciples…
“…a little learning is dangerous, especially for the Westerners. I am practically seeing that as soon as they begin to learn a little Sanskrit immediately they feel that they have become more than their guru and then the policy is kill guru and be killed himself.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to Dixit das on 18 Sep 1976)
There are some typographical errors in the 1972 printing and if Jayadvaita had simply corrected the obvious typos no one would have been at all concerned.
The problem is Jayadvaita did not just correct typographical errors. He has also changed so many things. There are thousands of changes which are completely unnecessary, change for the sake of change. Most of the changes make no improvement to the book whatsoever. However these changes alter whole “feel” and style of the book and devotees do not like the new “style.”
Among his more than 5,000 changes to Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is there are many major changes to the meaning of the text in the original book amid thousands of petty changes which apparently do not change the meaning…
There are hundreds of changes that completely alter the meaning of what Srila Prabhupada says in the original book including many that change philosophical points Srila Prabhupada personally confirmed while giving his classes and hearing his original Bhagavad-gita As It Is read by devotees…
To give some idea of the changes we have collected 108 of them. This is by no means a complete list. There are hundreds more similar changes that COMPLETELY alter the meaning of the text in Srila Prabhupada’s book, but these 108 changes will give us a small insight as to how different the current ISKCON Bhagavad-gita is from Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
I guarantee if you take a little time to carefully go through this paper you will be surprised and shocked to see than the GBC could allow such meddling with Srila Prabhupada’s books…
These 108 changes are only a few examples we have selected to illustrate the fact that ISKCON’s current “Revised and Enlarged” Bhagavad-gita, in many cases, presents a completely different message from the one presented in Srila Prabhupada’s original Gita. It’s NOT, NOT, NOT at all the same message one gets by reading Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is! It’s a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BOOK to Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Srila Prabhupada completely approved his original Bhagavad-gita As It Is , he read it himself daily and gave all of his classes from it. He certainly did not give ANYONE the AUTHORITY to “revise and enlarge” it.
ISKCON have never explained why they have produced a “Bhagavad-gita” which contains hundreds of changes that COMPLETELY alter the meaning of the book when compared to the original version Srila Prabhupada personally read from daily, gave all his classes from and did not ask anyone to “revise and enlarge.” ISKCON’s book is completely different from Srila Prabhuapda’s Gita. There is no authority for all these changes? Srila Prabhupada gave no authority for these changes whatsoever…
Please study the following which simply presents the text from Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is followed by the corresponding changed text from ISKCON’s “revised and enlarged” Gita. Words displayed in red have been deleted and words in green have been added into the new book.
Bg 2.8 P ORIGINAL:
…they can achieve real happiness only if they consult Krsna, or the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam–which constitute the science of Krsna–or the bona fide representative of Krsna, the man in Krsna consciousness.
Bg 2.8 P REVISED & ENLARGED:
…they can achieve real happiness only if they consult Krsna, or the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam–which constitute the science of Krsna–through the bona fide representative of Krsna, the man in Krsna consciousness.
(1) It’s only one word changed, but what a difference! In Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita we can understand Krsna by reading the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, after all the books are not different from Krsna!! This is no longer possible, according to ISKCON’s current Gita.
Bg 2.18 P ORIGINAL:
…The body itself is unimportant. Arjuna was advised to fight and to sacrifice the material body for the cause of religion.
Bg 2.18 P REVISED & ENLARGED:
…The body itself is unimportant. Arjuna was advised to fight and not sacrifice the cause of religion for material, bodily considerations.
(2) Arjuna WAS advised by Krsna to “sacrifice the material body for the cause of religion…” But one would never know that by reading the current ISKCON version. This is typical of Jayadvaita’s word juggling. He uses many of the same words as in the original book but moves them around to get a completely different meaning…
Bg 2.25 T ORIGINAL:
It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.
Bg 2.25 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable and immutable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.
(3) One would never know the soul is unchangeable by reading they current ISKCON Gita… They concept that the soul is unchangeable has been deleted…
Bg 2.30 T ORIGINAL:
O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body is eternal and can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any creature.
Bg 2.30 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any living being.
(4) If one removes “is eternal” [perhaps by studying the original sanskrit to “correct” Srila Prabhupada’s translation] it is NOT the same thing as the book Srila Prabhupada personally read from daily and gave all his classes from. Is it? Why didn’t Jayadvaita Swami listen to Srila Prabhupada’s classes?
“O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body is eternal and can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any creature.”
