Letter PAMHO:2113757 (47 lines)

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      22-Feb-99 06:26

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   Obeisances

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To begin this conference, I first offer my humble and respectful obeisances to my beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of ISKCON and author of "Bhagavad-gita As It Is."

 

I next offer my respectful obeisances to all the previous acaryas in the disciplic succession through which this book has been received.

 

I offer my respectful obeisances to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who composed and published a rendering of Bhagavad-gita into Bengali that Srila Prabhupada surely consulted.

 

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana, the author of the "Gita Bhusana" commentary. It is to him that Srila Prabhupada dedicates "Bhagavad-gita As It Is," and Srila Prabhupada mentions his comments several times in the text.

 

I offer my respectful obeisances to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, author of the "Sarartha Varsani" Gita commentary. Srila Prabhupada has told us that a comment, in this book, about following the orders of the spiritual master guided Srila Prabhupada in his own life.

 

Next I offer my respects to the original editors of "Bhagavad-gita As It Is." As I have written elsewhere, "the editors of the first edition are to be praised. They did a fine job of making a tough manuscript ready to print."

 

My respectful obeisances, also, to all the devotees involved in publishing and distributing "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" in many different languages of the world.

 

I offer my respectful obeisances to all who read and study "Bhagavad-gita As It Is." As stated in Bhagavad-gita itself, they worship Lord Krsna by their intelligence.

 

And finally I offer my obeisances to the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original speaker of Bhagavad-gita.

 

By the grace of Lord Sri Krsna and His devotees, may we all gain a deeper and clearer understanding of "Bhagavad-gita As It Is."

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Jayadvaita Swami

(Text PAMHO:2113757) ---------------------------------------

 

 

Text PAMHO:2114976 (62 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      22-Feb-99 19:33

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   The format for texts in this conference

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Generally, the texts in this conference will follow the following format:

 

1ST: [Text from the First Edition (1972), originally

published by the Macmillan Company.]

 

2ND: [The corresponding text from the Second Edition.]

 

MS: [The text from the original manuscripts.]

 

COMMENTS: My comments.

 

 

A few words of explanation:

 

"Original manuscripts" means different things, according to different Gita chapters. For the first five or six chapters, it refers to original manuscripts apparently typed by Srila Prabhupada himself. For the middle six chapters, it refers to the original transcriptions of his tapes. And for the last chapters it refers to the old retyped manuscripts from which the 1972 Macmillan edition was produced. In all cases, "original manuscripts" means the oldest and most reliable manuscripts in the BBT files.

 

The "retyped manuscripts" for the last six chapters were copied from original transcriptions on which much editing had already been done. The typist followed the edited version, adding what the editor had added and deleting what he had deleted. Sometime before 1972, the original transcriptions themselves were apparently lost. (This loss is why the revisions in the last six chapters of the Second Edition are particularly light.)

 

The text of the manuscripts for all eighteen chapters has been converted into digital form, and for convenience while traveling I am relying on the digital version. If this results in any significant errors that later come to my attention, I shall report them.

 

Thank you. Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

 

 

============================================================

SUBSCRIPTION AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

 

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 COM, the BBT 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 COM can join or leave the conference by sending me a request at <jayadvaita.swami@com.bbt.se>.

 

The First and Second Editions of "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" are © 1972, 1983 by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The contents of this message, and of the conference as a whole, are © 1999 by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. All rights reserved.

 

Hare Krsna.

(Text PAMHO:2114976) ---------------------------------------

 

 

New Text 4883 (31 lines)

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      24-Feb-99 10:42

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   Announcement of the conference

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Gita Revisions Explained

 

 

In this conference, I shall present and discuss some of the more interesting, instructive, and controversial revisions made for the Second Edition of "Bhagavad-gita As It Is."

 

Unlike comparisons published elsewhere, these discussions will include comparisons to the original unpublished manuscripts. (You can expect to see, as in Krsna's universal form, "many wonderful things which no one has ever seen or heard of before.")

 

I shall usually publish examples one at a time, one example per message. The messages will appear as often as I have the time and inspiration to write them. In any case, there won't be more than one a day.

 

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 COM, you can join it on your own--no need to send a request to the Sysop or to me. E-mail users who are not on COM can join the conference by sending me a request at <jayadvaita.swami@com.bbt.se>.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Your servant,

Jayadvaita Swami

(Text 4883) ------------------------------------------------

 

 

Text PAMHO:2120226 (72 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      24-Feb-99 11:02

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.31, purport: Lord Rama, "of the Ramayana"

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Bhagavad-gita 10.31

 

pavanah pavatam asmi

ramah sastra-bhrtam aham

jhasanam makaras casmi

srotasam asmi jahnavi

 

TRANSLATION: Of purifiers I am the wind, of the wielders of weapons I am Rama, of fishes I am the shark, and of flowing rivers I am the Ganges.

 

 

PURPORT:

 

1ST EDITION:    Of all the aquatics the shark is one of the biggest and is certainly the most dangerous to man. Thus the shark represents Krsna. Lord Ramacandra, of the Ramayana, an incarnation of Krsna, is the mightiest of warriors.

 

2ND EDITION:    Of all the aquatics the shark is one of the biggest and is certainly the most dangerous to man. Thus the shark represents Krsna. [end of purport.]

 

MANUSCRIPT:     Of all the acquatics especially fish the shark-fish is the biggest amongst them and some of the shark-fish are dangerous to humankind also, but the shark-fish is amongst the fish. [end of purport.]

 

COMMENT:

 

The shark may be a dangerous fish, but the locution "of the Ramayana" at once alerted me that something else fishy was going on. Is Lord Ramacandra a character from a book, like Alice "of Alice in Wonderland"? Sure enough, in the original manuscript the text about Lord Ramacandra doesn't appear; it seems to have been added by the editor.

 

For certain, the editor of the First Edition was trying to be helpful. But sometimes we are better off without help. The word "rama" may of course refer to Lord Ramacandra--or to Balarama, or even to Krsna Himself. Nonetheless, our sampradaya acaryas comment here that "rama" refers to--whom? Lord Parasurama.

 

 

 

 

Hare Krsna.

(Text PAMHO:2120226) ---------------------------------------

 

 

New Text 4895 (81 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      26-Feb-99 11:52

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   4.34, purport: "Nor by independent study of books. . . "

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4.34, purport (right after the Sanskrit quotation "dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam):

 

 

FIRST EDITION:  Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help one progress in spiritual life.  One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge.

 

SECOND EDITION:  Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge.

 

MANUSCRIPT:  Therefore mental speculation or dry arguments cannot lead one to the right path.Neither by  self study of the book of knowledge can help one progress in spiritual life.One has to approach therefore a bonafide spiritual master for receiving the knowledge.

 

COMMENT: According to a message I received not long ago from a correspondent in Bangalore, some devotees there were pointing to this revision as evidence that "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" is not really "as it is." The critics pointed out that the original 1972 edition did not contain the sentence about the inability to progress by independent study of books. The sentence had been added by the GBC (so the critics charged) to support a guru system never desired by Srila Prabhupada.

 

I take such criticism as a sign that restoring this sentence from Srila Prabhupada's manuscript was worth doing.

 

By the way: How did the missing portion go missing? Here's a guess. Suppose the original editor did the text this way: "Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot HELP lead one to the right path. Nor can independent study of books of knowledge HELP one progress in spiritual life." [capitals supplied] If you jump from the first HELP to the second, leaving out everything between--a very common sort of typist's error--you get precisely what was published in the First Edition.

 

The First Edition was typeset on a now-extinct "IBM Composer" on which each typeset line had to be typed twice, making this sort of error even more likely.  When you notice that in the First Edition the word HELP comes at the end of a line, you can figure that you've pretty well solved the case: The typesetting person left out one complete line. The Second Edition restores it.

 

This fix illustrates the sort of work done for the Second Edition of "Bhagavad-gita As It Is." And the response to it illustrates how an over-suspicious mind and a hyperactive imagination can turn a typist's error into an international conspiracy.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

New Text 4913 (84 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      27-Feb-99 15:47

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.32-35:  "Kill or be killed"? / "creature comforts" /  missing line

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1.32-35, translation:

 

"O Govinda, of what avail to us are a kingdom, happiness or even life itself when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed on this battlefield? O Madhusudana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, why should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me? O maintainer of all living entities, I am not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. What pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhrtarastra?"

 

 

1ST EDITION: Why should I wish to kill them, though I may survive?

 

2ND EDITION: Why should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me?

 

MANUSCRIPT: why shall I wish to kill them even though I may be killed by them.

 

COMMENT: The old version means roughly the opposite of what Srila Prabhupada (and Lord Krsna) said.

 

 

1ST EDITION: O maintainer of all creatures, . . .

 

2ND EDITION: O maintainer of all living entities, . . .

 

MANUSCRIPT: Oh the maintainer of all living entities, . . .

 

 

1ST EDITION: [nothing]

 

2ND EDITION: What pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhrtarastra?

 

MANUSCRIPT: [nothing]

 

COMMENT: A line of Sanskrit has been left untranslated:

 

nihatya dhartarastra nah

ka pritih syaj janardana

 

It's there in the Sanskrit and in Srila Prabhupada's word for word. The omission clearly appears unintended. (And it's the sort of omission that scholars and professors notice.) Supplying such missing lines was routine work for the BBT Sanskrit editors on all of Srila Prabhupada's later books, a standard set by Pradyumna Dasa and appreciated by Srila Prabhupada. Here the supplied translation derives directly from Srila Prabhupada's word-for-word meanings.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

 

New Text 4948 (57 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      28-Feb-99 13:07

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   5.16, purport: Krsna consciousness drives away nescience

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5.16, purport:

 

1ST EDITION: Therefore, one has to seek out such a bona fide spiritual master and, under him, learn what Krsna consciousness is. The spiritual master can drive away all nescience, as the sun drives away darkness.

 

2ND EDITION: . . . learn what Krsna consciousness is, for Krsna consciousness will certainly drive away all nescience, [etc.]

 

MANUSCRIPT: Therefore, one has to find out such bona fide spiritual master who is  perfect Krsna consciousness and, has to learn under such benafide spiritual master what is Krsna consciousness. Such Krsna consciousness will certainly drive away all kinds o nescience, as the Sun drives away all kinds o darkness.

 

COMMENT:

 

What we find in the First Edition is philosophically all right. What we find in the Second Edition is what Srila Prabhupada said.

