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Changes To Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita As It Is Part
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All glories to Srila Prabhupada's ORIGINAL
books! Jayadvaita Swami has started his own "newsgroup"
on com which only he can post to. He aims to "explain"why
he "revised and enlarged" Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita
As It Is even though he openly admits Srila
Prabhupada "never asked us to re-edit the book...".
He has posted one "explanation" of a correction
to an obvious typographical error... Actually he
corrected many real typographical errors in the original
book, perhaps a little more than one hundred, but he made
more than five thousand changes! Jayadvaita does not seem
to realize no one is complaining about the correction of
real typographical errors... Srila Prabhupada wanted the
BBT editors to make sure the books were correct
grammatically but he did not give anyone the authority
to Revise and Enlarge his books or change his
words or change the style! So Jayadvaita can go on and
post a little more than one hundred articles to his
"newsgroup" describing his one hundred or so
bona fide corrections. But what about the other 4,900
changes?
The point he has never addressed in any
of his "explanations" is why he has produced a
"Bhagavad-gita" which contains hundreds of
changes that COMPLETELY alter the meaning of the book
when compared to the original version Srila Prabhupada
personally read from daily, gave all his classes from and
did not ask anyone to "revise and enlarge."
Jayadvaita's book is completely different from Srila
Prabhuapda's. Where is the authority for all these
changes?
Srila Prabhupada gave no authority
for such changes... So we will continue looking at some
of the changes.
Bg 2.57 T ORIGINAL:
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.
Bg 2.57 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
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.
(10) Here the principle of being without
attachment is completely removed from Jayadvaita's
translation. Of course he may say he has some secret
manuscript he has got this information from or he may
have studied the Sanskrit and by his great learning in
the Sanskrit language decided there was no attachment in
the original Sanskrit. But where did he get the authority
from to retranslate this verse?
Bg 2.61 P ORIGINAL:
The Yoga-sutra also prescribes
meditation on Visnu, and not meditation on the void.
The so-called yogis who meditate on something
which is not the Visnu form simply waste their time
in a vain search after some phantasmagoria. We have
to be Krsna conscious--devoted to the Personality of
Godhead. This is the aim of the real yoga.
Bg 2.61 P REVISED
& ENLARGED:
The Yoga-sutra also prescribes
meditation on Visnu, and not meditation on the void.
The so-called yogis who meditate on something
which is not on the
Visnu platform simply
waste their time in a vain search after some
phantasmagoria. We have to be Krsna conscious--devoted
to the Personality of Godhead. This is the aim of the
real yoga.
(11) Just see how he works! He has not
even deleted any words at all here! He has just added in
"on" and "plat" and see the effect it
has! The original says anyone who meditates on something
other than the Visnu form is wasting his time, but
Jayadvaita has to adjust this as what about the
impersonalists? They meditate on the impersonal form, etc...
Surely they're not wasting their time?? So has to change
Srila Prabhupada's purport...
Bg 2.66 T ORIGINAL:
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?
Bg 2.66 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
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?
(12) "A controlled mind..." In
the original we can clearly see there's no possibility of
peace and happiness without a controlled mind, but in
Jayadvaita's translation the mind control has become a
"steady mind?" He has also made it very
confusing. The meaning is no where near as clear as the
original. Who said Jayadvaita was making "better
English?" He's making bewildering English!
Tamala Krsna: 66: "One
who is not in transcendental consciousness can have
neither a controlled mind nor steady intelligence,
without which there is no possibility of peace, and
how can there be any happiness without peace?"
Prabhupada: Everyone in this
material world, they are after peace, but they don't
want to control the senses. It is not possible. Just
like you are diseased, and doctor says that "You
take this medicine, you take this diet," but you
cannot control. You are taking anything you like,
against the instruction of the physician. Then how
you can be cured? Similarly, we want cure of the
chaotic condition of this material world, we want
peace and prosperity, but we are not ready to control
the senses. We do not know how to control the senses.
We do not know the real yogic principle of
controlling the senses. So there is no possibility of
peace. Kutah santir ayuktasya. The exact word
is there in the Bhagavad-gita. If you are not
engaged in Krsna consciousness, there is no
possibility of peace. Artificially, you may try for
it. It is not possible. Go on. (681219BG.LA)
Just see! Srila Prabhupada heard this
verse personally and immediately he is preaching on the
point of sense control! Where does he say "Get
Jayadvaita Swami to delete mind control from the
translation?" No. He does not say that. He preaches
on sense control!