Prabhupada: Dehi nityam avadhyo ‘yam dehe sarvasya bharata. Dehe, dehe means body, within the body. This topic began, dehino ‘smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara. Deha, dehi. Dehi means one who possesses the body. Just like guni. Asthate in prata. The grammatical. Guna, in, deha, in, in prata. Dehin sabda. So the nominative case of dehin sabda is dehi. Dehi nityam, eternal. In so many ways, Krsna has explained. Nityam, eternal. Indestructible, immutable. It does not take birth, it does not die, it is always, constantly the same. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. In this way, again he says nityam, eternal. (730831BG.LON)
Here Srila Prabhupada very clearly stresses that ‘nityam’ means eternal. But Jayadvaita has “intelligently” removed “eternal” form the current ISKCON translation of this verse!
Bg 2.31 P ORIGINAL:
…Discharging one’s specific duty in any field of action in accordance with varnasrama-dharma serves to elevate one to a higher status of life.
Bg 2.31 P REVISED & ENLARGED:
…Discharging one’s specific duty in any field of action in accordance with the orders of higher authorities serves to elevate one to a higher status of life.
(5) Why bother with varnasrama-dharma? How can one make spiritual advancement by following varnasrama-dharma? No. One has to surrender to the ISKCON authorities…
Bg 2.40 P ORIGINAL:
If someone gives up self-gratificatory pursuits and works in Krsna consciousness and then falls down on account of not completing his work, what loss is there on his part?
Bg 2.40 P REVISED & ENLARGED:
If someone gives up his occupational duties and works in Krsna consciousness and then falls down on account of not completing his work, what loss is there on his part?
(6) Is it really the same thing to give up “self-gratificartory pursuits” and to give up “occupational duties?”
Bg 2.48 T ORIGINAL:
Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.
Bg 2.48 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.
(7) Just see! We get absolutely no hint at all from the current ISKCON translation that a devotee is “steadfast in yoga” or a devotee has any “evenness of mind.” However, when Tamala Krsna read the verse to Srila Prabhupada in 1968 (681216BG.LA) Prabhupada had this to say:
Tamala Krsna: “Be steadfast in your duty, O Arjuna, and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.”
Prabhupada: This is the explanation of yoga, evenness of mind. Yoga-samatvam ucyate. If you work for Krsna, then there is no cause of lamentation or jubilation. Jubilation is there because you are working for Krsna, but there is no cause of lamentation. Yoga-sthah kuru karmani, yogah karmasu kausalam. That is the secret of activities, how you can very diligently work at the same time you are not entangled with the actions. That is the secret. Go on.
Srila Prabhupada very clearly accepts the translation As It Is!!! He does not say “It’s wrong! Please get Jayadvaita Swami to change it…”
Not only does Srila Prabhupada accept the translation As It Is, he says “This is the explanation of yoga, evenness of mind.” And Jayadvaita Swami has completely deleted it!!!
Bg 2.49 T ORIGINAL:
O Dhananjaya, rid yourself of all fruitive activities by devotional service, and surrender fully to that consciousness. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.
Bg 2.49 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
O Dhananjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service, and in that consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.
(8) This is completely different. The original is all about giving up fruitive activities, it means activities that we perform because we desire to enjoy the fruits or the results of those activities. A devotee only performs activities for the pleasure of Krishna. He never performs any activities because he wants to himself enjoy the results of them. This is the concept of ridding ourselves of all frutitve activities. Here the emphasis has been taken off “freeing oneself from all fruitive activities.” Also the the meaning of surrender has been changed… Anyhow it’s very different from the translation clearly accepted by Srila Prabhupada in his physical presence.
Bg 2.51 T ORIGINAL:
The wise, engaged in devotional service take refuge in the Lord, and free themselves from the cycle of birth and death by renouncing the fruits of action in the material world. In this way they can attain that state beyond all miseries.
Bg 2.51 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
By thus engaging in devotional service to the Lord, great sages or devotees free themselves from the results of work in the material world. In this way they become free from the cycle of birth and death and attain the state beyond all miseries [by going back to Godhead].
(9) Krishna! It’s difficult to work out what Jayadvaita is trying to do here! The original translation is so perfectly clear and obvious. After reading it there’s no doubt what it says… “The wise, engaged in devotional service take refuge in the Lord and free themselves from the cycle of birth and death by renouncing the fruits of action in the material world. In this way they can attain that state beyond all miseries.” What’s wrong with that? It’s perfect! When we read Jayadvaita’s translation it’s not at all clear… And the meaning is completely different from the one personally approved by Srila Prabhupada!
Here Jayadvaita Swami has again covered up the point that devotees renounce the fruits of action. He doesn’t seem to like this point and often obscures it, but it’s a basic cornerstone of Krsna Consciousness… Whatever fruits our actions produce are not ours! They’re Krsna’s and should be used in Krsna’s service. That’s renouncing the fruits of our actions, we don’t enjoy them ourselves, we use them for Krsna’s enjoyment…
So what did Srila Prabhupada think about the original translation? Did he ask Jayadvaita to change it?
