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"To show them
special mercy, I,
dwelling in their
hearts, destroy
with
the shining lamp
of knowledge the
darkness born of
ignorance."
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Revising
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Prabhupada's Books
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Bhagavad-gita As It Is 2.57
First Edition:
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.
Second Edition:
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.
Original Manuscript:
(In the material world) one who is without any affection either for the good or for the evil neither does pray or envy such things, such person is situated fixed consciousness.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 15.8:
First Edition:
The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas.
Second Edition:
The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of body and again quits it to take another.
Manuscript (partly edited):
The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life, as the air carries the smell from the river. Thus does he take one kind of body, and again quit it to take another.
The
Problems of
Material Existence
Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 15.20. Here are the very last words of the purport:
First Edition:
The problems of material existence are due to these weaknesses of the heart. [end]
Second Edition:
The problems of material existence are due to these weaknesses of the heart. In this chapter the first five verses describe the process of freeing oneself from these weaknesses of heart, and the rest of the chapter, from the sixth verse through the end, discusses purusottama-yoga.
Original Manuscript:
Voidness
Arises from Frustration
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 4.10
"Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me— and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me."
Purport
First Edition:
One has to get rid of all three stages of attachment to the material world:
negligence of spiritual life, fear of a spiritual personal identity, and the
conception of void that underlies the frustration of life.
Second Edition:
. . . and the conception of void that arises from frustration in life.
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Bhagavad-gita 4.34:
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."
Concerned about the integrity and fidelity of this translation? Is "self-realized souls"— in the plural— a deviation?
In 1983, when the GBC body discussed the then-forthcoming Second Edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, were the members aware of the extent of the revisions proposed?
My sincere thanks to His Grace Balavanta Prabhu for sending me, two days ago, the following clarification:
>To Whom It May Concern
> The following quotation was attributed to me on the internet with regard to the editing of Bhagavad Gita As It Is:
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.
6.28
yunjann evam sadatmanam
yogi vigata-kalmasah
sukhena brahma-samsparsam
atyantah sukham asnute
Comment:
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. . .
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 2.66
First Edition:
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?
Second Edition:
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?
Humility
Is the
Beginning
of Knowledge
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 13.8-12, purport
First Edition (1st paragraph):
This is not the interaction of the tenfold elements, as described before. This is actually the means to get out of it.
Second Edition:
This is not the interaction of the twenty-four elements, as described before. This is actually the means to get out of the entanglement of those elements. The embodied soul is entrapped by the body, which is a casing made of the twenty-four elements, and the process of knowledge as described here is the means to get out of it.
Some
by Speculation,
Others by Service
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 3.3
First Edition:
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.
Second Edition:
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 on empirical, philosophical speculation, and others by devotional service.
The
Generating Principle
of All That Be
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 10.34
mrtyuh sarva-haras caham udbhavas ca bhavisyatam
. . . udbhavah— generation ca— also; bhavisyatam— of the future. . .
First Edition:
I am all-devouring death, and I am the generator of all things yet to be. . . .
Second Edition:
I am all-devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be. . . .
The Supreme Creator of Individual Souls?
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 7.6, purport
First Edition:
...A fragmental part and parcel of the Lord, namely the living entity, may by manipulation of material energy construct a skyscraper, a factory, or city, but he cannot create matter out of nothing, and he certainly cannot construct a planet or a universe. The cause of the universe is the Supersoul, Krsna, the supreme creator of all individual souls and the original cause of all causes, as the Katha Upanisad (2.2.13) confirms. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam.
Second Edition:
. . . A fragmental part and parcel of the Lord, namely the living entity, may be the cause of a big skyscraper, a big factory, or even a big city, but he cannot be the cause of a big universe. The cause of the big universe is the big soul, or the Supersoul. And Krsna, the Supreme, is the cause of both the big and small souls. Therefore He is the original cause of all causes. This is confirmed in the Katha Upanisad (2.2.13). Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 7.8: (purport)
First Edition:
Similarly pranava or the omkara transcendental sound used in the beginning of every Vedic hymn to address the Supreme Lord also emanates from Him.
Second Edition:
And pranava, or the omkara transcendental sound used in the beginning of every Vedic hymn, addresses the Supreme Lord.
Original Manuscript:
Similarly, Pranavah or the Omkara transcendental sound in the beginning of every Vedic hymn is also addressing the Supreme Lord.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 7.24
First Edition: Unintelligent men, who know Me not, think that I have assumed this form and personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is changeless and supreme.
Second Edition: Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, was impersonal before and have now assumed this personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme.
