Approach a Bona Fide Spiritual Master From Jayadvaita Swami

[krsna]

Approach a Bona Fide

Spiritual Master

From Jayadvaita Swami

Posted April 12, 2004

 

Bhagavad-gita 4.34:

 

tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya

upadeksyanti te jnanam

jnaninas tattva-darsinah

 

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

 

Concerned about the integrity and fidelity of this translation? Is "self-realized souls"— in the plural— a deviation?

 

You might be interested to see how Srila Prabhupada paraphrased this verse in an essay entitled "Interpretations of Bhagavad-gita." The essay appears in the VedaBase, where it is dated "circa 1948." Unlike every published edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the essay is unedited.

 

Here's that paraphrase:

 

"It is therefore stated in the Bhagavad-gita that one who actually wants to have an access to the essence of Bhagavad-gita must himself engage in the service of a bona fide spiritual master by full surrender. In that position only, one can make bona fide enquiries regarding the Bhagavad-gita, and in that posture only, the self-realized spiritual masters impregnate the submissive disciple with the knowledge of Gita, because they have already seen the Truth of it."

 

"Self-realized spiritual masters." Plural.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Website

 

This message also appears on the following web page:

 

http://www.krishna.com/newsite/main.php?id=242

 

Interested in the differences between the first and second editions of Bhagavad-gita As It Is? You'll find more than 150 examples at this address:

 

www.krishna.com/newsite/GitaRevsExplained.html

 

Thanks and appreciation from dipika.org to our sponsor and host,

 

There you'll see the published versions side by side with the text of the original manuscripts. And the graphic format of the web helps you see at a glance what the revisions are and where they're coming from.

 

For anyone who has concerns about the editing of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, this is a must-see.

 

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Hare Krsna.