Tamala Krsna: “The wise, engaged in devotional service, take refuge in the Lord and free themselves from the cycle of birth and death by renouncing the fruits of action in the material world.”
Prabhupada: Yes. There is purport?
Tamala Krsna: No. There’s a little more to that sloka.
Prabhupada: All right. Finish.
Tamala Krsna: “In this way they can attain that state beyond all miseries.”
Prabhupada: Read it again.
Tamala Krsna: “The wise, engaged in devotional service, take refuge in the Lord and free themselves from the cycle of birth and death by renouncing the fruits of action in the material world. In this way they can attain that state beyond all miseries.”
Prabhupada: How easy it is. You take to Krsna consciousness, you act in Krsna consciousness, you overcome the cycle of birth and death. And as soon as you overcome the cycle of birth and death, you overcome all miseries. Because birth and death means this material body. The living entity, spirit soul, has no birth and death. And anyone who possesses this material body has to undergo the threefold miseries of the material world. A similar passage is there in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The other day, as I was speaking to you, nunam pramattah kurute vikarma. All these people, they are acting in a way which they ought not to have done. Nunam pramattah. But they are acting as madmen. Why? Yad indriya-pritaya, for satisfaction of the senses. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti na sadhu manye. This is not good. Because he does not know that he has achieved this material body by working in that way in his previous life. Again he is working in that way. So he’ll have to accept again this material body, therefore he’s miser. He’s not properly utilizing. Go on.
So it’s obvious Srila Prabhupada approved of, accepted and fully authorized the original translation! He had Tamala Krsna read it and agreed, “Yes, there is purport?” Then he had Tamala read it again, “How easy it is…” There is absolutely no hint Srila Prabhupada even considered anyone would dare to change the translation he personally heard twice here and completely agreed with and approved of…
Bg 2.57 T ORIGINAL:
He who is without attachment, who does not rejoice when he obtains good, nor lament when he obtains evil, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.
Bg 2.57 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.
(10) Here the principle of being without attachment is completely removed from Jayadvaita’s translation. Of course he may say he has some secret manuscript he has got this information from or he may have studied the Sanskrit and by his great learning in the Sanskrit language decided there was no attachment in the original Sanskrit. But where did he get the authority from to retranslate this verse?
Bg 2.61 P ORIGINAL:
The Yoga-sutra also prescribes meditation on Visnu, and not meditation on the void. The so-called yogis who meditate on something which is not the Visnu form simply waste their time in a vain search after some phantasmagoria. We have to be Krsna conscious–devoted to the Personality of Godhead. This is the aim of the real yoga.
Bg 2.61 P REVISED & ENLARGED:
The Yoga-sutra also prescribes meditation on Visnu, and not meditation on the void. The so-called yogis who meditate on something which is not on the Visnu platform simply waste their time in a vain search after some phantasmagoria. We have to be Krsna conscious–devoted to the Personality of Godhead. This is the aim of the real yoga.
(11) Just see how he works! He has not even deleted any words at all here! He has just added in “on” and “plat” and see the effect it has! The original says anyone who meditates on something other than the Visnu form is wasting his time, but Jayadvaita has to adjust this as what about the impersonalists? They meditate on the impersonal form, etc… Surely they’re not wasting their time?? So has to change Srila Prabhupada’s purport…
Bg 2.66 T ORIGINAL:
One who is not in transcendental consciousness can have neither a controlled mind nor a steady intelligence, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?
Bg 2.66 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
One who is not connected with the Supreme [in Krsna consciousness] can have neither transcendental intelligence nor a steady mind, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?
(12) “A controlled mind…” In the original we can clearly see there’s no possibility of peace and happiness without a controlled mind, but in Jayadvaita’s translation the mind control has become a “steady mind?” He has also made it very confusing. The meaning is no where near as clear as the original. Who said Jayadvaita was making “better English?” He’s making bewildering English!
Tamala Krsna: 66: “One who is not in transcendental consciousness can have neither a controlled mind nor steady intelligence, without which there is no possibility of peace, and how can there be any happiness without peace?”