 

This revision is hardly worth mentioning. I bring it up only because some critics have cited it, seemingly as evidence that the Second Edition whittles away the importance of the spiritual master. As you can see, what the Second Edition actually does here is restores Srila Prabhupada's words.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

New Text 4966 (77 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      03-Mar-99 02:20

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   9.26: "A leaf, a flower. . . " First paragraph of purport restored

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9.26:

patram puspam phalam to yam

yo me bhakt ya prayacchati

tad aham bhakt y-upahrtam

asnami prayatatmanah

 

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.

 

 

 

Purport (first paragraph):

 

1ST EDITION: [nothing--the purport skips this paragraph]

 

2ND EDITION:

For the intelligent person, it is essential to be in Krsna consciousness, engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, in order to achieve a permanent, blissful abode for eternal happiness. The process of achieving such a marvelous result is very easy and can be attempted even by the poorest of the poor, without any kind of qualification. The only qualification required in this connection is to be a pure devotee of the Lord. It does not matter what one is or where one is situated. The process is so easy that even a leaf or a little water or fruit can be offered to the Supreme Lord in genuine love and the Lord will be pleased to accept it. No one, therefore, can be barred from Krsna consciousness, because it is so easy and universal. Who is such a fool that he does not want to be Krsna conscious by this simple method and thus attain the highest perfectional life of eternity, bliss and knowledge? Krsna wants only loving service and nothing more. Krsna accepts even a little flower from His pure devotee. He does not want any kind of offering from a nondevotee. He is not in need of anything from anyone, because He is self-sufficient, and yet He accepts the offering of His devotee in an exchange of love and affection. To develop Krsna consciousness is the highest perfection of life. Bhakti is mentioned twice in this verse in order to declare more emphatically that bhakti, or devotional service, is the only means to approach Krsna. No other condition, such as becoming a brahmana. a learned scholar, a very rich man or a great philosopher, can induce Krsna to accept some offering. Without the basic principle of bhakti, nothing can induce the Lord to agree to accept anything from anyone. Bhakti is never causal. The process is eternal. It is direct action in service to the absolute whole.

 

COMMENT: I retrieved this missing paragraph from the 1968 Macmillan *abridged* edition.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

New Text 4968 (83 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      04-Mar-99 14:50

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10:26: "Holy fig tree!"

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10.26.

 

asvathah sarva-vrksanam: "Of all trees I am the banyan tree."

 

 

 

WORD-FOR-WORD:

 

1ST AND 2ND EDITIONS: asvattha--the banyan tree; sarva-vrksanam--of all trees;

 

MANUSCRIPT: Asvatthah--the beginning trees, Sarvavrksanam--of all trees;

 

 

 

TRANSLATION:

 

1ST EDITION: Of all trees I am the holy fig tree. . .

 

2ND EDITION: Of all trees I am the banyan tree. . .

 

MANUSCRIPT:     I am the beginning tree amongst all the trees;

 

 

PURPORT:

 

1ST EDITION: The fig tree (asvattha) is one of the most beautiful and highest trees, and people in India often worship it as one of their daily morning rituals.

 

2ND EDITION: The banyan tree (asvattha) is one of the highest and most beautiful trees, [etc.]

 

MANUSCRIPT: Brilliant tree is the most beautiful and the highest tree, therefore brilliant tree is the presentation of Krishna. In India people in general worship Indian tree as one of the daily morning rituals.

 

COMMENT: Botanists classify the banyan tree as a species of fig. People in India, however, do not worship fig trees in general; they worship the banyan.

Though the banyan is "the holy fig tree" and tulasi is "the holy basil," people worship the banyan tree and the tulasi plant, not figs and basils.

Clearly, "beginning tree," "brilliant tree," and "Indian tree" are all mis-transcriptions of "banyan tree."

See also Bhagavad-gita 15.1, which speaks of a banyan (not fig) tree with its roots up and branches down.

 

More about 10.26 in our next message.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2139838 (84 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      06-Mar-99 16:49

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.26 (continued): "The perpetually living entities"

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10.26:

 

 

asvatthah sarva-vrksanam

devarsinam ca naradah

gandharvanam citrarathah

siddhanam kapilo munih

 

Of all trees I am the banyan tree, and of the sages among the demigods I am Narada. Of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila.

 

 

 

 

10.26, translation:

 

1ST EDITION: . . . and amongst sages and demigods I am Narada.

 

2ND EDITION: . . . and of the sages among the demigods I am Narada.

 

MANUSCRIPT: I am Narada amongst all the sages of demigods,

 

COMMENT: No big deal here, but "sage among the demigods" was Srila Prabhupada's standard translation.

 

 

10.26, purport:

 

1ST EDITION:   Amongst the perpetually living entities, Kapila is considered an incarnation of Krsna, and His philosophy is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam.

 

2ND EDITION:  Amongst the perfect living entities, Kapila, the son of Devahuti, is a representative of Krsna. He is considered an incarnation of Krsna, [etc.]

 

MANUSCRIPT: Amongst the perpetually living entities, Kapila, the son of Katumuni is the presentation of Krishna. Katumuni is considered incarnation of Krishna. And his philosophy is mentioned in the Srimad Bhagwatam.

 

COMMENT: "Perpetually living entities"? *All* living entities are perpetually living. The Gita text here is siddhanam kapilo munih: "Among the perfect [Srila Prabhupada would usually say "perfected"] living entities I am Kapila." So "perpetually living entities" is clearly a mis-hearing.

Looking at the manuscript again: the Second Edition should certainly have said "son of Kardama Muni" rather than "son of Devahuti." (I don't know how I missed that.) But either name--that of His mother or His father--serves Srila Prabhupada's purpose of distinguishing the genuine Lord Kapiladeva from the atheist. In the First Edition, neither parent is mentioned.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2141159 (46 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      07-Mar-99 06:33

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2141294 by Madhava (das) BRS (Chowpatty, Bombay - IN)

Subject:   1.11, purport: "forced to strip"?

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1.11, purport:

 

1ST EDITION: being forced to strip naked

 

2ND EDITION: being forced to appear naked

 

MANUSCRIPT: being forced to become naked

 

COMMENT: Draupadi was not forced to strip.

 

I suppose I could have edited this further--"while the attempt was being made to force her to appear naked"--but I didn't. I'm not sure, now, whether I was being conservative or just lazy. Anyway, I chose to do the minimum: get rid of "strip."

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

New Text 4998 (55 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      07-Mar-99 11:29

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   7.4: Altogether the wrong word

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7.4:

 

bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh

kham mano buddhir eva ca

ahankara itiyam me

bhinna prakrtir astadha

 

Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego--all together these eight constitute My separated material energies.

 

 

 

7.4, translation:

 

1ST EDITION: . . . altogether these eight. . .

 

2ND EDITION: . . . all together these eight. . .

 

COMMENT: A matter of English. The word "altogether" is altogether the wrong word. "The Random House Dictionary" explains: "The forms ALTOGETHER and ALL TOGETHER, though often indistinguishable in speech, are distinct in meaning. The adverb ALTOGETHER means 'wholly, entirely, completely': an altogether confused report. The phrase ALL TOGETHER means 'in a group': The children were all together in the kitchen." ALL the eight elements TOGETHER constitute the Lord's material energies.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2189368 (65 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      16-Mar-99 13:04

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Cc:        Varnasrama development

Bcc:       krishna@all.com.au

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2190468 by WWW: Janesvara (Dasa) ACBSP (Syracuse - USA) <jdf1@stsi.net>

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2199781 by Sucharya (dd) ACBSP (IC North Carolina - USA)

Subject:   2.31, purport: "Editing varnasrama-dharma out of the books?"

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2.31, purport (last sentence):

 

[NOTE: I have capitalized the relevant portions, to make them stand out.]

 

 

1ST EDITION: Discharging one's specific duty in any field of action in accordance with VARNASRAMA-DHARMA serves to elevate one to a higher status of life.

 

2ND EDITION: Discharging one's specific duty in any field of action in accordance with THE ORDERS OF HIGHER AUTHORITIES serves to elevate one to a higher status of life.

 

MANUSCRIPT: To discharge one's specific duty in any field of action and AS ORDERED BY HIGHER AUTHORITY is the opportunity for being elevated in higher status of life.

 

COMMENT: This revision seems to have become a topic in the "Varnasrama Development" conference on COM, under the subject heading "Editing varnasrama-dharma out of the books?" As you can see, the answer is "No. Restoring what Srila Prabhupada said."

 

By the way, I could have further edited the sentence from the First Edition to bring it still closer to Srila Prabhupada's words. But my goal was to keep the sentence from the First Edition nearly intact and yet still restore Srila Prabhupada's point. I believe the revision does that.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

PS for members of the "Varnasrama Development" conference: "MANUSCRIPT" refers to the original manuscript of "Bhagavad-gita As It Is," which for this chapter was apparently typed by Srila Prabhupada himself.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2191802 (120 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      28-Mar-99 05:09

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   4.34: Surrendering to the spiritual master

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4.34

 

 

tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya

upadeksyanti te jnanam

jnaninas tatt va-darsinah

 

tat—that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi—try to understand; pranipatena—by approaching a spiritual master; pariprasnena—by submissive inquiries; sevaya—by the rendering of service; upadeksyanti—they will initiate; te—you; jnanam—into knowledge; jnaninah—the self-realized; tattva—of the truth; darsinah—seers.

 

BOTH EDITIONS: Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him.

 

1ST EDITION: . . . The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.

 

2ND EDITION: . . . The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

 

MANUSCRIPT: Just try to know the truth of all these by approacing 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.

 

COMMENT:

 

Since this verse is so important to us, this revision has generated a great deal of comment and inquiry.

 

As you can see, the revision has its basis in Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript. Srila Prabhupada begins in the singular and ends in the plural. So does the revised translation.

 

Of course, Srila Prabhupada has his singular and plural in the same sentence--his subject is singular, his verb plural--and this transgresses English grammar. So I made the first sentence singular, the second plural.

 

The revision also lines up with the Sanskrit. The words "upadeksyanti," "jnaninah," and "tattva-darsinah" are all grammatically plural.

 

But isn't there a hidden agenda here? Am I not trying to dilute the authority of the spiritual master?

 

Simply: no.

 

For evidence, read the next verse, 4.35:

 

1ST EDITION: And when you have thus learned the truth, you

will know that all living beings are but part of Me—and

that they are in Me, and are Mine.

