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Read Bhagavad-gita As It Is Online

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the
Hare Krishna Movement

Letters to and from the BBT - Part 1
(Bhaktivedanta Archives)

Date: 4.4.1997
From: H. N.
To: Dulal Chandra (Bhaktivedanta Archives)
Subject: What kind of VedaBase is THIS?!?

Dear Dulal Chandra,

My name is H. N. and my address is... I've ordered the Bhaktivedanta Vedabase in December 1996 and happily received it a few weeks later. Now I discovered that at least two very important books on the CD aren't the same as the printed [original] ones! Namely Krsna book and Bhagavad-gita. I can't believe it! What are you guys doing there in the US? What kind of storing and preserving is this? Still, even now, I can't believe it. I'm really shocked.

I EXPECT AND I WANT THE ORIGINAL BOOKS WITCH WERE DISTRIBUTED IN THE '70 AND NOT SOME NEW EDITIONS.

This Vedabase is completely useless and I don't want it any longer. Take it back and return the money, or send a corrected edition, although I don't think that I'm able to trust your organisation any longer. Better return the money. I pray for your well-being and I hope Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada will forgive you this horrible offence. Awaiting your early reply.

Sincerely, H. N.

Date: 5.4.1997
From: Ranjit dasa (Bhaktivedanta Archives)
To: H. N.
Subject: Vedabase Editions

Dear H.,

Thank you for your e-mail received today. While I understand your anger over what you perceive to be offenses on the part of the staff of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, I can assure you that there are very important and valid reasons for the re-editing of the books. The first and most important is that Srila Prabhupada himself insisted on his books being edited to the highest possible standard of English language so that scholars would accept them as valid and important translations of the Vedic literatures. The second is that in the early days of ISKCON, the devotees involved were simply not very expert and many errors were made. To give just one of the more serious examples, one purport in Bhagavad-gita was placed after the wrong verse. Srila Prabhupada engaged the best people he could but most were unqualified and despite their best efforts, many mistakes were there. Later on, the re-editing was entrusted to devotees who had become more expert and they referred to the original transcriptions of the tapes made by Srila Prabhupada himself to get the best result. Because we are distributing the Vedabase to scholars we offer the most valid editions we can. I trust that this will give you a better idea of our predicament. We certainly have no intention of changing anything in the Srila Prabhupada legacy of philosophy and realization. Please feel free to communicate with us further in this regard. We understand that some will think that the effort to re-edit is a bigger mistake than allowing the flawed earlier edition to stand for all time and we are painfully aware that some will try to exploit this to criticize the BBT and ISKCON for their own purposes. We have nothing to hide, and we do not try to "cover up" what we are doing. We have yet to have pointed out to us where in the new editions, the text deviates in any way from Srila Prabhupada's intent or purport. I trust this meets you well. Please do not take offense. It is our purpose only to serve the devotee community to the best of our ability and we seek only their blessings.

Yours sincerely,

Ranjit Dasa

Date: 6.4.1997
From: H. N.
To: Ranjit dasa
Subject: Vedabase Editions

Dear Ranjit,

thanks for your early reply. I'm really not satisfied with your explanation, because there are so many modifications. Do you really want me to believe the former editors had made so many mistakes, at nearly every paragraph in the mentioned books, and Srila Prabhupada himself repeatedly cited this mistakes without complaining? I'm not a fool. I won't buy that. I think there are some "disciples" who think they have become better than their spiritual master. That's what I think. This sort of book-changing policy, making better English, happened even as Srila Prabhupada was on earth.

> "We have yet to have pointed out to us where in the new editions, the text deviates in any way from Srila Prabhupada's intent or purport."

There are so many modifications. I've to cite the whole books if I want to show them altogether to you. But here are some examples from Bhagavad-gita:

• 7.8, Purport (BG 1972)

  "The light of the sun and the moon is also originally emanating from the brahmajyoti, which is the impersonal effulgence of the Lord. Similarly pranava, or the omkara transcendental sound used in the beginning of every Vedic hymn to address the Supreme Lord also emanates from Him."

  "The light of the sun and the moon is also originally emanating from the brahmajyoti, which is the impersonal effulgence of the Lord. And pranava, or the omkara transcendental sound used in the beginning of every Vedic hymn, to addresses the Supreme Lord." (Vedabase)

  So, do you see in the new edition omkara emanating from the Lord? Which one is now the original sentence? Why has "omkara emanating from the Lord" been removed?

• Here's another:

  2.25, Translation (BG 1972)

  It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

  (Vedabase)

  It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, and immutable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

  Well, you may say, it doesn't matter if the soul is no longer unchangeable, because immutable means almost the same. But where is the order to change this translation? Why didn't Prabhupada rebel against this error while one of his disciples read this translation before him in 1973 (730828BG.LON)?

• Here's a better one:

  3.7, Translation (BG 1972)

  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.

  (Vedabase)

  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.