Prabhupada: Everyone in this material world, they are after peace, but they don’t want to control the senses. It is not possible. Just like you are diseased, and doctor says that “You take this medicine, you take this diet,” but you cannot control. You are taking anything you like, against the instruction of the physician. Then how you can be cured? Similarly, we want cure of the chaotic condition of this material world, we want peace and prosperity, but we are not ready to control the senses. We do not know how to control the senses. We do not know the real yogic principle of controlling the senses. So there is no possibility of peace. Kutah santir ayuktasya. The exact word is there in the Bhagavad-gita. If you are not engaged in Krsna consciousness, there is no possibility of peace. Artificially, you may try for it. It is not possible. Go on. (681219BG.LA)
Just see! Srila Prabhupada heard this verse personally and immediately he is preaching on the point of sense control! Where does he say “Get Jayadvaita Swami to delete mind control from the translation?” No. He does not say that. He preaches on sense control!
Bg 3.3 T ORIGINAL:
The Blessed Lord said: O sinless Arjuna, I have already explained that there are two classes of men who realize the self. Some are inclined to understand Him by empirical, philosophical speculation, and others are inclined to know Him by devotional work.
Bg 3.3 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O sinless Arjuna, I have already explained that there are two classes of men who try to realize the self. Some are inclined to understand it by empirical, philosophical speculation, and others by devotional service.
(12) Just a few of Jayadvaita Swami’s little “corrections…”
Bg 3.6 T ORIGINAL:
One who restrains the senses and organs of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.
Bg 3.6 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
One who restrains the senses of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.
Bg 3.7 T ORIGINAL:
On the other hand, he who controls the senses by the mind and engages his active organs in works of devotion, without attachment, is by far superior.
Bg 3.7 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Krsna consciousness] without attachment, he is by far superior.
(13 & 14) This is one of the most amazing changes. Jayadvaita has removed or changed ALL the main points in the original verse! The original clearly says one who CONTROLS his senses by the mind and ENGAGES in works of devotion is by far superior… After reading all of Srila Prabhupada’s other books and hearing his classes one would expect to find this in Srila Prabhuapda’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Jayadvaita’s version is a little different… He’s much more generous. According to him if a “sincere person” TRIES to control the senses and BEGINS karma-yoga [in Krsna consciousness] he is by far superior! One does not even have to control his senses, just “try to”, and he does not even have to be engaged in devotional service, he just has to “begin karma-yoga…” We can note [according to Jayadvaita] one does not even have to make any advancement in karma-yoga, if he just begins karma-yoga and TRIES to control his senses he is by far superior!!
So is there any hint Srila Prabhupada wanted Jayadvaita to make these changes to this verse? Is there any hint Srila Prabhupada was not satisfied with the original translation?
Sudama: Verse number seven: “On the other hand, he who controls the senses by the mind and engages his active organs in works of devotion without attachment is by far superior.”
Prabhupada: Yes. Instead of artificially trying to meditate and control the senses, just engage your senses in the activities of Krsna consciousness and gradually you will be happy. Your senses will be controlled. Go on. (681223BG.LA)
Srila Prabhupada clearly hears the original translation has no objections to it whatsoever! Rather Srila Prabhupada completely agrees with the original translation and EMPHASISES the very points Jayadvaita has DELETED in his translation!! Srila Prabhupada emphasises engaging the senses in Krishna consciousness and thus controlling them. But there’s no hint in Jayadvaita’s translation of engaging the senses in devotional service [just “beginning karma-yoga”??] and there’s no mention of controlling them either [just TRYING to control the senses…]
Bg 3.8 T ORIGINAL:
Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. One cannot even maintain his physical body without work.
Bg 3.8 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work.
(15) This is interesting. Another little “correction.” But Srila Prabhupada heard the original verse many times and never requested that it be “corrected…”
“Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. A man cannot even maintain his physical body without work.”
Prabhupada: Krsna never said that “You sit down, lazy.” You must work. And that is intelligence, how to engage a person in some work. That requires governing body. That is intelligence. They should be ready to work, and your intelligence will engage them. And there is sufficient. Why you are constructing so many centers? There is enough work to do. Just like here. All people are coming, and each one can be preached, each one can be convinced of the philosophy. (770121r2.bhu)
There is no indication anywhere that Srila Prabhupada was not satisfied with the original translation AS IT IS…
Bg 3.9 T ORIGINAL:
Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage.
Bg 3.9 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.
(16) Why has Jayadvaita removed the fact one who always performs his prescribed duties for Krishna remains unattached?
Did Prabhuapda request this change? Was he unhappy with the original translation??
Sudama: Verse number nine: “Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform prescribed duties for His satisfaction and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage.”
Prabhupada: Yes. Bondage means working for one’s own account. The same example. Just like a soldier is fighting for the country under the command of the commander in chief. The more he’s killing, he’s getting promotion, he’s getting medals. But the same man, when he comes back at home, if he kills one man, he’s hanged. Why? Because that killing and this killing is not the same thing. So one who cannot engage himself cent percent in Krsna consciousness, let him remain in his own position and try to sacrifice for Visnu or Krsna as far as possible. (681223BG.LA)
Once again, no hint anywhere that Srila Prabhupada was not happy with the original translation…
Bg 3.20 T ORIGINAL:
Even Kings like Janaka and others attained the perfectional stage by performance of prescribed duties. Therefore, just for the sake of educating the people in general, you should perform your work.