 

2ND EDITION: Having obtained real knowledge from a self-

realized soul, you will never fall again into such

illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all

living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other

words, that they are Mine.

 

MANUSCRIPT: By knowing real knowledge from the self-

realised soul you would would have no more any illusion

like this. . .

 

In a separate text, I'll go into greater detail about the editing of verse 35. For now, all that needs to concern us is the opening clause. In the Second Edition, the verse begins: "Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul"--singular.

 

Seen as a whole, therefore, the revision of these two verses is free from bias as to singular or plural. In fact, the Second Edition, by including text edited out of Text 35, emphasizes the need to obtain knowledge "from a self-realized soul."

 

In short: The philosophy is not being changed.

 

Editing is not an exact science. As an editor, you look at each word with a critical eye, and you make value judgments: Is this clear? Is this grammatical? Is this faithful to what the author wrote?

 

And--especially when revising an already published text: Should this word change, or should I just let it stand as it is?

 

This revision to 4.34 was a close choice. And the version chosen is not one I'd go to battle for. Perhaps for the choice in this verse, history will condemn me. I suspect not.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2193447 (71 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      29-Mar-99 09:43

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   4.35: Real knowledge from a self-realized soul

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4.35

 

yaj jnatva na punar moham

evam yasyasi pandava

yena bhutany asesani

draksyasy atmany atho mayi

 

yat--which; jnatva--knowing; na--never; punah--again; moham--to illusion; evam--like this; yasyasi--you shall go; pandava--O son of Pandu; yena--by which; bhutani--living entities; asesani--all; draksyasi--you will see; atmani--in the Supreme Soul; athau--or in other words; mayi--in Me.

 

1ST EDITION: And when you have thus learned the truth, you will know that all living beings are but part of Me—and that they are in Me, and are Mine.

 

2ND EDITION: Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine.

 

MANUSCRIPT: By knowing real knowledge from the self-realised soul you would would have no more any illusion like this because by that knowldege you would  know that all living entities are only parts and parcel of the  Supreme - or in other words, Mine.

 

COMMENT:

 

Obviously, in Edition One Srila Prabhupada's mention of the self-realized soul, repeated from the previous verse, has been deleted. In the Second Edition, it has been restored.

 

Apart from that: In Edition One Srila Prabhupada's translation of "na punar moham evam yasyasi pandava" has been dropped. The Second Edition restores it: "You will never fall again into such illusion." The Second Edition also restores his translation for "yena" ("by which")--"by this knowledge." Similarly, the Second Edition brings the translation for "atmani," meaning "in the Supreme," closer in line with what Srila Prabhupada originally said.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2196177 (81 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      30-Mar-99 12:24

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Bcc:       krishna@all.com.au

Subject:   2.8, purport: Consult Krsna THROUGH the bona fide representative

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2.8, purport (last line of paragraph four)

 

 

Starting today, I may from time to time add to our usual format the objections of some critic.

 

In the selection below, only one word has been changed. So in each version I have put the relevant word in ALL CAPITALS.

 

 

1ST EDITION:

...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.

 

2ND EDITION:

...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.

 

COMMENT BY A CRITIC:

It's only one word changed, but what a difference! In Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita we can understand Krsna by reading the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, after all the books are not different from Krsna!! But Jayadvaita has adjusted everything for us...[The critic ends his comment in this way.]

 

ORIGINAL MS: . . . they can achieve real happiness if they prefee to consult Krsna or the Bhaga vat Geeta or Srimad Bhagwatam which are science of Krsna FROM the bonafide representative of Krsna or the man in Krsna consciousness.

 

COMMENT:

The critic is right: That one word does make a difference.

 

In Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript, one is advised to consult Krsna or the scriptures FROM Krsna's representative--that is, through him, or with his help. As Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to Chapter One, text 1, "one should read Bhagavad-gita very scrutinizingly with the help of a person who is a devotee of Sri Krsna. . . "

 

In the First Edition one is advised to consult Krsna and the scriptures OR Krsna's representative--an either/or proposition.

 

I leave it to you decide which advice better matches Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript and better gets across his intended meaning.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2198560 (80 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      31-Mar-99 10:54

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.37:  "Vasudeva " here is Balarama. And who is Usana Kavi?

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10.37:

 

vrsninam vasudevo 'smi

pandavanam dhananjayah

muninam apy aham vyasah

kavinam usana kavih

 

Of the descendants of Vrsni I am Vasudeva, and of the Pandavas I am Arjuna. Of the sages I am Vyasa, and among great thinkers I am Usana.

 

 

10.37, purport (1st paragraph):

 

1ST EDITION: Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Vasudeva is Krsna's immediate expansion. Both Lord Krsna and Baladeva appeared as sons of Vasudeva,

 

2ND EDITION: Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Baladeva is Krsna's immediate expansion. Both Lord Krsna and Baladeva appeared as sons of Vasudeva, so both of Them may be called Vasudeva. From another point of view, because Krsna never leaves Vrndavana, all the forms of Krsna that appear elsewhere are His expansions. Vasudeva is Krsna's immediate expansion, so Vasudeva is not different from Krsna. It is to be understood that the Vasudeva referred to in this verse of Bhagavad-gita is Baladeva, or Balarama, because He is the original source of all incarnations and thus He is the sole source of Vasudeva. The immediate expansions of the Lord are called svamsa (personal expansions), and there are also expansions called vibhinnamsa (separated expansions).

 

MANUSCRIPT:           Krishna being the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Valadeva he is the immediate expansion of Krishna. The son of Basudeva, both Lord Krishna and Valadeva appears as the sons of Basudeva, so Vasudeva can be said both of them that here so far as he himself is concerned, not that Krishna is different from him. Vasudeva is immediate expansion. Krishna is another sense does not leave Vrindaban, but al other Krishna's expansions, they are very confidental subject matter, but still as it is stated in the Bhavoda it is to be understood that his Basudeva is Balarama. As he is the original Sourse of all incarnation, similarly He is sole source of Vasudeva. These expansions are called samsa, personal expansions and the different expansions are called divunansa, separated expansion.

 

COMMENT:

 

Apart from the content restored here, in the next paragraph Srila Prabhupada speaks, in the First Edition, about the kavi named Usana. But who is that? Where you read "Usana" in the First Edition, the original transcription says "sukacharya" and "Sukarta." A doublecheck with the commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana confirmed what was obvious. So the Second Edition gets it right: Sukracarya.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Text PAMHO:2202214 (60 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      01-Apr-99 18:11

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Bcc:       krishna@all.com.au

Subject:   2.49, translation: ". . . and surrender unto the Lord."

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2.49

 

 

durena hy avaram karma

buddhi-yogad dhananjaya

buddhau saranam anviccha

krpanah phala-hetavah

 

 

durena--discard it at a long distance; hi--certainly; avaram--abominable; karma--activity; buddhi-yogat--on the strength of Krsna consciousness; dhananjaya--O conqueror of wealth; buddhau--in such consciousness; saranam--full surrender; anviccha--try for; krpanah--misers; phala-hetavah--those desiring fruitive results.

 

TRANSLATION:

 

1ST EDITION: O Dhananjaya, rid yourself of all fruitive activities by devotional service, and surrender fully to that consciousness. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.

 

2ND EDITION: O Dhananjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service, and in that consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy [etc.]

 

MANUSCRIPT:     Oh Dhananjaya keep all abominable activities to far distant place by dint devotional service and in such consciousness try to surrender unto Him.Those who want to enjoy fruits of work are misers.

 

COMMENT: Note also the word-for-word meanings of "durena" and "avaram karma."

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Text PAMHO:2205094 (64 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      02-Apr-99 00:46

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Bcc:       krishna@all.com.au

Subject:   2.40, purport: "Tyaktva sva-dharmam" means giving up--what?

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2.40, purport (paragraph 2):

 

(I've put the relevant words in ALL CAPITALS.)

 

 

BOTH EDITIONS:

 

tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer

bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi

yatra kva vabhadram abhud amusya kim

ko vartha apto 'bhajatam sva-dharmatah

 

1ST EDITION:

"If someone gives up SELF-GRATIFICATORY PURSUITS and works in Krsna consciousness and then falls down on account of not completing his work, what loss is there on his part?. . ."

 

2ND EDITION:

"If someone gives up HIS OCCUPATIONAL DUTIES and works in Krsna consciousness and then falls down [etc.]"

 

MANUSCRIPT:

"If somebody gives up HIS OCCUPZTIONAL DUTIES and work in terms of Krsna c consciousness and then again fall down . . ."

 

COMMENT:

 

The verse says, tyaktva sva-dharmam. "Sva-dharmam" means "his occupational duties," not "self-gratificatory pursuits." (See Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.17.)

 

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2207771 (89 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      04-Apr-99 04:25

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Bcc:       krishna@all.com.au

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2208039 by Nayana-ranjana (das) HKS (BBT Bombay - IN)

Subject:   3.6-7, translations: A sincere person tries to control the senses

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3.6

 

 

karma-indriyani--the five working sense organs; samyamya--controlling; yah--anyone who; aste--remains; manasa--by the mind; smaran--thinking of; indriya-arthan--sense objects; vimudha--foolish; atma--soul; mithya-acarah--pretender; sah--he; ucyate--is called.

 

TRANSLATION:

 

1ST EDITION:

One who restrains the senses AND ORGANS of action, but whose mind dwells on sense objects, certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.

 

2ND EDITION:

One who restrains the senses of action but whose mind [etc.]

 

MANUSCRIPT:

One who artificially makes a shows of controlling the senses of action, but cannot check the mind from thinking of sense objects is certainly called a pretender.

 

COMMENT:

Someone seems upset that I've deleted the words "and organs," found in Edition One. But, as you see, those words were nowhere in Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript. And for good reason: "senses of action"--what Srila Prabhupada originally said--fully translates the Sanskrit word "karma-indriyani." Nothing more needed to be added.

 

The extra "and organs" offers only redundancy, confusion, or both. Are we supposed to restrain the senses and, in addition, the "organs of action"? Or the "senses of action" plus the "organs of action"?

 

We are supposed to control the karma-indriyas--"the senses of action." Just as Srila Prabhupada said.

 

 

3.7, translation:

 

1ST EDITION:

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.

 

2ND EDITION:

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.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active sense organs and begins Karmayoga in Krsna consciousness, without being attached, he is by far the better.

 

COMMENT: No comment needed.

