Bhagavad-gita As It Is

[Guest guest]

Mayapur

 

 

Dear Madan Mohan Prabhu,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Someone has forwarded to me a VNN editorial (Dec 25) in which you write:

 

> Please compare:

>

> Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 1972 authorized Macmillan version

>

> Chapter 8, Text 28 purport, final paragraph, first

> sentence:

>

> "One should try to understand the Seventh and Eighth

> Chapters of the Gita not by scholarship or mental

> speculation, but by hearing them in association with pure

> devotees."

>

> to

>

> Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1983 "Revised and Enlarged"

> version

>

> Chapter 8, Text 28 purport, final paragraph, first

> sentence:

>

> "One who has a little faith in Bhagavad-gita should learn

> Bhagavad-gita from a devotee, because in the beginning

> of the Fourth Chapter it is clearly stated that

> Bhagavad-gita can be understood only by devotees; no

> one else can perfectly understand the purpose of

> Bhagavad-gita."

>

> Are these changes significant? If any aspiring sadhaka has

> been discouraged from or deprived of taking the direct

> shelter of pure devotees, I would think so.

>

> Please send any comments or responses to Madan

> Mohan dasa. . .

 

These changes *are* significant. What they signify is that the text of the

Second Edition more closely matches Srila Prabhupada's original words.

 

Our main purpose in the Second Edition was to offer the reader, more closely

than in the First, Srila Prabhupada's actual text. In the original manuscript

for the purport in question, the words "pure devotees" never appear.

 

Since the words that now appear in "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" are closer to the

original words of the author, I believe we can expect all readers to benefit,

including aspiring sadhakas.

 

Thank you. Hare Krsna.

 

Hoping this finds you in good health,

 

Your servant,

Jayadvaita Swami

 

 

PS: I attach a comparison of the First Edition, the Second Edition, and the

original transcription. Hare Krsna.