Bg 3.20 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
Kings such as Janaka attained perfection solely by performance of prescribed duties. Therefore, just for the sake of educating the people in general, you should perform your work.
(17) A few little edits…
Bg 3.20 P ORIGINAL:
…because he was the king of Mithila… he had to teach his subjects how to fight righteously in battle. He and his subjects fought to teach people in general that violence is also necessary in a situation where good arguments fail.
Bg 3.20 P REVISED & ENLARGED:
…because he was the king of Mithila… he had to teach his subjects how to perform prescribed duties. Lord Krsna and Arjuna, the Lord’s eternal friend, had no need to fight in the Battle of Kuruksetra, but they fought to teach people in general that violence is also necessary in a situation where good arguments fail.
(18) Interesting…
Bg 3.32 T ORIGINAL:
But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly, are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and doomed to ignorance and bondage.
Bg 3.32 T REVISED & ENLARGED:
But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not follow them, are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and ruined in their endeavors for perfection.
(19) So Jayadvaita has made it a little different. But did Prabhuapda ask for the change? NO! He PERSONALLY quoted the original verse AS IT IS!!
Tamala Krsna: Thirty-two: “But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and doomed to ignorance and bondage.”
Prabhupada: Yes. If somebody says, “Oh, why shall I serve God?” all right, then you shall have to serve dog. That’s all. Therefore he is befooled. He does not know that he has to serve somebody. His constitutional position is like that. He cannot escape. So therefore if he denies to serve God, Krsna, then he has to serve maya, illusion, in the hope that “I have become the master.”
Just like in your country the President Johnson was the master. Actually, he was not the master; he was the servant of the country. Now the country has dismissed him. He is no longer master. So our mastership in this material world is like that. Actually, we are servant, but we are thinking master. In a family, I am servant of my wife, I am servant of my children, I am servant of my servants, but I am thinking I am master. “I am master of this family. I am master of this country. I am master of this society.” Nobody is master.
The Caitanya-caritamrta says, therefore, “The master is only Krsna.” Ekale isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya: “Only Krsna, or God, is master, and everyone is servant.” Yare yaiche nacaya se taiche kare nrtya: “Each servant is dancing according to the order of the Supreme.” That’s all. Nobody is master. So this false conception of becoming master is called maya, illusion. Nobody is master. Therefore one who disagrees to become servant of God, he is befooled. It is said, “But those who, out of envy…” He is constitutionally servant, but he is envious: “Why shall I become God’s servant? I shall become God.” You see? Everyone is claiming, “Oh, everyone is God. Why? What is the use of becoming servant of God? I am God.” This is enviousness. So if one refuses to serve God and become envious, “disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly are to be considered bereft of all knowledge.” Because he is servant, but he is thinking, “I am master. I am not serving anyone.” This is maya, bereft of all knowledge. Go on.
Where is the hint Srila Prabhupada wanted Jayadvaita to changed the translation he heard from Tamala Krsna and then even quotes himself in his explanation? There is no AUTHORITY from Srila Prabhupada to change this verse at all. Srila Prabhupada clearly accepts the original translation AS IT IS…
Srila Prabhupada’s Original 1972 Bhagavad-gita As It Is is available at:
http://krishnastore.com/books-srila-prabhupada-om-21_38.html
and you can purchase cases at the wholesale price at:
http://krishnastore.com/books-wholesale-om-21_37.html
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy.
Your servant, Madhudvisa dasa.
Hare Krishna Prabhu !!
I just wanted to know whether any changes were made to Srimad Bhagvat also in the past by Jayadvaita.
Hare Krishna Rishi
Jayadviata Swami was an editor in the BBT in the 70’s. So at that time he did editing work on many of Srila Prabhupada’s books. That was done under the supervision and authority of Srila Prabhupada. And it was actual editing. Presenting the text nicely in English. Not changing as he has done after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance to Bhagavad-gita As It Is. If Jayadvaita had dared to make the sorts of changes that he made to Prabhupada’s Gita when Prabhupada was physically present Srila Prabhupada would have been so angry with him and probably thrown him out of ISKCON like he threw out another rascal editor who was also making unauthorized changes to his books.
There is a batch of changes made by Jayadviata in 1976 and they did not make it into the pre-1978 books as far as I am aware but they have been added into ISKCON’s current Srimad-Bhagavatam.