 

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

New Text 5131 (47 lines)

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      05-Apr-99 11:14

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   2.30: You can never be slain

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2.30, translation:

 

 

dehi nityam avadhyo 'yam

dehe sarvasya bharata

tasmat sarvani bhutani

na tvam socitum arhasi

 

dehi--the owner of the material body; nityam--eternally; avadhyah--cannot be killed; ayam--this soul; dehe--in the body; sarvasya--of everyone; bharata--O descendant of Bharata; tasmat--therefore; sarvani--all; bhutani--living entities (that are born); na--never; tvam--you; socitum--to lament; arhasi--deserve.

 

 

TRANSLATION

(CAPITALS supplied)

 

1ST EDITION:

O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body IS ETERNAL and can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any creature.

 

2ND EDITION:

O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any living being.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Oh the descendant of Bharata,the owner of the body is always unfit for being in all bodies and as such you do not deserve to lament for any one of all living entities.

 

COMMENT:

 

The word-for-word meanings in both editions are the same, except that for "tvam" the First Edition said "yourself." In the Second Edition this has been changed--quite rightly--to "you." "Tvam" is not a reflexive pronoun, and the English reflexive pronoun "yourself" doesn't belong here. What fits is the simple pronoun--"you." "You [not "yourself"] never deserve to lament." "You [not "yourself"] need not grieve."

 

The words "is eternal" (First Edition) do not appear in Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript. The word "nityam" here means "eternally"--or, as Srila Prabhupada gives it, "always." It modifies "avadhyah." Thus, "always unfit for being slain." Putting that negatively, as the original editor chose to do, the "always" becomes "never"--"he can never be slain."

(Text 5131) ------------------------------------------------

 

 

Text PAMHO:2209758 (90 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      05-Apr-99 12:24

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   2.48, translation & word-for-word: Perform your duty equipoised

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2.48

 

WORD-FOR-WORD MEANINGS

(ALL CAPITALS supplied):

 

 

1ST EDITION:

 

yoga-sthah--STEADFAST IN YOGA; kuru--perform; karmani--your DUTY; sangam--attachment; tyaktva--HAVING ABANDONED; dhananjaya--O DHANANJAYA; siddhi-asiddhyoh--in success and failure; samah--THE SAME; bhutva--HAVING BECOME; samatvam--EVENNESS OF MIND; yogah--yoga; ucyate--is called.

 

2ND EDITION:

 

yoga-sthah--EQUIPOISED; kuru--perform; karmani--your DUTIES; sangam--attachment; tyaktva--GIVING UP; dhananjaya--O ARJUNA; siddhi-asiddhyoh--in success and failure; samah--EQUIPOISED; bhutva--BECOMING; samatvam--EQUANIMITY; yogah--yoga; ucyate--is called.

 

 

MANUSCRIPT:

 

Yogastha=IN EQUIPOISED CONDITION,Kuru=do,Karmani=your DUTY,Samgam=attachment,Taktva=GIVING UP,Dhananjaya=oh ARJUNA,Sidhya siddhyah=success or success,Samo=EQUIPOSITION,Bhutva=SO BECOMING,Samatvam=EQUANIMITY, Yoga=of the name, Ucyate=is said.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

1ST EDITION:

Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.

 

2ND EDITION:

Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.

 

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Do your prescribed duty in equiposed condition.Do such duty without being attached to success or failure and to remain just in equipoised condition is called Yoga.

 

COMMENT:

 

For the First Edition, the Sanskrit editor revised Srila Prabhupada's original word-for-word meanings to fit the editor's version of the translation. It's a good translation and commits no philosophical errors. But here again, obviously, Edition Two sticks more closely to Srila Prabhupada's original words.

 

So if you want to criticize the version in Edition Two, your criticism should go like this: The editor has revised the word meanings and translation to make them closer to what Srila Prabhupada said, but he shouldn't have [for whatever reasons you may want to give].

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2212983 (59 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      06-Apr-99 16:49

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   4.26, translation: ". . . in the fire of the senses."

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4.26, translation:

 

1ST EDITION:

Some of them sacrifice the hearing process and the senses in the fire of the controlled mind, and others sacrifice the objects of the senses, such as sound, in the fire of the sacrifice.

 

2ND EDITION:

Some [the unadulterated brahmacaris] sacrifice the hearing process and the senses in the fire of mental control, and others [the regulated householders] sacrifice the objects of the senses in the fire of the senses.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Some of themlike the unadulterated  Brahmacharins sacrifice hearing process and senses in the fire of controoing the mind,and others the regulated householders sacrifice the objects of sense gratification in the fire of senses.

 

COMMENTS:

Srila Prabhupada's reference to brahmacaris and grhasthas (dropped from the First Edition) comes directly from the translations and comments of the acaryas.

When regulated householders perform acts of sense gratification in accordance with religious principles, they offer to the senses the objects of the senses, as a sacrifice. Therefore "in the fire of the senses," as Srila Prabhupada originally had it, was correct.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2215297 (27 lines)

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      07-Apr-99 16:40

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   2.51, translation: Great sages or devotees go back to Godhead

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

2.51, translation:

 

 

1ST EDITION:

The wise, engaged in devotional service, take refuge in the Lord and free themselves from the cycle of birth and death by renouncing the fruits of action in the material world. In this way they can attain that state beyond all miseries.

 

2ND EDITION:

By thus engaging in devotional service to the Lord, great sages or devotees free themselves from the results of work in the material world. In this way they become free from the cycle of birth and death and attain the state beyond all miseries [by going back to Godhead].

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Thus by being engaged in devotional service of the Lordgreat sages or devotees are able to get free from the resultant actions of work in the material world and thus become from the cycle of birth and death and go back to Godhead where there is no more any miseries.

 

COMMENT:

Another verse where the Second Edition more closely matches Srila Prabhupada's original words.

(Text PAMHO:2215297) ---------------------------------------

 

 

Text PAMHO:2220393 (69 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      08-Apr-99 19:47

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.32, purport:  The beginning, middle and end of all creations

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10.32

 

sarganam adir antas ca

madhyam caivaham arjuna

adh yatma-vidya vidyanam

vadah pravadatam aham

 

Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna. Of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the self, and among logicians I am the conclusive truth.

 

 

 

10.32, purport (paragraph 1):

 

 

1ST EDITION: Among created manifestations, the total material elements are first created by Maha-Visnu and are annihilated by Lord Siva. Brahma is a secondary creator. All these created elements are different incarnations of the material qualities of the Supreme Lord.

 

2ND EDITION:  Among the created manifestations, the first is the creation of the total material elements. As explained before, the cosmic manifestation is created and conducted by Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu, and then again it is annihilated by Lord Siva. Brahma is a secondary creator. All these agents of creation, maintenance and annihilation are incarnations of the material qualities of the Supreme Lord.

 

MANUSCRIPT: Amongst the created manifestation the first creation is the total material elements, so that as explained before is this created Mahatmaba is conducted by Maha Vishnu, Garbodakashayee Vishnu and Kshirodakashayee Vishnu as realized and again annihilated by Lord Shiva. Brahma is also secondary creator, so all these creative elements, they are different incarnation of the material qualities of the Supreme Lord

 

COMMENT: Brahma, Visnu, and Siva are the guna-avataras, the incarnations of the material qualities of the Supreme Lord.

 

The rest of this purport will come in the next installment.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2222525 (125 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      10-Apr-99 08:17

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.32, purport (continued): 14 books of knowledge

------------------------------------------------------------

 

10.32

 

 

sarganam adir antas ca

madhyam caivaham arjuna

adhyatma-vidya vidyanam

vadah pravadatam aham

 

Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna. Of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the self, and among logicians I am the conclusive truth.

 

 

 

 

10.32, purport (paragraph 2):

 

1ST EDITION:

Regarding the spiritual science of the Self, there are many literatures, such as the four Vedas, the Vedanta-sutra and the Puranas, the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Gita. These are all representatives of Krsna.

 

2ND EDITION:

For advanced education there are various kinds of books of knowledge, such as the four Vedas, their six supplements, the Vedanta-sutra, books of logic, books of religiosity and the Puranas. So all together there are fourteen divisions of books of education. Of these, the book which presents adhyatma-vidya, spiritual knowledge--in particular, the Vedanta-sutra--represents Krsna.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

About the advanced education, there are different kinds of books of knowledge just like the four Vedas and Vedanta Sutra and logic and conclusion, book on religiosity, the Puranas altogether there are fourtessn divisions of education books of which Padhagita, the book which imparts future knowledge, especially the Vedanta Sutras, that is the presentation of Krishna.

 

COMMENT:

Access to the Sanskrit commentaries of the acaryas Srila Prabhupada followed made it possible for the editors of Edition Two to restore Srila Prabhupada's purport correctly. To enumerate the fourteen books of knowledge, Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana quotes:

 

angani vedas catvaro

mimamsa nyaya vistarah

dharma-sastra puranas ca

vidya hy etas caturdasa

 

That's the list.

 

And Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana further says, paraphrasing Lord Krsna, vidyanam madhye 'dhyatma-vidya. . . vedanta-vidyaham: "Among all kinds of education, I am spiritual knowledge--in particular, the knowledge of Vedanta."

 

 

 

purport (end):

 

1ST EDITION:

Among logicians there are different stages of argument. The presentation of evidence is called japa. The attempt to defeat one another is called vitanda, and the final conclusion is called vada. The conclusive truth, the end of all reasoning processes, is Krsna.

 

2ND EDITION:

Among logicians there are different kinds of argument. Supporting one's argument with evidence that also supports the opposing side is called jalpa. Merely trying to defeat one's opponent is called vitanda. But the actual conclusion is called vada. This conclusive truth is a representation of Krsna.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Amongst the logicians there are different kinds of stages. During arguments amongst the two parties, when they followed evidences, that is called japa, when they tried to defeat one another that is called vitanda, and when they actually come to the conclusion that is called bado. So the conclusive truth is the representation of Krishna amongst the logicians.

 

COMMENT:

Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana's commentary discusses and defines vada, vitanda, and jalpa (not "japa").

 

Among logicians these technical terms are well known. Both in the First Edition and in the Second Edition, the editors tried to clarify what Srila Prabhupada says they are. For the Second Edition, the BBT Sanskrit editor had the advantage of being familiar with the terms, actually knowing what they mean, and being able to read Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana's explanation.

 

Whichever edition you follow, the final conclusion represents Krsna.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2225693 (63 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      10-Apr-99 20:29

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.21, purport: "Among the stars, I am the moon."

