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Bhagavatam Revisions Examined
From Jayadvaita Swami
Posted January 23, 2004

Did you know that the edition of the First Canto we read today differs dramatically from the first edition published in America? In the first two chapters, big differences in the translations.

Now you can see those differences— online— at this address: <http://www.krishna.com/
newsite/main.php?id=286>. 

Or— easier to remember— go to <http://www.krishna.com/jas>.  There, about two thirds down the page, click on "Bhagavatam Revisions Examined."

For those have questions about the editing of Srila Prabhupada's books, examining those First Canto revisions should be a very fruitful exercise.

And here's a relevant story.

Four years after the first edition, the second edition came out, with the translations for the first two chapters extensively revised.

I am the person who did the revisions.

After I'd prepared the work, and before it was printed, I neatly typed all the revised translations for Srila Prabhupada to see and put them in an envelope with a letter of explanation. And when Srila Prabhupada next visited New York, I brought the envelope to his quarters to leave for him.

But I found Srila Prabhupada right there before me, and he chose to deal with the matter at once. He had me sit before him and told me to start reading out loud. As he listened attentively, I began.

After I had read a few verses, Srila Prabhupada stopped me. "So," he said. "What you have done?"

I replied, "I've revised the translations, Srila Prabhupada, mainly to bring them closer to what you originally said."

"What I have said?"

"Yes, Srila Prabhupada."

Srila Prabhupada made a dismissive gesture with his hand and said, "Then it is all right."

Now, go ahead and check out those revisions for yourself:

<http://www.krishna.com/newsite/main.php?id=286> 

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 © 1999-2004 by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hare Krsna.

dipika.org January 23, 2004