But the BBT have made thousands and thousands of changes to the Srimad-Bhagavatam and they want to print this new massively changed Bhagavatam but as far as I know they have not yet printed it. So I would say watch out for the next printing of the BBT Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is likely to contain thousands and thousands of completely unauthorized changes. But up to now, as far as I know, BBT have been printing the 1978 version of Srimad-Bhagavatam without changes. Only because it is such a big job to retypeset it, not because they don’t want to change it…
They do not accept Prabhupada’s orders not to change his books. They are demons. At this point they are completely aware that changing Prabhupada’s books destroys the authority of Prabhupada’s books and destroys the faith of the devotees in Prabhupada’s books, and really it appears that is what they want to do. These book changes are a direct attack at Srila Prabhupada in the form of his transcendental books.
The current BBT Caitanya-caritamrta has been revised and is full of unauthorized changes also.
So up until now the Bhagavatam has been free from unauthorized changes but with the BBT you never know what is in a book they print unless you verify that every word in the book is the same as Prabhupada’s original books. When they change the books they do not give any indication that they have changed them. It is actually criminal. You can not change someone’s books like this after he is no longer present and published the changed editions without even disclosing they have been changed.
So anyhow the point is we can not trust anything the BBT prints. You can Srila Prabhupada’s original books at http://www.KrishnaStore.com and read them online at http://www.PrabhupadaBooks.com
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna,all glories to Shri Prabhupad,I have read Shrimad Bhagvat Gita online suggested by u and at present I am reading Shrimad Bhagvatam online so I am not worried about reading any thing that is changed by anyone Hare Krishna.
hare krishna to all who reads this,
sorry, i probably gonna say obvious to everyone thing, but thats whats been in my heart for a while, so here it goes
just wanted to point out, that translations of Srila Prabhupada unique and cant be altered or ‘improved’,… in one of the conversations Srila Prabhupada said, that these books are “manifestations of my transcendetal ecstasy…”,
so when we are reading Prabhupada’s books, we are participating in his ecstasy, and emotional feelings! No Less! we can experience what he would experienced, same dovotion to Krishna. same feellings , and these would be all transcendental!
we are all in debt that can’t be paid off, to Srila Prabhupada, that only by his unlimited causess mercy, he gave us opportunity to experience his transcendental ecstasy. without him, we would have no chance to access this transcendental Krishna’s love channel!!..
so those words, that were written or dictated by Srila Prabhupada in his books, were coming out of his emotional affection to Krishna and his Guru, and such so, they had been sorted in perfect order, even though, with some grammatical mistakes, they represent a gift, that Krishna gave us through Prabhupada’s heart, to all of us, living in material world. and it is crucial to maintain it this way. Altering this gift in any way with our ‘educated material vision’ would be a greatest mistake, that will close and interrupt that invisible channel of Prabhupada’s ecstasy , he exressed in his books, through his translations and comments.
and when this invisible channel of devotion is interrupted, …—- thats would be a secret, how devotee will become a mayavada philosopher. very very subtle process ! also invisible ! So now we have a mayavada philosopher in vaishnava dress, actively preaching devotional service, but service to who? we know, that mayavada phiilosophers refuse accept service to Krishna, so whom they will teach you to serve??? to themeselves!!??!! Fame , wealth and glory — the old same story!
so these books are manifestations of his personality, his devotion to Krishna, and how we can imporve that, by grammatical juggling, or ‘ speculative mind manipulations’ of the GBC authorities? this is not question of education or erudition, or sanskrit grammar… Prabhupada had blessings from his Guru, to ” write and translate !”… and we have blessings from our Guru, Prabhupada, ” to print and distribute !”…. but NOT ” to translate” !!!!… after all, we are followers of Guru Parampara, arnt we?, really???….
No one can reproduce Srila Prabhupada’s emotional ecstasy, no matter how educated and smart we are. This is something the situated beyond of our material understanding, beyond of perception of our material senses.
(of course if someone want to pretend to represent this kind of emotions ecstasy,…. thats would be antother story, probably good enough for mental institution patient)
another example is, what Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, after listening mayavada explanation of vedanta sutra, ‘ my dear Sir, your comments like a clouds in the sky, they blocking brightness of the sun. the truth of Vedanta Sutra is clear and bright to me, like a midday sun, but you have covered it with clouds of your comments.”
Dear devotees, please dont cover truth of Srila Prabhupada books with clouds of your minds, please stop blocking the Sun! accept it as it is, and be happy !
thank you
hare krishna
Hare Krishna Madhuvisa prabhu,
I am shaken by the changes made in the new version. I am also concerned about so many new version books distributed that might totally give the new readers wrong message and not what Srila Prabhupada intended.