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

10.21, purport

 

1ST EDITION:

Among the stars, the moon is the most prominent at night, and thus the moon represents Krsna.

 

2ND EDITION:

Among the stars, the moon is the most prominent at night, and thus the moon represents Krsna. It appears from this verse that the moon is one of the stars; therefore the stars that twinkle in the sky also reflect the light of the sun. The theory that there are many suns within the universe is not accepted by Vedic literature. The sun is one, and as by the reflection of the sun the moon illuminates, so also do the stars. Since Bhagavad-gita indicates herein that the moon is one of the stars, the twinkling stars are not suns but are similar to the moon.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

among the stars the moon is the chief and therefore the moon is the presentation of Krishna. It appears however from this verse that the moon is one of the stars, therefore the stars which twinkle in the stars are also reflected by the sun. The theory that there are many suns within the universe is not accepted by Vedic literature. The sun is one and by the reflection of the sun the moon illuminates similarly the stars. The twinkling stars are not therefore suns as compared here in The Bhagavad Gita that the moon is one of the stars. Therefore the stars are as good as the moon.

 

COMMENT:

In a website disparaging the Second Edition, one critic suggests (in regard to another verse) that the Second Edition twists things to try to be "more palitable [sic] for the public." Hmmm.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2231447 (86 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      13-Apr-99 11:31

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.37, purport: Who is "Vasudeva"? Who is Usana Kavi?

------------------------------------------------------------

 

10.37

 

 

vrsninam vasudevo 'smi

pandavanam dhananjayah

muninam apy aham vyasah

kavinam usana kavih

 

"Of the descendants of Vrsni I am Vasudeva, and of the Pandavas I am Arjuna. Of the sages I am Vyasa, and among great thinkers I am Usana."

 

 

10.37, purport:

 

1ST EDITION:

Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Vasudeva is Krsna's immediate expansion. Both Lord Krsna and Baladeva appeared as sons of Vasudeva.

 

2ND EDITION:

Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Baladeva is Krsna's immediate expansion. Both Lord Krsna and Baladeva appeared as sons of Vasudeva, so both of Them may be called Vasudeva. From another point of view, because Krsna never leaves Vrndavana, all the forms of Krsna that appear elsewhere are His expansions. Vasudeva is Krsna's immediate expansion, so Vasudeva is not different from Krsna. It is to be understood that the Vasudeva referred to in this verse of Bhagavad-gita is Baladeva, or Balarama, because He is the original source of all incarnations and thus He is the sole source of Vasudeva. The immediate expansions of the Lord are called svamsa (personal expansions), and there are also expansions called vibhinnamsa (separated expansions).

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Krishna being the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Valadeva he is the immediate expansion of Krishna. The son of Basudeva, both Lord Krishna and Valadeva appears as the sons of Basudeva, so Vasudeva can be said both of them that here so far as he himself is concerned, not that Krishna is different from him. Vasudeva is immediate expansion. Krishna is another sense does not leave Vrindaban, but al other Krishna's expansions, they are very confidental subject matter, but still as it is stated in the Bhavoda it is to be understood that his Basudeva is Balarama. As he is the original Sourse of all incarnation, similarly He is sole source of Vasudeva. These expansions are called samsa, personal expansions and the different expansions are called divunansa, separated expansion.

 

COMMENT:

Quite a lot restored.

 

Apart from that, in the next paragraph Srila Prabhupada speaks, in the First Edition, about the kavi named Usana. But who is Usana? Where you read "Usana" in the First Edition, the original transcription says, instead, "sukacharya" and "Sukarta." A doublecheck with the commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana confirmed what was obvious: It's supposed to be "Sukracarya." The Second Edition gets it right.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2239836 (77 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      15-Apr-99 16:11

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Bcc:       krishna@all.com.au

Subject:   3.9, translation: "unattached and free from bondage"

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

3.9

 

 

yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra

loko 'yam karma-bandhanah

tad-artham karma kaunteya

mukta-sangah samacara

 

yajna-arthat--done only for the sake of Yajna, or Visnu; karmanah--than work; anyatra--otherwise; lokah--world; ayam--this; karma-bandhanah--bondage by work; tat--of Him; artham--for the sake; karma--work; kaunteya--O son of Kunti; mukta-sangah--liberated from association; samacara--do perfectly.

 

1ST EDITION:

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. [ALL CAPS supplied.]

 

2ND EDITION:

. . . and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Work for the sake of Visnu has to be performed otherwise all work become the cause bondage in this material world.Oh the son of Kunti do therefore your prescribed duties for His satisfaction so that you shall always remain immune from the bondage.

 

COMMENT:

A critic challenges, "Why has Jayadvaita removed the fact one who always performs his prescribed duties for Krishna remains unattached?" Answer: Because in Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript, it wasn't there to begin with.

 

The word "unattached," we suppose, would have to be a translation of "mukta-sangah." Undoubtedly some translators other than Srila Prabhupada have rendered "mukta-sangah" that way. Fine. But Srila Prabhupada's translation--"immune from the bondage" (or "free from bondage")--is entirely adequate (and, by the way, more precise). There is no need to translate the word twice.

 

Srila Prabhupada's purport, by the way, says nothing about remaining unattached. It does, however, speak about bondage and about acting "in a liberated state" (in other words, "free from bondage").

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2241888 (75 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      17-Apr-99 16:05

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.29, purport: "Among the serpents I am---" Ananta or Vasuki?

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

10.29

 

 

anantas casmi naganam

varuno yadasam aham

pitrnam aryama casmi

yamah samyamatam aham

 

"Of the many-hooded Nagas I am Ananta, and among the aquatics I am the demigod Varuna. Of departed ancestors I am Aryama, and among the dispensers of law I am Yama, the lord of death."

 

 

10.29, purport

 

 

1ST EDITION:

Among the many celestial serpents, Ananta is the greatest, as is the demigod Varuna among the aquatics. They both represent Krsna. . . .

 

2ND EDITION:

Among the many-hooded Naga serpents, Ananta is the greatest, as is the demigod Varuna among the aquatics. They both represent Krsna. . . .

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Amongst the serpents which have got m any rules the Lord is known as Ananta. . . .

 

COMMENT:

In Text 28 the Lord says, "Of serpents I am Vasuki." Then why does He say in Text 29 that of serpents He is Ananta? Answer: The serpents in Text 28 have only one hood; the serpents in Text 29, many. This is indicated in the original manuscript ("m any rules" is almost certainly a mis-hearing of "many hoods"), and it is confirmed by the commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana.

 

Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana (10.28) says, sarpanam eka-sirasam madhye vasukir aham: "Among the serpents with one hood I am Vasuki." And (10.29), naganam aneka-sirasam madhye 'nantah-seso 'ham: "Among the many-hooded Nagas I am Ananta Sesa."

 

In the First Edition, the purport to Text 29 also has the famous line about "the planet of the trees," about which nothing further needs to be said.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2243640 (72 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      17-Apr-99 16:32

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.33, translation and purport: "Of creators I am Brahma."

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

10.33, translation:

 

1ST EDITION: . . . and of creators I am Brahma, whose manifold faces turn everwhere.

 

2ND EDITION: . . .and of creators I am Brahma.

 

MANUSCRIPT: amongst the creators I am the Brahma.

 

COMMENT: The phrase "whose manifold faces turn everywhere" is a legitimate translation of "visvatomukhah," but it's not what Srila Prabhupada said. Here, as in many places, the editor for the first edition appears to have borrowed from some other published translation.

 

 

10.33, purport:

 

1ST EDITION:

Among the creators and living entities, Brahma is the chief. The various Brahma's exhibit four, eight, sixteen, etc., heads accordingly, and they are the chief creators in their respective universes. The Brahmas are representatives of Krsna.

 

2ND EDITION:

Among the living entities who are creators, Brahma, who has four heads, is the chief. Therefore he is a representative of the Supreme Lord, Krsna.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Amongst the creators, living entities, there are different kinds of creators, but Brahma who has four heads, he is the chief of all creators, therefore he is the representationof the Supreme Lord Krishna.

 

COMMENT:

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura all explicitly state that "visvatomukhah" refers here to the four-headed Brahma.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2246689 (116 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      19-Apr-99 17:25

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Bcc:       Gita critic <krishna@all.com.au>

Subject:   3.20, translation  & purport: "Kings such as Janaka. . . "

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

3.20

 

 

karmanaiva hi samsiddhim

asthita janakadayah

loka-sangraham evapi

sampasyan kartum arhasi

 

karmana--by work; eva--even; hi--certainly; samsiddhim--in perfection; asthitah--situated; janaka-adayah--Janaka and other kings; loka-sangraham--the people in general; eva api--also; sampasyan--considering; kartum--to act; arhasi--you deserve.

 

TRANSLATION

(ALL CAPS added)

 

 

1ST EDITION:

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.

 

2ND EDITION:

Kings such as Janaka attained perfection SOLELY by performance of prescribed duties. [etc.]

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Kings like Janaka and others attained the perfectional stage only by performance of prescribed duties.Therefore, even just for the matter of educating the people in general, you should act like them.

 

COMMENT:

It's a small matter, but the First Edition puts "eva" with "janaka-adayah": "EVEN kings like Janaka." Srila Prabhupada, in his manuscript, however, puts "eva" with "karmana," to give "solely by performance of prescribed duties." Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also puts "karmana eva hi" all together, to mean "by prescribed duties." And Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana begins his commentary by saying, sadacara-matra, "simply by proper activities." The Second Edition restores Srila Prabhupada's version.

 

In "kings like Janaka and others," the words "and others" are redundant. "Kings such as Janaka" says precisely the same thing, without the redundancy.

 

"The perfectional stage" is equivalent to "perfection."

 

 

PURPORT

(ALL CAPS added)

 

 

1ST EDITION:

Being a great devotee of the Lord, he was transcendentally situated, but because he was the king of Mithila (a subdivision of Behar province in India), 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.

 

2ND EDITION:

. . . because he was the king of Mithila (a subdivision of Bihar province in India), 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 [etc.]

 

MANUSCRIPT:

A great devotee the Lord like King Janaka was transcendentally situated but because he was the king of Mithila( a subdivision of Behar province in India) he had to teach his subjects to follow the example. Lord Krsna and Arjuna His eternal friend had nothing to do with the battle of Kuruksetra but still they fought to te ch people in general that violence is also necessary in a situation where good arguments fail

 

COMMENT:

The example King Janaka had to teach his subjects was not simply how to fight righteously but how to perform prescribed duties. That's what this verse, this purport, and this entire section of the Gita is about.