  Is it no more necessary to control the senses? Is it now enough to sincerly try? All Glories to the mercyful editor, our good friend who don't want to bother us to much... Again, at the lecture in 1968 Srila Prabhupada didn't say anything about the translation while a disciple read it from the book (681223BG.LA).

• This one is really serious:

  4.34, Translation (BG 1972)

  Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.

  (Vedabase)

  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.

  One may think this is irrelevant. But Srila Prabhupada has a very deep philosophical understanding of the spiritual master. He know why he translates this text singular. He himself cites this vers again and again in many of his books, without changing only one word: SB 4.28.64p, SB 5.14.41p, SB 6.7.15p, SB 6.8.42p, SB 7.7.47p, SB 8.6.9p, SB 8.24.53p, SB 9.10.3p, SB 10.3.14p etc. + lectures + conversations

• Another "mercy" of the editor:

  3.32, Translation (BG 1972)

  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.

  (Vedabase)

  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.

  Similar in the translation of text 6.35. Where is the regular/constant practice? Again, Srila Prabhupada himself cites this translation (690101BG.LA) without modification and soft wording.

• This one shows what changing of a little word can do:

  2.8, Purport (BG 1972)

  They are seeking peace in different ways, but they can achieve real happiness only if they consult Krsna, or the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam--which constitute the science of Krsna--or the bona fide representative of Krsna, the man in Krsna consciousness.

  (Vedabase)

  They are seeking peace in different ways, but they can achieve real happiness only if they consult Krsna, or the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam--which constitute the science of Krsna--through the bona fide representative of Krsna, the man in Krsna consciousness.

• And here's another "little" modification:

  7.30, Purport (BG 1972)

  Persons acting in Krsna consciousness are never entirely deviated from the path of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  (Vedabase)

  Persons acting in Krsna consciousness are never deviated from the path of entirely understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  Watch the word "entirely". The same meaning? No, one of this is far out, dear matajis and prabhujis.

I'll stop now, because there are really too many modifications to cite; many of them are not only superficial. This Vedabase is completely useless. Correct it or take it back, whatever you like. I don't want it.

Yours sincerely, H.

Date: 8.4.1997
From: Ranjit dasa
To: H. N.
Subject: Vedabase Editions

Dear H.,

Thank you for your detailed exposition on some points. However, the issues are not so simple. I can give only one example because I don't have the time to go into all of them:

>This one is really serious:

>4.34, Translation (BG 1972)

>Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.

>(Vedabase)

>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.

>One may think this is irrelevant. But Srila Prabhupada has a very deep philosophical understanding of the spiritual master. He know why he translates this text.

The original manuscript reads:

"Just try to know the truth of all these by approaching self-realised spiritual master with all submission enquiries and rendering service unto Him. Such learned self realised spiritual master initiates knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."

The original was both singular and plural. In the second edit the compromise was made that the first part remain singular while the second sentence be plural if you want to maintain the concept that "they have seen the truth."

Maybe you should open a dialoge with the editor and find out from him the particular reasons for all these changes. One thing you can find in the Vedabase is that Jayadvaita Swami, along with Sastvarupa Gosvami was considered by Srila Prabhupada as the proper man to edit his works. So Jayadvaita Swami was deputed by the ISKCON authorities to do the needful.

The original editor, Hayagriva Das has passed away. Really the difference is simply between a Hayagriva edit and a Jayadvaita edit. I give no credence whatsoever to the idea that any attempt was made to change the philosophy.

These topics will be the stuff of academic debate for years to come.

Yours in the service of Krishna,

Ranjit dasa

Date: 15.4.1997
From: Ranjit dasa
To: H. N.
Subject: Vedabase editions

Dear H.,

Thank you for your message. Regarding the following points:

>thank you for your message. It is understandable that the Trustees of the BBT are responsible which books are to be published. Maybe you can tell who has ordered and approved this revisions so I'm able to complain to him directly.

Jayadvaita Swami happens to be the current chairman of the BBT Trustees.

They elect from among the trustees a new chairman every 3 years and it is coincidental that he also happens to be the editor of the new edition of Bhagavad-gita. Regarding approval of the revisions, I can tell you that the decision was made in 1983 in Mayapur during the meetings by a committee of GBC men and BBT Trustees. Jayadvaita Swami had been assigned the task to re-edit for the reasons I mentioned in a previous email (that serious errors were in the original like the purport in the wrong place etc. etc.) At that point Jayadvaita Swami was neither a GBC man nor a trustee by the way, but the main editor for BBT books. Because I was in Mayapur at the time, I know that this committee spent many hours going through each and every correction and approved them before the new edition was printed. Prior to these meetings every GBC man had been sent a copy of the proposed corrections also for their comment and corrections. I may be a little hazy on the exact details because I was not personally involved but this is my understanding of what happened.

You can contact Jayadvaita Swami at:

jswami@afn.org

Yours sincerely,

Ranjit das