I am glad at the same time that I bought Bhagawada Gita as it from Krishnastore.com.
I really thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing this into notice. May Lord Krishna’s mercy be with all of us and lead us in the
correct path.
Hare Krishna!
Dear Madhudvisa prabhu,
May Lord Krishna bless you for your efforts.
It is obnoxious that they went so far. It is greatest disservice one can do for Prabhupada’s mission. It is demoniac.
I didnot expect adulteration in srila prabhupada’s books. Iam totally disheartened for such acts. This will produce permanent damages to society. Thanks for sending mail and for remedial measures by publishing original books.
Dear Madahudvisa Prabhu
Hare Krishna, I am not sure whether I am eligible to give a feedback to such a elevated person. what a great efforts have gone in to analyse in such a detail and to present to us in such a easy format. It shows your high respects to our guru sirla prabhupada and to retain his original frame work. Thanks a lot for bringing to our notice.
Please continue to enlighten us.
Regards Srikaanth
Thnk u prabhu ji for these valuable mails.can I get it daily.
Hare Krishna prabhu ji
only the small words are changed but they are changing the whole typical meanings. Many genius on the earth try there whole lifes to understand bhagvat gita and we are also trying, srila prabhupad gave very eazy understandings and meanings to help us, may god bless him for that but I coulden’t understand that what will someone get by changing them??? Are they not afraid of Krishna???
jai srila prabhupad
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Dasa:
The evidence you have prepared of changes to Bhagavad-Gita, As It Is, by Srila Prabhupada, on the part of by Iskcon current, it is very clear and forceful; I congratulate you for this great work of courageous denunciation and the preservation of the original work of Srila Prabhupada. I am sure what Krishna and Prabhupada compensate your service, because we disciples and followers of Prabhupada, we have no way to pay you this great work.
But what about the other original books of Srila Prabhupada, hardcover books like Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrita, ie, and the small books, ¿which of them have also been adulterated?
I sent my respect and obedience
Padma Carana Dasa
Hare Krishna Padma Carana Prabhu
You will find on http://www.BookChanges.com articles describing the changes to Krsna Book, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers. As far as we know other small books, except Sri Isopanasad, BBT are currently printing should still be pre-1977 editions although there is no guarantee of this as they can change the books at any moment without notifying anyone or indicating that the books have been changed on the books themselves…
The Srimad-Bhagavatam BBT were printing for many years, and I presume up to the present, is the pre-1978 editon.
You can purchase Srila Prabhupada’s original books fromm http://www.KrishnaStore.com, that is the best way. That also helps to print more original Prabhupada books.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
please leave Srila Prabhupada’s books in their unchanged format. his teachings are the lawbooks for the next nine thousand, five hundred years. Thanks
Some of the changes show direct personal hostility towards the Acarya. And since an Acarya is non different from Lord Krishna such changes show definitely deep rooted envy of the conditioned soul towards the Lord. The corporate religious hypocrite is an expert in concealing his true nature, however by the forces of unsated lust he is forced to express it in some way. So we can see the whole flood of a pus filled changes made by those BBTI racketeers.
Prabhu
How to protect Prabhupada books from being modified. Is there any legal recourse to protect the books of the author who is no longer there in the material world to protect from the unauthorized propagation under his name?
Yes there is. What BBT have done is illegal. But who cares? Who will spend the money to take them to court?
I am crying after going through these changes. I cannot fathom how such an envious person has been given authority to change srila Prabhupada books and nobody has stopped him. Are the GBC blind? Prabhupada said that his books are going to be the lawbooks for the next 10,000 years but if these rascals still continue changing Prabhupada books then everything can be finished in less than 100 years.
these rascals,asses can change any and all they want,but we will still have as it is by srila prabhupada, so don`t despair!!! Yes, many so called scholars will want to make so called new translation. It will probably be a thinly veiled adaptation of prabhupada`s. What else could it be? Ever read,or tried to read any of the other Gitas? They are stupid!! And boring! And they are definitely not as it is!!!So thus we can surmise that prabhupad wasn`t jiving when he said that about the next 10,000 years!! Let`s just make sure we have the originals and some back-ups of his texts for default!!!
Sting? Annie Lennox? There are many in (and near)this movement who have very deep pockets for any and all capricious endeavours!!
Not to put to sharp a [point on it,but that`s nine thousand five hundred and some sixty years!!!
BOGUS ~~~~ even a kid like me can find the difference between Srila Prabhupada’s mood and the false propaganda~~ ISKCON is not just an institute but heart of Srila Prabhupada. The movement you differentiate between you and ISKCON you know that you are not part of that heart…!!