 

The First Edition leaves out some text, with the result that it has Janaka and his subjects, rather than Krsna and Arjuna, fighting to teach people in general that violence is necessary when good arguments fail. The Second Edition restores the missing text.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2251839 (50 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      21-Apr-99 04:29

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   3.22, translation: "And yet I am engaged in prescribed duties."

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

3.22, translation:

 

1ST EDITION: . . . and yet I am engaged in work.

2ND EDITION: . . . and yet I am engaged in prescribed duties.

MANUSCRIPT: . . . and yet I am engaged in the prescribed duties.

 

COMMENT:

Srila Prabhupada, in his writings, uses many set phrases: "devotional service," "internal energy," "fruitive activities," "spiritual sky," "regulative principles," "Supreme Personality of Godhead," and so on. These phrases have distinct and important meanings.

 

One of such phrases is "prescribed duties." Mere "work" and "prescribed duties" are not necessarily the same. The guy cooking burgers at McDonald's is "engaged in work," but he is not engaged in what Srila Prabhupada would call "prescribed duties."

 

In the First Edition, "prescribed duties" has been dropped from verses 22, 23, 24, and 26. In the Second Edition the phrase is restored.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2265897 (55 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      25-Apr-99 13:36

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   3.10, translation: "Living happily and achieving liberation."

------------------------------------------------------------

 

3.10:

 

 

saha-yajnah prajah srstva

purovaca prajapatih

anena prasavisyadhvam

esa vo 'stv ista-kama-dhuk

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

1ST EDITION:

“Be thou happy by this yajna [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you all desirable things.”

 

2ND EDITION:

". . . will bestow upon you everything desirable for living happily and achieving liberation."

 

MANUSCRIPT:

"Be thou happy by this Yajna, because performance of this will give you all desirable for living happily and achieving liberation."

 

COMMENT:

No comment needed.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2270429 (74 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      27-Apr-99 12:59

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   3.32: "Doomed to ignorance and bondage"

------------------------------------------------------------

 

3.32

 

ye tv etad abhyasuyanto

nanutisthanti me matam

sarva-jnana-vimudhams tan

viddhi nastan acetasah

 

ye--those; tu--however; etat--this; abhyasuyantah--out of envy; na--do not; anutisthanti--regularly perform; me--My; matam--injunction; sarva-jnana--in all sorts of knowledge; vimudhan--perfectly befooled; tan--they are; viddhi--know it well; nastan--all ruined; acetasah--without Krsna consciousness.

 

TRANSLATION

 

1ST EDITION:

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.

 

2ND EDITION:

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.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Those who, out of enviousness to the principle of Krsna consciousness,do not perform it regularluy, they are to be considered to be bereft of all sortas of knowledgen befooled, and ruined in the matter of perfection.

 

COMMENT:

 

The Second Edition has left out the word "regularly," for no apparent reason. This seems to be an editorial lapse, of the sort the BBT sets straight when they come to our attention.

 

The more conspicuous change here concerns "doomed to ignorance and bondage." Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana glosses the word "nastan" as "purusartha-vibhrastan," meaning "failing to achieve the goals of human life." As Srila Prabhupada says in his purport, those who neglect Krsna's teachings have "no hope for perfection of life." In other words, they are ruined in their endeavors for perfection. In Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript, the phrase "doomed to ignorance and bondage" does not appear.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2295555 (55 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      06-May-99 16:14

To:        Gita Revisions Explained [35]

Bcc:       Gita critic <krishna@all.com.au>

Subject:   8.17, purport: "the creator god"

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

8.17, purport (paragraph one):

 

1ST EDITION: These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, comprise one day of Brahma, THE CREATOR GOD, and the same number comprise one night.

 

2ND EDITION: These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, comprise one day of Brahma, and the same number comprise one night.

 

MANUSCRIPT: . . . one thousand 4 yugas that is 40 million 300 thousand of years into 1 thousand is equal to 12 hours that is the duration of Brahma's one day.  Similarly, he has got one night so it is 24 hours one day and night.

 

COMMENT: A website devoted to criticizing the Second Edition

insinuates that by leaving out the mention of Brahma as "the creator god" the Second Edition is somehow "changing the philosophy." Of course, the term "the creator god," although commonly found in books of Indian philosophy, appears nowhere else in Srila Prabhupada's writings. And, as you can see, it appears here in this purport--in the First Edition--only because the editor inserted it. I deleted it--what would you say?--perhaps under the influence of "the destroyer god." May the preserver god forgive me.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

New Text 5155 (80 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      08-May-99 08:28

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.42, purport: Srila Prabhupada's concluding words for this chapter

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

10. 42, purport (concluding words):

 

 

1ST EDITION:

 

How one can attain the highest devotional perfection of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead has been thoroughly explained in this chapter.

 

 

2ND EDITION:

 

How one can attain the highest devotional perfection of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead has been thoroughly explained in this chapter. Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana, a great acarya in disciplic succession from Krsna, concludes his commentary on this chapter by saying,

 

yac-chakti-lesat suryadya

bhavanty aty-ugra-tejasah

yad-amsena dhrtam visvam

sa krsno dasame 'rcyate

 

From Lord Krsna's potent energy even the powerful sun gets its power, and by Krsna's partial expansion the whole world is maintained. Therefore Lord Sri Krsna is worshipable.

 

 

MANUSCRIPT:

 

How one can attain the highest devotional perfection of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead has been thoroughly explained in this chapter. This cyclic succession from Krishna states:  [blank space]

Lord Krishna is worshipful because by His potential energy even the sun is so powerful and so highly tempered can by his partial expansion of planetary energy He is the whole world contained.

 

 

COMMENT:

 

Being able to read the original commentary enabled the editors to rescue the lost passage.

 

The Sanskrit says, literally (or as literally as I can come without having a Sanskrit editor by my side): "He by a mere remnant of whose energy even the sun has so much power, He by whose plenary portion the universe is maintained--that Lord Krsna, in this Tenth Chapter, is worshiped."

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2317889 (72 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      14-May-99 12:52

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2319067 by Internet: R Krishnamurthy <fbkrish@bheltry.co.in>

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2322197 by Ajamila (das) ACBSP (Goloka Books - GB)

Subject:   2.17, translation: "Know that [that] which pervades the body is. . . "

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

2.17, translation:

 

1ST EDITION:

Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible.

 

2ND EDITION:

That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

What is all spread over the body is to be known as indestructible.

 

COMMENT:

This one is purely for the sake of English grammar. The structure of the old sentence can send the reader straight into a roadblock, set up by the misuse of the word "that." To get technical for a few moments (feel free to skip this if you'd like), the problem is that the reader doesn't know whether the word "that" is a pronoun (as in "Give me that.") or a conjunction (as in "I know that you'll like it."). In fact, in this sentence it tries to do double duty--that is, to serve as both. It tries to be a conjunction ("[I want you to] know that. . . .") and at the same time tries to serve as a pronoun ("that which pervades"). This is grammatically confusing or illegal.

 

Grammatically, it would be ok to say, "Know that that which pervades. . . " But the double "that" is awkward. Alternatively, one might say, "Know that which pervades the entire body to be indestructible." But then the reader encounters "that" at the beginning of the sentence but doesn't know how to process it--which part of speech to read it as--until he reaches "to be," near the end.

 

Fortunately, following more closely the structure of Srila Prabhupada's original sentence enables the Second Edition to sidestep the problem.

 

Those who believe that transcendental literature ought to disregard all laws of grammar beyond the most basic (a view that Srila Prabhupada didn't share) are likely to scorn the above discussion.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2320581 (78 lines) [W1]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      15-May-99 16:10

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   11.8, purport:  "Sukadeva Gosvami recites this verse."

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

11.8, purport:

 

 

 

1ST EDITION:

They take Him as a personal friend. The Supreme Person is considered as the impersonal Brahman by great sages, the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the devotees, and a product of this material nature by ordinary men. The fact is. . .

 

2ND EDITION:

They take Him as a personal friend. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami recites this verse:

 

ittham satam brahma-sukhanubhutya

dasyam gatanam para-daivatena

mayasritanam nara-darakena

sakam vijahruh krta-punya-punjah

 

"Here is the Supreme Person, who is considered the impersonal Brahman by great sages, the Supreme Personality of Godhead by devotees, and a product of material nature by ordinary men. Now these boys, who have performed many, many pious activities in their past lives, are playing with that Supreme Personality of Godhead." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.11)

The fact is. . .

 

MANUSCRIPT:

They took him as a personal friend, and were  playing and the subidioshami recited one verse like this [blank space]         thu he said that here is the Suprem Person who is considered a s the impersonal Brahma by great sages and is considered by the devotees as the Sup. Pers. of Godhead and by ordinary man who is considered as a product of this material nature. Now these boys who had many, many past activites in their past lifes they are now playing with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so the fact is. . .

 

COMMENT:

The mis-transcribed "subidioshami" is easy to decipher. And for those familiar with Srila Prabhupada's favorite verses, the one intended here is obvious.

 

Here, neither Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura nor Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana quotes this Bhagavatam verse. As Srila Prabhupada sometimes said, the purports are his own personal ecstasies. In this purport, readers of the Second Edition can relish the ecstatic words from Srila Prabhupada that the First Edition left out.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2325326 (56 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      17-May-99 09:50

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Bcc:       Govinda Madhava (das) HKS (NE-BBT)

Bcc-For:   (BBT) Errors (in) English Books

Subject:   2.61, purport: ". . . not the Visnu form. . . "

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

2.61, purport:

 

1ST EDITION:

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.

 

2ND EDITION:

The so-called yogis who meditate on something which is NOT ON THE VISNU PLATFORM simply waste their time. . .

 

MANUSCRIPT:

The so called Yogis simply waste time in dmeditiating something which is not Visnu Form and therefore their time is wated in vain serch after phatasmagoria.

 

COMMENT:

Here the critics have detected a genuine error. The text should read "not the Visnu form." The First Edition has it right, the Second Edition wrong. I don't know how the error came about. The BBT will correct it for future printings.

 

My mistakes are not sacred. The BBT has a consistent policy: The errors of typists and editors need not be preserved.

 

Thank you. Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2327528 (53 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      18-May-99 11:13

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   10.42, purport: "He is samata. . . no one is superior to Him."