Bg 3.3 T ORIGINAL:
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.
Bg 3.3 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
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 by empirical, philosophical
speculation, and others by devotional service.
(12) Just a few of Jayadvaita Swami's
little "corrections..."
Bg 3.6 T ORIGINAL:
One who restrains the senses and organs of action but whose
mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes
himself and is called a pretender.
Bg 3.6 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
One who restrains the senses of
action but whose mind dwells on sense objects
certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.
Bg 3.7 T ORIGINAL:
On the other hand, he who controls the senses by the
mind and engages his active organs in works of
devotion, without attachment, is by far
superior.
Bg 3.7 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control
the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in
Krsna consciousness] without attachment, he is by far superior.
(13 & 14) This is one of the
most amazing changes. Jayadvaita has removed or changed
ALL the main points in the original verse! The original
clearly says one who CONTROLS his senses by the
mind and ENGAGES in works of devotion is by far
superior... After reading all of Srila Prabhupada's other
books and hearing his classes one would expect to find
this in Srila Prabhuapda's Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Jayadvaita's version is a little
different... He's much more generous. According to him if
a "sincere person" TRIES to control the
senses and BEGINS karma-yoga [in Krsna
consciousness] he is by far superior! One does not even
have to control his senses, just "try to", and
he does not even have to be engaged in devotional service,
he just has to "begin karma-yoga..." We
can note [according to Jayadvaita] one does not even have
to make any advancement in karma-yoga, if he just
begins karma-yoga and TRIES to control his senses
he is by far superior!!
So is there any hint Srila Prabhupada
wanted Jayadvaita to make these changes to this verse? Is
there any hint Srila Prabhupada was not satisfied with
the original translation?
Sudama: Verse number seven:
"On the other hand, he who controls the senses
by the mind and engages his active organs in works of
devotion without attachment is by far superior."
Prabhupada: Yes. Instead of
artificially trying to meditate and control the
senses, just engage your senses in the activities of
Krsna consciousness and gradually you will be happy.
Your senses will be controlled. Go on. (681223BG.LA)
Srila Prabhupada clearly hears the
original translation has no objections to it whatsoever!
Rather Srila Prabhupada completely agrees with the
original translation and EMPHASISES the very
points Jayadvaita has DELETED in his translation!!
Srila Prabhupada emphasises engaging the senses in
Krishna consciousness and thus controlling them. But
there's no hint in Jayadvaita's translation of engaging
the senses in devotional service [just "beginning
karma-yoga"??] and there's no mention of controlling
them either [just TRYING to control the senses...]
Bg 3.8 T ORIGINAL:
Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. One cannot even
maintain his physical
body without work.
Bg 3.8 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even
maintain one's physical
body without work.
(15) This is interesting. Another little
"correction." But Srila Prabhupada heard the
original verse many times and never requested that it be
"corrected..."
"Perform your prescribed duty,
for action is better than inaction. A man cannot even
maintain his physical body without work."
Prabhupada: Krsna never said
that "You sit down, lazy." You must work.
And that is intelligence, how to engage a person in
some work. That requires governing body. That is
intelligence. They should be ready to work, and your
intelligence will engage them. And there is
sufficient. Why you are constructing so many centers?
There is enough work to do. Just like here. All
people are coming, and each one can be preached, each
one can be convinced of the philosophy. (770121r2.bhu)
There is no indication anywhere that
Srila Prabhupada was not satisfied with the original
translation AS IT IS...
Bg 3.9 T ORIGINAL:
Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu
has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material
world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your
prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that
way you will always remain unattached
and free from bondage.
Bg 3.9 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu
has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this
material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform
your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in
that way you will always remain free from bondage.
(16) Why has Jayadvaita removed the fact
one who always performs his prescribed duties for Krishna
remains unattached?
Did Prabhuapda request this change? Was
he unhappy with the original translation??
Sudama: Verse number nine:
"Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be
performed, otherwise work binds one to this material
world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform prescribed
duties for His satisfaction and in that way you will
always remain unattached and free from bondage."
