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6.28

yunjan— engaging in yoga practice; evam— thus; sada— always; atmanam— the self; yogi— one who is in touch with the Supreme Self; vigata— freed from; kalmasah— all material contamination; sukhena— in transcendental happiness; brahma-samsparsam— being in constant touch with the Supreme; atyantam— the highest; sukham— happiness; asnute— attains.

Some recent correspondence I had with a respected godsister sheds light on how and why the translation for this verse was revised. The correspondence also, perhaps, offers some insights into how we think about such revisions.

Dear . . . .

Regarding the text of the book ["Teachings of Lord Caitanya"], you write,

> I would be even more happy to hear that Srila Prabhupada's
> original words would be put back into the TLC. . .

In this regard: Though the edition the BBT currently publishes is not the original one, this second edition was edited by Hayagriva Prabhu during Srila Prabhupada's physical presence and published with Srila Prabhupada's explicit approval. The editing was done in perhaps 1972 or 1973, and this edition was first published in, I believe, 1974. The BBT has not revised it since.

Does that change your thoughts about it?

Apart from that, you write,

> I would be even more happy to hear that Srila Prabhupada's
> original words would be put back into. . . all the
> other books he wrote while on this planet.

With all due respect, I would humbly ask that you deeply and honestly ask yourself whether this is truly your position.

For example, consider "Bhagavad-gita As It Is," Chapter 6, Text 28.

Here, from the original manuscript of that chapter—typed by Srila Prabhupada himself—are Srila Prabhupada's original words, his factual "adi-vani":

Thus the self-controlled Yogin, after becoming freed from all material contamination, achieves the highest perfectional stage of happiness in Krsna Consciousness, and thus being situated in transcendental loving service enjoys transcendental pleasure. This is the stage of devotional life.

Now, is what you want to see in his book a translation that closely approaches those words? Such as this:

Thus the self-controlled yogi, constantly engaged in yoga practice, becomes free from all material contamination and achieves the highest stage of perfect happiness in transcendental loving service to the Lord.

Is that really what you want? Or do the words you want to see for that verse read like this:

Steady in the Self, being freed from all material contamination, the yogi achieves the highest perfectional stage of happiness in touch with the Supreme Consciousness.

If that's what you want, ok. But then can you honestly claim that what you want is "Srila Prabhupada's original words"?

Mataji, it seems to me you have to make a choice here. Either you want "Srila Prabhupada's original words put back"— words like "the self-controlled yogi" and "transcendental loving service"— or you want what those words were changed to and published as during his lifetime: words like "steady in the Self" and "in touch with the Supreme Consciousness." Much as you might wish the facts to be otherwise, the two are not the same.

You write:

> His words, style, and presentation are all impeccable in the
> eyes of his disciples; and any change causes pain to their hearts.
> That is the real issue; and it cannot be avoided. It will not go
> away. And truly, until this correction is made, that is, the
> reversion to the original vani of Srila Prabhupada, I do not think
> peace will come. Those who, by God's grace have been placed in a
> position to make these corrections and do not do so, will never be
> peaceful or find pleasure in their spiritual connection because
> everything in our spiritual life depends on the grace filled glance
> of Srila Prabhupada.

I wholeheartedly agree.

That's why a person "placed in a position to make these corrections" changed "in touch with the Supreme Consciousness" back to what Srila Prabhupada originally said: "in transcendental loving service."

So, again, I think you need to ask yourself, deeply and honestly: Is what you truly want the position you so eloquently speak for? Or is your real position "What I want is the books as published during Srila Prabhupada's lifetime, whether they're closer to Srila Prabhupada's original words or not."

> We may be sincere, but we make mistakes because we are fallen
> . . . . We should never forget how great Srila Prabhupada is and
> how small we are— then everything will be rectified.

Yes. I agree.

Hare Krsna.

Hoping this finds you in good health,

Your affectionate servant, Jayadvaita Swami

PS: By the way, you might also be pleased to know that, despite the recent blitz of bunkum for the "pre-1978 Bhagavatams," as with TLC the edition of Srimad-Bhagavatam the BBT is now publishing, and has been all along, is the same edition published during Srila Prabhupada's physical presence.

Hare Krsna.

This message also appears on the following web page:

http://www.krishna.com/newsite/main.php?id=242 

Interested in the differences between the first and second editions of Bhagavad-gita As It Is? You'll find more than 150 examples at this address:

www.krishna.com/newsite/GitaRevsExplained.html 

There you'll see the published versions side by side with the text of the original manuscripts. And the graphic format of the web helps you see at a glance what the revisions are and where they're coming from.

For anyone who has concerns about the editing of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, this is a must-see.

This is an "information-only" conference, not a discussion conference. The only person who can post texts to it is me. (Queries and comments may be sent to me privately.)

The conference is public. If you are a member of the PAMHO e-mail system, you can join or leave it on your own— no need to send a request to the Sysop or to me. E-mail users who are not on PAMHO can join or leave the conference by sending me a request at <jayadvaita.swami@pamho.net>. 

The First and Second Editions of Bhagavad-gita As It Is are © 1972, 1983 by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Except where I have included quotations from non-BBT sources, the rest of this message, and of the conference as a whole, is © 1999-2003 by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hare Krsna.

© dipika.org December 30, 2003