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

10.42, purport (paragraph 2):

 

1ST EDITION: He is samata, which means that no one is superior to Him. In the Visnu-mantra it is said that one who considers the Supreme Lord Krsna in the same category with demigods--be they even Brahma or Siva--becomes at once an atheist.

 

2ND EDITION: He is asamaurdhva, which means that no one is superior to Him and that no one is equal to Him. In the Padma Purana it is said [etc.]

 

MANUSCRIPT: He is the samata. Samata means that nobody is better than Him and nobody is equal to Him. In the vishnamantra it is said that anybody who calculates the Supreme Lord Krishna with the label of the demigods even after the standard of Brahma and Shiva he becomes at once atheist.

 

COMMENT: "Samata" is obviously wrong, "asamaurdhva" obviously right. ("Samata" means "equanimity." See Bg. 10.5.) The verse from the Padma Purana is one that Srila Prabhupada quoted often.

 

More from this purport in the next message.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2331289 (43 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      19-May-99 09:46

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2334444 by Internet: R Krishnamurthy <fbkrish@bheltry.co.in>

Subject:   10.42, purport: The case of the missing mission

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

10.42, purport (start of the 2nd paragraph):

 

 

1ST EDITION: [nothing]

 

2ND EDITION:  There is a Mission that regularly propounds that worship of any demigod will lead one to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the supreme goal.

 

MANUSCRIPT: There is a regular proponent of mission to advertise that one can worship any form of demigods and that will lead one to the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the Supreme Goal.

 

COMMENT: Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2333016 (67 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      20-May-99 09:24

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   18.66, purport: various kinds of knowledge and religion

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

A member of the conference has written to me, "At some point I was hoping you could put up a comparison of the old and new 18.66  The new one cites Haribhaktivilasa and is much clearer than the old one." So I'll do as he asks.

 

 

18.66, purport (paragraph 1):

 

1ST EDITION: The Lord has described various kinds of knowledge, processes of religion, knowledge of the Supreme Brahman, knowledge of the Supersoul, knowledge of the different types of orders and statuses of social life, knowledge of the renounced order of life, knowledge of nonattachment, sense and mind control, meditation, etc.

 

2ND EDITION: The Lord has described various kinds of knowledge and processes of religion--knowledge of the Supreme Brahman, knowledge of the Supersoul, . . .

 

MANUSCRIPT: The Lord has described in The Bhagavad Gita about various kinds of knowledge and process of religiosity as a knowledge of the Supreme Brahma--knowledge of the Supersoul and knowledge of the different types of order and status of social life, the knowledge of the renounced order of life, knowledge of non-attachment, controlling the senses, controlling the mind, meditation, etc.

 

COMMENT: Srila Prabhupada is commenting on what the "sarva-dharma" is that one has to give up. The sentence begins, "The Lord has described various kinds of knowledge and processes of religion," and the rest of the sentence lists what they are. The Second Edition makes this clear. The First Edition does not.

 

The manuscript version we are looking at is half-edited. Unfortunately, for this chapter it is the oldest manuscript we have.

 

More on this purport in the next message.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2338367 (72 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      20-May-99 09:54

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   18.66, purport: Anukulyasya sankalpah. . .

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18.66, purport (paragraph 2):

 

1ST EDITION: In the Eighth Chapter it was said that only one who has become free from all sinful reactions can take to the worship of Lord Krsna.

 

2ND EDITION: In the Seventh Chapter it was said. . .

 

MANUSCRIPT: In the Eighth Chapter, it has been said. . .

 

COMMENT: No such statement is made in the Eighth Chapter. The verse Srila Prabhupada is citing is clearly from the Seventh Chapter (7.28): yesam tv anta-gatam papam.

 

 

 

18.66, purport (paragraph 3):

 

1ST EDITION: According to the devotional process, . . .

 

2ND EDITION:  The process of surrender to Krsna is described in the Hari-bhakti vilasa (11.676):

 

anukulyasya sankalpah

pratikulyasya varjanam

raksisyatiti visvaso

goptrtve varanam tatha

atma-niksepa-karpanye

sad-vidha saranagatih

 

According to the devotional process, . . .

 

MANUSCRIPT: This surrender process is described in the [blank space]   Anukulyasya asamkalpah pratikulyasya parjanam. To surrender unto Krishna is described in the B.       .....   according to devotional process. . .

 

COMMENT: The Second Edition restores the missing verse. The rest of the paragraph is essentially a paraphrase of that verse, which is quoted in the commentaries of both Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana and Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2340161 (93 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      23-May-99 10:17

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.1, translation: "What did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?"

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1.1., translation:

 

 

 

dhrtarastra uvaca

dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre

samaveta yuyutsavah

mamakah pandavas caiva

kim akurvata sanjaya

 

dhrtarastrah uvaca--King Dhrtarastra said; dharma-ksetre--in the place of pilgrimage; kuru-ksetre--in the place named Kuruksetra; samavetah--assembled; yuyutsavah--desiring to fight; mamakah--my party (sons); pandavah--the sons of Pandu; ca--and; eva--certainly; kim--what; akurvata--did they do; sanjaya--O Sanjaya.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

1ST EDITION: Dhrtarastra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, being desirous to fight?

 

2ND EDITION: Dhrtarastra said: O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?

 

MANUSCRIPT: Dhritarastra said O samjaya, My sons and the sons of Pandu after being assembled in the pilgrammage of Kurukshetre with the desire to fight, what did they do?

 

COMMENT:

 

Though "desirous to" is historically defensible, to a modern reader it is likely to sound strange. The standard idiom is "desirous of." Thus according to the respected authority on English usage "The Careful Writer," by Theodore Bernstein:

 

DESIROUS

Takes preposition *of*.

 

And so, with "desirous," we would have "desirous of fighting." Which sounds stiff and clumsy. Following the language Srila Prabhupada uses in the "word-for-word" section, the new version avoids the problem entirely.

 

NOTE ALSO: In the purport Srila Prabhupada writes that Dhrtarastra "inquired from his secretary Sanjaya, 'What did they do?' " In the Second Edition translation, Dhrtarastra asks the question in those very words; in the old translation, they never quite appear.

 

By the way, the new version, like the original manuscript, more closely follows the structure of the Sanskrit, which builds up to Dhrtarastra's question--"What did they do?"

 

FINALLY: To have missed the distracting echo that results from the juncture of the words "PanDU DO," the usually astute ear of the editor must have fallen asleep. The new version rescues the book from this deep--pardon me--du do.

 

(Note for Austrian readers: If you don't catch the joke, inquire from anyone who knows American baby talk.)

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2342883 (50 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      24-May-99 11:30

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.36, purport: Rama-rajya

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1.36, purport (ALL CAPS supplied):

 

 

1ST EDITION: For example, Lord Rama was so saintly that people WERE anxious to live in His kingdom (Rama-rajya). . .

 

2ND EDITION: For example, Lord Rama was so saintly that people EVEN NOW ARE anxious to live in the kingdom of Lord Rama (rama-rajya) . . .

 

MANUSCRIPT: Such head of the state requires to be saintly and Lord Rama was so much so that people STILL NOW ARE anxious to have the kingdom of Lord Rama ( Rama Rajya)

 

COMMENT: The old version simply loses the intended meaning.

 

Modern Indian politicians have often appealed to the people's desire for "Rama Rajya." (And so the play on words by pundits twitting Italian-born Sonia Gandhi: "Rome Rajya.")

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2346359 (86 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      25-May-99 20:31

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   8.3, purport: 5 kinds of offerings, 5 kinds of fire

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8.3:

 

sri-bhagavan uvaca

aksaram brahma paramam

svabhavo 'dhyatmam ucyate

bhuta-bhavodbhava-karo

visargah karma-samjnitah

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The indestructible, transcendental living entity is called Brahman, and his eternal nature is called adhyatma, the self. Action pertaining to the development of the material bodies of the living entities is called karma, or fruitive activities.

 

 

8.3, purport (end of paragraph 2, start of paragraph 3):

 

1ST EDITION: [Nothing.]

 

2ND EDITION:  This process is called karma.

The Chandogya Upanisad describes the Vedic sacrificial process. On the sacrificial altar, five kinds of offerings are made into five kinds of fire. The five kinds of fire are conceived of as the heavenly planets, clouds, the earth, man and woman, and the five kinds of sacrificial offerings are faith, the enjoyer on the moon, rain, grains and semen.

 

MANUSCRIPT: This process is called karma and is very nicely described. By offering sacrifices by the sacrificial method in the Vedic literature the sacrificial altar is considered the heavenly planet, the cloud and the earth and the man and the woman, the 5 kinds of fire and the offering are considered faith, and then by this process the living entity is described as travelling downward from after ???????? the moon planet, and the rains and the grains, and the semina. In this way by interaction of 5 kinds of offering and 5 kinds of fire the process of karma is described in the Vedic literature.

 

COMMENT: Access to the original commentaries enabled the Sanskrit editor to properly decipher Srila Prabhupada's original text. Srila Prabhupada will refer again to the Chandogya Upanisad and the fivefold sacrifice in the purports to 8.16 and 8.26.

Though Srila Prabhupada's purport doesn't explicitly say so, and the editors weren't going to add it, the fires and offerings match like this:

The pious karmi performing sacrifice has faith, which he offers into the "fire" of the heavenly planets. There he becomes "the enjoyer on the moon." When his pious credit is exhausted, this enjoyer descends--as the second offering--to the second "fire," the clouds. From the clouds he descends, as Srila Prabhupada says, as rain. This rain--the third offering--is thus offered to the third "fire"--earth. From the earth, as a result, come grains, which--as the fourth offering--are offered to the fourth "fire"--man. The grains become semen, which--as the fifth offering--is offered into the fifth "fire"--woman.

In this way, as Srila Prabhupada writes, the karmi "perpetually comes and goes on the material path."

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Text PAMHO:2348651 (54 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      26-May-99 12:28

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Bcc:       Gita critic <krishna@all.com.au>

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2400398 by Ajamila (das) ACBSP (Goloka Books - GB)

Subject:   2.18, purport: "not sacrifice the cause of religion"

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2.18, purport:

 

1ST EDITION: Arjuna was advised to fight and to sacrifice the material body for the cause of religion.

 

2ND EDITION: Arjuna was advised to fight and not sacrifice the cause of religion for material, bodily considerations.

 

MANUSCRIPT: Arjuna was  advised to fight without  consideration of the material bodyand sacrifising the cause of religiosity.