Prabhupada: Yes. Bondage means
working for one's own account. The same example. Just
like a soldier is fighting for the country under the
command of the commander in chief. The more he's
killing, he's getting promotion, he's getting medals.
But the same man, when he comes back at home, if he
kills one man, he's hanged. Why? Because that killing
and this killing is not the same thing. So one who
cannot engage himself cent percent in Krsna
consciousness, let him remain in his own position and
try to sacrifice for Visnu or Krsna as far as
possible. (681223BG.LA)
Once again, no hint anywhere that Srila
Prabhupada was not happy with the original translation...
Bg 3.20 T ORIGINAL:
Even Kings
like Janaka and others attained the perfectional stage by performance of
prescribed duties. Therefore, just for the sake of
educating the people in general, you should perform
your work.
Bg 3.20 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
Kings such as
Janaka attained perfection solely
by performance of prescribed duties. Therefore, just
for the sake of educating the people in general, you
should perform your work.
(17) A few little edits...
Bg 3.20 P ORIGINAL:
...because he was the king of Mithila...
he had to teach his subjects how to fight righteously in battle. He and his subjects fought to
teach people in general that violence is also
necessary in a situation where good arguments fail.
Bg 3.20 P REVISED
& ENLARGED:
...because he was the king of Mithila...
he had to teach his subjects how to perform prescribed duties. Lord Krsna and Arjuna, the Lord's
eternal friend, had no need to fight in the Battle of
Kuruksetra, but they fought to teach people in
general that violence is also necessary in a
situation where good arguments fail.
(18) Interesting...
Bg 3.32 T ORIGINAL:
But those who, out of envy, disregard
these teachings and do not practice
them regularly, are to be considered bereft of
all knowledge, befooled, and doomed
to ignorance and bondage.
Bg 3.32 T REVISED
& ENLARGED:
But those who, out of envy, disregard
these teachings and do not follow
them, are to be considered bereft of all
knowledge, befooled, and ruined
in their endeavors for perfection.
(19) So Jayadvaita has made it a little
different. But did Prabhuapda ask for the change? NO! He
PERSONALLY quoted the original verse AS IT IS!!
Tamala Krsna: Thirty-two:
"But those who, out of envy, disregard these
teachings and do not practice them regularly are to
be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and
doomed to ignorance and bondage."
Prabhupada: Yes. If somebody
says, "Oh, why shall I serve God?" all
right, then you shall have to serve dog. That's all.
Therefore he is befooled. He does not know that he
has to serve somebody. His constitutional position is
like that. He cannot escape. So therefore if he
denies to serve God, Krsna, then he has to serve maya,
illusion, in the hope that "I have become the
master."
Just like in your country the
President Johnson was the master. Actually, he was
not the master; he was the servant of the country.
Now the country has dismissed him. He is no longer
master. So our mastership in this material world is
like that. Actually, we are servant, but we are
thinking master. In a family, I am servant of my wife,
I am servant of my children, I am servant of my
servants, but I am thinking I am master. "I am
master of this family. I am master of this country. I
am master of this society." Nobody is master.
The Caitanya-caritamrta says,
therefore, "The master is only Krsna." Ekale
isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya: "Only Krsna,
or God, is master, and everyone is servant." Yare
yaiche nacaya se taiche kare nrtya: "Each
servant is dancing according to the order of the
Supreme." That's all. Nobody is master. So this
false conception of becoming master is called maya,
illusion. Nobody is master. Therefore one who
disagrees to become servant of God, he is befooled.
It is said, "But those who, out of envy..."
He is constitutionally servant, but he is envious:
"Why shall I become God's servant? I shall
become God." You see? Everyone is claiming,
"Oh, everyone is God. Why? What is the use of
becoming servant of God? I am God." This is
enviousness. So if one refuses to serve God and
become envious, "disregard these teachings
and do not practice them regularly are to be
considered bereft of all knowledge." Because
he is servant, but he is thinking, "I am master.
I am not serving anyone." This is maya,
bereft of all knowledge. Go on.
Where is the hint Srila Prabhupada wanted
Jayadvaita to changed the translation he heard from
Tamala Krsna and then even quotes himself in his
explanation? There is no AUTHORITY from Srila
Prabhupada to change this verse at all. Srila Prabhupada
clearly accepts the original translation AS IT IS...
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy. More
changes to come next week...
Your servant, Madhudvisa dasa.
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