Please for Prabhupada’s sake don’t create this rift…we have a lot of ground to cover … why not accept his final words as your driving principle ” your love for me will be shown by your cooperation” is this what you called cooperation ? People like me took the path of devotional service after reading the so called change version .. had it lost the potency we woudln’t be here .. our love for Prabhupada has increased by reading those edited work.. so what proof you want ??
please prabhu you are senior to me in all aspects please understand this.
As Diciples of Srila Prabhupada, we need to understand that He is to big to make mistakes. At the point a disciple would start to even consider that his exalted master has made a mistake the Fall from Grace has already begun. When He entered Samadhi the case was closed. Don’t change anything. Now we need to come together and make a concerted effort to Read, assimilate, and Distribute Srila Prabhupads Original Books. They are our only salvation, and one who understands this will get the mercy from the Spiritual Master. OM TAT SAT
Servant , you appear to be a troll. No one should be fooled by your comment. Madhuvisa prabhu has not created conflict, rather his cooperation is exemplary. If you love Srila Prabhupada you will also want to see his transcendental books unchanged. The arguments for changing have been proven the cawing of crows. Please enlighten yourself of the truth, before prematurely judging devotees who are repeating it as it is.
´If you love Srila Prabhupada you will also want to see his transcendental books unchanged.´
I second that.
this man should be thrown out of ISKCON what other people are doing. I’m very very disheartened.
ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA.
I am a follower of SRILA PRABHUPADA.
But I am dissatisfied with present day ISKCON.
Where can I find original BG, SB of SP.
I found in my 20 years of service to ISKCON
many things are changed and manipulated.
Who is the best person to guide in devotional service.
You can get all of Srila Prabhupada’s original books at:
Yes. Present day ISKCON is useless and poisonous. Better to avoid them.
Best person to guide you in devotional service is Srila Prabhupada. READ HIS BOOKS and follow the instructions you find Srila Prabhupada giving you as you read his books…
Dear Servant, whichever way we have come to Krsna consciousness is due to the causeless mercy of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Any degree of bogus misrepresentation of Sri Krsna is not what brings a person to Krsna. And it is not therefore ok to keep the bogus books such as the “Bhagavad-Gita As It Isn’ts” around– what to speak of continuing to distribute them just because some people came after receiving them. Their existence is an offense to Krsna, and those who are indifferent to an offense to Krsna or His pure devotee are offenders. Even though there are those who have come to Krsna after receiving a bogus book, they still have a bonafide book to go to, and therein lies the mercy. The Bhagavad Gita As It Is describes four types of individuals who come to Krsna. These are the initial four reasons why a person comes to Krsna. But these reasons are not those of the Maha-bhagavat pure devotee of the Lord. However, later on it is possible that one who has come to Krsna shall shed the entirety of his material affections. Bogus misinterpretations of the mercy of God may, (by the mercy of God), be seen to facilitate a person’s approach to Krsna, but a bogus presentation can in no way be legitimately construed as a means to making true advancement in Krsna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada stated that he was interested in one moon, as opposed to many stars. So the temples may fill up with so many devotees having arrived for so many reasons, and they are getting so much mercy by just coming to the temple and seeing the archa-vigraha, but ultimately what Krsna is interested in is for the devotee to surrender everything. Hare Krsna
I have both versions of everything and am going to go back over it all now, word by word, side by side. I read all of Prabhupada’s books 15 years ago but didn’t know they had been changed until after I read them. I finally have the original reprints and am very excited to begin again. I believe the changes are the reason I fell back down and I am going to dive deep into this and figure out how that happened. I didn’t finish my rounds one day, and a woman touched my arm and everything fell apart. I started arguing with the temple president about trivial things and ended up leaving. Biggest mistake of my life. That temple might still be there today if I had never left. I am sad to hear it is no more. I was at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda IRM temple in NYC. I had already read everything by the time I got there, and I didn’t think the changes were as big as they were, at the time. Even though they had said there were changed, they poisoned my guru, and he did not authorize any succession. I knew all this already. They told me they beat the GBC and the gurus in arguments, that the gurus conceded and admitted to only wanting the glory, honor, etc. You cannot falsely renounce, so I have been patiently waiting for this fish out of water to be done flapping about and die already so I can chant purely. It is almost finished, in its death throes now. I could not just make myself do it, I am not and never was in any type of control. I saw Srila Prabhupada while I was driving with my grandfather one day. There was no mistaking it. His mouth opened and he pointed at me when I looked at him as I drove past. I slowed down to get a clear look and it was him, but I could not and did not stop. I do not know what it means, but I take it for reassurance that it is only a matter of time until this nightmare is over