 

COMMENT:

The original manuscript speaks about "sacrificing the cause of religiosity," not "sacrificing the material body." The meaning intended by Srila Prabhupada's grammar is "without [excessively] considering the material body and [thereby] sacrificing the cause of religiosity."

 

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, in his commentary on this verse, gives the same message. After discussing the difference between body and soul, he says, paraphrasing Lord Krsna, tasmad yujyasveti sastra-vidhitasya sva-dharmasya tyago 'nucita iti bhavah: "Therefore you should fight. In other words, it is inappropriate for you to give up the religious duty prescribed for you in sastra."

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Text PAMHO:2351531 (74 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      26-May-99 18:59

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   2.20, translation:  "Having once been. . . "

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2.20, translation:

 

 

na jayate mriyate va kadacin

nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah

ajo nityah sasvato 'yam purano

na hanyate hanyamane sarire

 

na--never; jayate--takes birth; mriyate--dies; va--either; kadacit--at any time (past, present or future); na--never; ayam--this; bhutva--having come into being; bhavita--will come to be; va--or; na--not; bhuyah--or is again coming to be; ajah--unborn; nityah--eternal; sasvatah--permanent; ayam--this; puranah--the oldest; na--never; hanyate--is killed; hanyamane--being killed; sarire--the body.

 

 

1ST EDITION:

For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. . . .

 

2ND EDITION:

For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. . . .

 

MANUSCRIPT:

For the soul there is no birth,death either at any time neither does he come into being,will become no has so become.

 

COMMENT:

Clearly, Edition Two more closely follows Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript.

 

Christian philosophers, as far as I know, believe that God creates the soul, which then lives forever. Having once been, he never ceases to be. The Bhagavad-gita has a different point of view. According to Vaisnava philosophy, the soul is never created; it is a beginningless and endless part of God.

 

Note, also, that in Edition One the translation and the word-for-word meanings match poorly. Now you know why.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2353691 (47 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      27-May-99 20:45

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.2, word-for-word: "approaching nearby"

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

1.2., word-for-word

 

1ST EDITION: upasangamya--approaching nearby;

 

2ND EDITION: upasangamya--approaching;

 

MANUSCRIPT: upasangamya--approaching nearby;

 

 

COMMENT: Well, "approaching nearby" is what Srila Prabhupada said--but it's redundant. Duryodhana did not "approach nearby his teacher." He approached his teacher, period.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2357073 (78 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      29-May-99 11:10

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.2, translation: "arranged in military formation"

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1.2

 

 

sanjaya uvaca

drstva tu pandavanikam

vyudham duryodhanas tada

acaryam upasangamya

raja vacanam abravit

 

sanjayah uvaca--Sanjaya said; drstva--after seeing; tu--but; pandava-anikam--the soldiers of the Pandavas; vyudham--arranged in a military phalanx; duryodhanah--King Duryodhana; tada--at that time; acaryam--the teacher; upasangamya--approaching; raja--the king; vacanam--words; abravit--spoke.

 

TRANSLATION

 

1ST EDITION:

Sanjaya said: O King, after looking over the army GATHERED by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and BEGAN TO SPEAK the following words:

 

2ND EDITION:

Sanjaya said: O King, after looking over the army ARRANGED IN MILITARY FORMATION by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and SPOKE the following words.

 

MANUSCRIPT:

Samjaya said, "O the king, Dyryodhan, the king after looking over THE MILITARY PHALANX ARRANGED by tthe sons of Pandu went to the teacher and BEGAN TO SPEAK in the following words.

 

COMMENT:

In the old edition, the idea of a specific military formation (vyudham) is omitted. In the new edition, I revised "phalanx" to "military formation" because a phalanx (originally) is a particular type of formation peculiar to ancient Greek warfare. Greek columns on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra didn't seem right. Hence the revision. In retrospect: "Phalanx" has come to refer to any military formation, so perhaps I should have been less picky. But at any rate, the new translation gets in the idea that the old one left out.

 

Srila Prabhupada typically said "began to speak" or "began to say" when the meaning is simply "spoke" or "said." Such a phrase as "began to speak" is more apt when followed by something like "but was cut off" or "but changed his mind and fell silent." In later books, the BBT editors routinely trimmed off the "began to."

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2359158 (41 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      30-May-99 08:36

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.3, translation: "your intelligent disciple"

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1.3., translation:

 

1ST EDITION: . . . your intelligent disciple, the son of Drupada.

 

2ND EDITION: . . . your intelligent disciple the son of Drupada.

 

COMMENT: For those who know the rules of English punctuation, the comma makes it seem as though Drstadyumna, who is being referred to, was the ONLY intelligent disciple of Dronacarya. Which he wasn't.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

Text PAMHO:2361759 (65 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      31-May-99 11:21

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Comment:   Text PAMHO:2437632 by Ajamila (das) ACBSP (Goloka Books - GB)

Subject:   1.4, translation: "great fighters like Bhima and Arjuna"

------------------------------------------------------------

 

1.4.

 

 

atra sura mahesv-asa

bhimarjuna-sama yudhi

yuyudhano viratas ca

drupadas ca maha-rathah

 

 

atra--here; surah--heroes; maha-isu-asah--mighty bowmen; bhima-arjuna--to Bhima and Arjuna; samah--equal; yudhi--in the fight; yuyudhanah--Yuyudhana; viratah--Virata; ca--also; drupadah--Drupada; ca--also; maha-rathah--great fighter.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

1ST EDITION: Here in this army there are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna; there are ALSO great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada.

 

2ND EDITION: Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna: great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada.

 

MANUSCRIPT: Here is this military arrangement there are many heroic bowmen equally strong in fight like Bhima and Arjuna alsothere are great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupadas.

 

COMMENT: A misreading caused by a missing punctuation mark in the original manuscript. The great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada *are* the heroes equal to Bhima and Arjuna. The proper reading is "Bhima and Arjuna also." But the editor has mistakenly put the period after "Arjuna" and shifted the "also" to modify "there are," thus demoting Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada to also-rans.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2364460 (59 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      31-May-99 21:42

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.18, translation: "Greatly armed"?

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1.18

 

 

. . . saubhadras ca maha-bahuh

sankhan dadhmuh prthak prthak

 

. . . saubhadrah--Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra; ca--also; maha-bahuh--mighty-armed; sankhan--conchshells; dadhmuh--blew; prthak prthak--each separately.

 

 

1.18, translation:

 

1ST EDITION:  . . . and others, O King, such as the son of Subhadra, greatly armed, all blew their respective conchsells.

 

2ND EDITION: . . . and others, O King, such as the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, all blew their respective conchsells.

 

MANUSCRIPT: and all others, Oh the King,such as the son of Subhadra who is greatly armed allblew their respective conchshells

 

COMMENT: Who is it that's "greatly armed"? Only the son of Subhadra or all the others too? In the old version, this is unclear. In the new version, the ambiguity has disappeared. Plus we know by now that the Sanskrit word maha-bahuh (original ms for the word-for-word: "strong armed") means that Abhimanyu had great arms--the kind made with bones and muscle--not great swords and arrows.

 

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Text PAMHO:2367913 (71 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      02-Jun-99 10:36

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.20, translation: "the situated sons of Dhrtarastra"

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1.20

 

 

atha vyavasthitan drstva

dhartarastran kapi-dhvajah

pravrtte sastra-sampate

dhanur udyamya pandavah

hrsikesam tada vakyam

idam aha mahi-pate

 

atha--thereupon; vyavasthitan--situated; drstva--looking upon; dhartarastran--the sons of Dhrtarastra; kapi-dhvajah--he whose flag was marked with Hanuman; pravrtte--while about to engage; sastra-sampate--in releasing his arrows; dhanuh--bow; udyamya--taking up; pandavah--the son of Pandu (Arjuna); hrsikesam--unto Lord Krsna; tada--at that time; vakyam--words; idam--these; aha--said; mahi-pate--O King.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

1ST EDITION: O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrsikesa [Krsna] these words:

 

2ND EDITION: O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Krsna these words:

 

MANUSCRIPT: Oh the king,at that time Arjuna the son of Pandu who was seated on the chariot with flag marked with Hanuman and while just he was about to throw his arrows taking up the bow,he said unto Lord Krsna as follows after looking on the situated sons of Dhritarastra.

 

COMMENT: The old translation loses the word "vyavasthitan." Srila Prabhupada translates it merely as "situated" ("the situated sons"). It means, more precisely, "situated in an array." (In the word-for-word for text 21, Srila Prabhupada gives nearly the same word--avasthitan--as "arrayed on the battlefield.")

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2370903 (74 lines) [W0]

From:      Jayadvaita Swami

Date:      02-Jun-99 21:51

To:        Gita Revisions Explained

Subject:   1.37-38, translation: "their hearts overtaken by greed. . . "

------------------------------------------------------------

 

1.37-38:

 

 

yady apy ete na pasyanti

lobhopahata-cetasah

kula-ksaya-krtam dosam

mitra-drohe ca patakam

 

katham na jneyam asmabhih

papad asman nivartitum

kula-ksaya-krtam dosam

prapasyadbhir janardana

 

yadi--if; api--even; ete--they; na--do not; pasyanti--see; LOBHA--by greed; UPAHATA--overpowered; CETASAH--their hearts; kula-ksaya--in killing the family; krtam--done; dosam--fault; mitra-drohe--in quarreling with friends; ca--also; patakam--sinful reactions; katham--why; na--should not; jneyam--be known; asmabhih--by us; papat--from sins; asmat--these; nivartitum--to cease; KULA-KSAYA--in the destruction of a dynasty; KRTAM--done; DOSAM--crime; PRAPASYADBHIH--by those who can see; janardana--O Krsna.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

1ST EDITION: O Janardana, although these men, overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one's family or quarreling with friends, why should we, WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE SIN, engage in these acts?

 

2ND EDITION: O Janardana, although these men, THEIR HEARTS overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one's family or quarreling with friends, why should we, WHO CAN SEE THE CRIME IN DESTROYING A FAMILY, engage in these acts of sin?

 

MANUSCRIPT: All though these men do not find out the fault ,on account of being overtaken by greed at heart,of killing the family,quarreling with friends and similar acts. Oh Janardan why should we engage ourselves in this acts of sin inspite of our knowledge of crime in the destruction of family.

 

COMMENT: See lobha-upahata-cetasah and kula-ksaya-krtam dosam prapasyadbhih.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

 

 

Text PAMHO:2372042 (55 lines) [W0]