Subject: Gita revisions
Sunday, April 14. 1996 9.05 p.m. Pacific Standard Time[usa]
Dvadasi
Dear Dravida dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
“… A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a direct connection with the saffron-mercy particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very powerful because it touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of the Lord…”
Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.25.
I have recently received some e-mail messages from America and Europe regarding some recent e-mail exchanges which you recently had with Bhakta Wolfgang from Europe about some of his inquiries regarding changes in the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is [1972 original edition]. Several pages of text where also attached which purport to be H.H. Jayadvaita Swami’s explanations of why he undertook the various editorial changes in the new Bhagavad-Gita As It Is.[the revised edition].
As you are obviously aware, many devotees have questioned these various editorial changes. I have a few questions which I have been frequently asked and which I respectfully submit before you. Your answers would be very much appreciated.
- Do you have any verifiable evidence in the form of an original letter from Srila Prabhupada or an original audio tape recording or original video tape recording where His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada specifically and directly authorized these various editorial changes in His original Bhagavad-Gita As It Is?
- Could you please provide me with the actual text of an official GBC resolution [s] where they have authorized these various editorial changes?
I hope this finds you in the best of health and Krishna Consciousness.
Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service
Yasodanandana dasa
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 09:45:12 -0700
Dear Yasodanandana Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
In answer to your questions, I don’t have any original tape recording of any kind of Srila Prabhupada authorizing the editorial changes in the Gita. And despite scouring the GBC resolutions from 1979-83, I found no reference to the Bhagavad-gita whatsover. It seems the assignment of Jayadvaita Swami to perform that task was unpublished–at least I couldn’t find it in the GBC resolutions made widely available.
Hoping this meets you well, I remain
Your servant,
Dravida dasa