Manuscript: The less intelligent impersonalist they also do not know the Sup. Perfectly and they think me myself, the Sup. Per, of God. Krishna I was impersonal before nad now I ahve assumed the personality. This conclussion is due too their poor fund of knowledge.
The
Soft Line for Ksatriyas
by Jayadvaita
Swami
Posted
August 18, 2003
Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 16.1-3, purport
First Edition:
The word tejas used here is meant for the ksatriyas. The ksatriyas should always be very strong to be able to give protection to the weak. They should not pose themselves as nonviolent. If violence is required, they must exhibit it.
Second Edition:
The word tejas used here is meant for the ksatriyas. . . . If violence is required, they must exhibit it. But a person who is able to curb down his enemy may under certain conditions show forgiveness. He may excuse minor offenses.
13.29, purport:
First Edition:
The living entity, by accepting his material existence as just so much suffering, can become situated in his spiritual existence.
Second Edition:
The living entity, by accepting his material existence, has become situated differently than in his spiritual existence.
Original Manuscript:
The living entity by accepting his material existence as become differently situated from his spiritual existence.
From the "Gita Revisions
Explained"
conference on PAMHO.net
The story, posted some time back, of how Hayagriva Prabhu painstakingly sat with Srila Prabhupada for two years to fine tune the text of Bhagavad-gita As It Is is only just one more internet myth. Who says? Hayagriva.
Criticism and insults I can tolerate. Fictitious history is harder to bear. So let's set things straight, shall we?
According to the published story, "While it is not generally known, for two years Srila Prabhupada sat with Hayagriva and patiently transformed His intimate realizations into a level of refined expression onto which He then comfortably placed His name. The resulting literary expression was the wondrous 1972 Bhagavad-Gita As It Is."
There's a good reason why this tale is "not generally known"— it's a falsehood.
In the words of Brahmananda Prabhu, who was there at the time, "It's out of the question." Why?
[From the "Gita Revisions Explained" conference on pamho.net]
14.10:
rajas tamas cabhibhuya
sattvam bhavati bharata
rajah sattvam tamas caiva
tamah sattvam rajas tatha
rajah—the mode of passion; tamah— the mode of ignorance; ca— also; abhibhuya— surpassing; sattvam— the mode of goodness; bhavati— becomes prominent; bharata— O son of Bharata; rajah— the mode of passion; sattvam— the mode of goodness; tamah— the mode of ignorance; ca— also; eva— like that; tamah— the mode of ignorance; sattvam— the mode of goodness; rajah— the mode of passion; tatha— thus.
First Edition:
Sometimes the mode of passion becomes prominent, defeating the mode of goodness, O son of Bharata. And sometimes the mode of goodness defeats passion, and at other times the mode of ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy.
Gita Revisions Explained
10.1:
sri-bhagavan uvaca
bhuya eva maha-baho
srnu me paramam vacah
yat te 'ham priyamanaya
vaksyami hita-kamyaya
PURPORT (First Edition):
The word paramam is explained thus by Parasara Muni: one who is full in six opulences, who has full strength, full fame, wealth, knowledge, beauty and renunciation, is paramam, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
-------------
All right, boys and girls, what's the word Parasara Muni explains to mean "one who is full in six opulences"? Raise your hands!
-------------
PURPORT (Second Edition):
The word bhagavan is explained thus by Parasara Muni. . . .
Hare Krsna.
[Article complete on this page]
More than 80 new examples online
The "changes" and the original manuscripts side by side
What's all this hooha about the second edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is? What was done? Is it really "as it is"?
Now, online, you can see more than 80 newly posted examples that answer those questions. The examples show the published versions side by side with the text of the original manuscripts.
These new examples join the more than 70 others already on the site. (The examples posted before are now "Part 2," and the new examples are in "Part 1.")
A
Response to an
Unfortunate Editorial
We're sorry to see yet another internet diatribe against the books published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
According to the most recent assault, "we would be hard pressed to find anyone, anywhere, who would entertain the idea that, once published, an author's work may later be edited posthumously."
Hard pressed? To find out that this is baloney, one need only browse to, for example, the following web page:
<http://www.libraryofamerica.org/volume.jsp?RequestID=43§ion=notes >
There you'll find out why a very respected American publisher has indeed published "the corrected text" — corrected posthumously— of works by the great American novelist William Faulkner. The editors are scholars with integrity, and their editions of Faulkner's works aim (like the second edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is) at being more faithful to what the author originally wrote and intended. Quite likely, you'll find the sensible and reasonable notes by these scholars more enlightening than the sensationalistic and uninformed bashing of the second edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
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