[Posted February 4, 2006]

Revisions to Srila Prabhupada's Books Documented

Das devi dasi

Unlicensed changes to Prabhupada's books

Many thanks to Madhudvisa das for posting extensive documentation of the changes made to Srila Prabhupada's books: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, Krishna Book and Chaitanya-charitamrita at krishna.org/ISKCON/BookChanges/. The original text is laid out on the left and the revised edition on the right, with color mark-up indicating changes, additions, subtractions, making it easy to compare. Ingenious (how did he do it?).

The Bhaktivedantas World Sankirtan Party and Inside Nam Hatta are hosted by Hansadutta das, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and trustee of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Participate or learn more about World Sankirtan Party.

A great disservice to the spiritual master

Arsha Prayoga: Resistance to Change Locanananda das

To further enlighten his disciple, Srila Prabhupada explained the rule of "arsha prayoga", that whatever the Acharya has given, it should be accepted. The tendency to think oneself sufficiently qualified to correct one's authority is not only a breach of Vaishnava etiquette, but is an offense in the service of the spiritual master. more

Looking over the changes made to Chaitanya-charitamrita alone, it is at once apparent that they are too numerous to count. Most appear to be corrections to typos, spelling, and touching up grammar, but in many cases, the editors have altered the meaning of the original text significantly.

We're aware that a number of devotees gloss over changes to typos, spelling and grammar. "What's wrong with that?" they argue. It might seem petty to object to those kinds of corrections, but the corrections in the first place are just that: so petty that one wonders how they are justifiable.

Justifiable is not a word that can be used for changes beyond typos, spelling and grammar. What possible acceptable rationale can there be for changes affecting the meaning of the translations and purports, whether subtraction, addition or substitution?

What's going on in the minds of the editors? They have cast Srila Prabhupada's words in doubt: "Why did Srila Prabhupada say that? Did he perhaps not know what he was talking about? It can't be right" or "I can say it better," or "he left it out" or "he's dead wrong." Is this not the editors' frame of mind?

ISKCON stands by Jayadvaita Swami, expecting the devotees should be grateful that the editors are so intelligent that they can correct the spiritual master's mistakes, but the upshot is that whoever reads the revised books will have to wonder what Srila Prabhupada really did say.

It has been pointed out that any corrections to typos, spelling and grammar could be given in footnotes or mentioned on an errata page at the end of the chapter. But Jayadvaita Swami's revisions are slipped quietly, seamlessly and insidiously into Srila Prabhupada's books so that unaware and unsuspecting readers will believe these are the words of Srila Prabhupada.

The result is poison. Arsenic mixed into food or drink cannot be detected, because it is colourless and tasteless, but its effect is lethal. Srila Prabhupada's vani has been poisoned. Instead of clarity, we end up with confusion and doubt, undermining the credibility and authority of Srila Prabhupada's books, jeopardising the siddhanta.

A sampling of changes below: — (blue text indicates the original text which has been changed; red text indicates the revised)

Original Cc Adi Lila Chapter 5, Text 78

Text 78
yadyapi kahiye tanre krsnera 'kala' kari
matsya-kurmady-avatarera tinho avatari

SYNONYMS
yadyapi-although; kahiye-I say; tanre-to Him; krsnera-of Lord Krsna; kala-part of the part; kari-making; matsya-the fish incarnation; kurma-adi-the tortoise incarnation and others; avatarera-of all these incarnations; tinho- He; avatari-the original source.

TRANSLATION
Although Ksirodakasayi Visnu is called a kala of Lord Krsna, He is the source of Matsya, Kurma and the other incarnations.

Revised Cc Adi Lila Chapter 5, Text 78

TEXT 78
yadyapi kahiye tanre krsnera 'kala' kari
matsya-kurmady-avatarera tinho avatari

TRANSLATION
Although Karanodakasayi Visnu is called a kala of Lord Krsna, He is the source of Matsya, Kurma and the other incarnations.

Who is correct? Srila Prabhupada or Jayadvaita? Read Srila Prabhupada's purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.2 and 1.3.5 and decide for yourself. But maybe first you'd better verify that the Srimad-Bhagavatam you're reading is the original, unrevised edition.

Original Cc Adi Lila Chapter 5, Text 80

TEXT 80
sei purusa srsti-sthiti-pralayera karta
nana avatara kare, jagatera bharta

SYNONYMS
sei-that; purusa-the Personality of Godhead; srsti-sthiti-pralayera-
of creation, maintenance and annihilation; karta-creator; nana-various; avatara-incarnations; kare-makes; jagatera-of the material world; bharta-maintainer.

TRANSLATION
That purusa [Ksirodakasayi Visnu] is the performer of creation, maintenance and destruction. He manifests Himself in many incarnations, for He is the maintainer of the world.

Revised Cc Adi Lila Chapter 5, Text 80

TEXT 80
sei purusa srsti-sthiti-pralayera karta
nana avatara kare, jagatera bharta

SYNONYMS
sei-that; purusa-the Personality of Godhead; srsti-sthiti-pralayera-of creation, maintenance and annihilation; karta-creator; nana-various; avatara-incarnations; kare-makes; jagatera-of the material world; bharta-maintainer.

TRANSLATION
That purusa [Karanodakasayi Visnu] is the performer of creation, maintenance and destruction. He manifests Himself in many incarnations, for He is the maintainer of the world.

See note above — readers will have to verify which translation is correct by referring to Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Original Cc Madhya Lila Chapter 22, Text 43

TEXT
samsara bhramite kona bhagye keha tare
nadira pravahe yena kastha lage tire

SYNONYMS
samsara bhramite-wandering throughout the universe; kona bhagye-by some good fortune; keha tare-someone crosses the ocean of nescience; nadira pravahe-in the flow of the river; yena-just as; kastha-wood; lage-sticks; tire-on the bank.

TRANSLATION
There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Krsna's service. Not knowing how to cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by waves, time and tide. However, some are fortunate to contact devotees and by this contact they are delivered from the ocean of nescience, just as a log floating down a river accidentally washes upon the bank.

[No purport given]

Revised Cc Madhya Lila Chapter 22, Text 43

TEXT 43
samsara bhramite kona bhagye keha tare
nadira pravahe yena kastha lage tire

TRANSLATION
The conditioned souls are wandering throughout the different planets of the universe, entering various species of life. By good fortune one of these souls may somehow or other be delivered from the ocean of nescience, just as one of the many big logs in a river may by chance reach the bank.

PURPORT
There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Krsna's service. Not knowing how to cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by the waves of time and tide. However, some are fortunate to contact devotees, and by this contact they are delivered from the ocean of nescience, just as a log floating down a river accidentally washes upon the bank.

In this instance, Srila Prabhupada's original translation has become a purport, and Jayadvaita has come up with his own translation.

Original Cc Madhya Lila Chapter 19, purport to Text 152

Bhakti-lata-bija can be received only through the mercy of the spiritual master. Therefore one has to satisfy the spiritual master to get bhakti-lata-bija (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah). Bhakti-lata-bija is the origin of devotional service. Unless one satisfies the spiritual master, he gets the bija, or root cause, of karma, jnana and yoga without the benefit of devotional service. However, one who is faithful to his spiritual master gets the bhakti-lata-bija. This bhakti-lata-bija is received when one is initiated by the bona fide spiritual master. After receiving the spiritual master's mercy, one must repeat his instructions, and this is called sravana-kirtana—hearing and chanting. One who has not properly heard from the spiritual master or who does not follow the regulative principles is not fit for chanting (kirtana). This is explained in Bhagavad-gita (2.41): vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana. One who has not listened carefully to the instructions of the spiritual master is unfit to chant or preach the cult of devotional service. One has to water the bhakti-lata-bija after receiving instructions from the spiritual master.

Revised Cc Madhya Lila Chapter 19, purport to Text 152

The bhakti-lata-bija can be received only through the mercy of the spiritual master. Therefore one has to satisfy the spiritual master to get the bhakti-lata-bija (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah). The bhakti-lata-bija is the origin of devotional service. Unless one satisfies the spiritual master, he gets the bija, or root cause, of karma, jnana and yoga without the benefit of devotional service. But one who is faithful to his spiritual master gets the bhakti-lata-bija. This bhakti-lata-bija is received when one is initiated by the bona fide spiritual master. After receiving the spiritual master's mercy, one must repeat his instructions, and this is called sravana-kirtana—hearing and chanting. One who has not properly heard from the spiritual master or who does not follow the regulative principles is not fit for chanting (kirtana). This is explained in the Bhagavad-gita (2.41): vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana. One who has not listened carefully to the instructions of the spiritual master is unfit for chanting or for preaching the cult of devotional service. One has to water the bhakti-lata-bija by receiving instructions from the spiritual master.

Interesting how the single word by can change the meaning of a purport.

Original Cc Madhya Lila Chapter 19, purport to Text 157

If one thinks that there are many pseudo devotees or nondevotees in the Krsna Consciousness Society, one can keep direct company with the spiritual master, and if there is any doubt, one should consult the spiritual master. However, unless one follows the spiritual master's instructions and the regulative principles governing chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, one cannot become a pure devotee.

Revised Cc Madhya Lila Chapter 19, purport to Text 157

Even if one thinks that there are many pseudo devotees or nondevotees in the Krsna Consciousness Society, still one should stick to the Society; if one thinks the Society members are not pure devotees, one can keep direct company with the spiritual master, and if there is any doubt, one should consult the spiritual master. However, unless one follows the spiritual master's instructions concerning the regulative principles and chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, one cannot become a pure devotee.

In this one paragraph there are 2 significant changes to the original text on the left. Firstly, Jayadvaita has inserted "still one should stick to the Society". Srila Prabhupada has not said this at all. Secondly, Srila Prabhupada stresses the importance of following the spiritual master's instructions and the regulative principles that govern chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord. What are those principles governing chanting and hearing? Again, Jayadvaita changes the meaning, saying that one must follow the spiritual master's instructions concerning the regulative principles (readers will assume he's referring to the 4 regs) and chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord.]

Comments

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They have cast Srila Prabhupada's words in doubt: "Why did Srila Prabhupada say that? Did he perhaps not know what he was talking about? It can't be right" or "I can say it better," or "he left it out" or "he's dead wrong."

Revisions to Srila Prabhupada's Books Documented