Sep 15, Dallas, Texas, USA: I want to thank Madhudvisa Prabhu for taking time and presenting his thoughtful analysis and exposing Jayadvaita Swami, who has gone on a rampage. I have felt quite an anguish on this matter because I have been using the BBT’s revised and enlarged translations of Bhagavad Gita, and found myself burned by Jayadvaita Swami’s twisted translations.
I have a Sanskrit Visharada degree, a great liking for Sanskrit, and being from India, tremendous linguistic and cultural background. That does not mean I am a great scholar of Sanskrit, but I have some assets to understand and judge.
Many time I have felt that Srila Prabhupada’s translations or purport should be different, but time and again I have come back to honor his words by reading his words and thinking them over.
Jayadvaita Swami changed the books from many faulty angles.
– bringing closer to the original manuscript
– closer to word-to-word translation
– make them sex neutral
Here is an example of making books sex neutral:
Bhagavad-gita 3.8 Translation ORIGINAL:
“Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. One cannot even maintain his physical body without work.”
Bhagavad-gita 3.8 Translation REVISED & ENLARGED:
“Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work.”
The words “his physical body” were changed to “one’s physical body”.
Jayadvaita Swami diluted and destroyed “gravity” and “bhava” embedded in translations and purports of HDG Srila Prabhupada. Replacing “for action is better than inaction” with “for doing so is better than not working” takes away forceful declaration of original words.
Another example:
Bhagavad-gita 2.49 Translation ORIGINAL:
“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.”
Bhagavad-gita 2.49 Translation REVISED & ENLARGED:
“O Dhananjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service, and in that consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.”
“Rid yourself” is much more forceful – once and for all become free from fruitive activities. Jayadvaita Swami’s “keep all abominable activities far distant” is not the same and they may come back, as has been the case with Jayadvaita Swami himself – his speculative ideas are abominable. He needs to keep his nose out from where it does not belong.
Madhudvisa Prabhu’s analysis is great. Even when Jayadvaita Swami’s changes seem to be closer to the original manuscript, they are not the same as the original approved by HDG Srila Prabhupada, and thus changes made by Jayadvaita Swami are dangerous.
The amount of changes made defuncts Jayadvaita Swami’s claim that his purpose was to “bring it closer to the original manuscript”. That is pure nonsense. Who appointed you to make changes?
I have a Bible. It says the following in the first paragraph of the preface: “THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION is a completely new translation of the Holy Bible made by over a hundred scholars working directly from the best available Hebrew”.
Here we have self-proclaimed scholars Dravida das, Jayadvaita Swami, and few others who have been hiding what changes they made for 25 years. What is their credibility?
Last paragraph of the preface of this Bible starts, “Like all translations of the Bible, made as they are by imperfect man, this one undoubtedly falls short of its goals”, etc.
This project was started in 1965 and the revised Bible was printed in 1978, with input from 100 scholars who still express their humility at the end before placing the Bible in the hands of their readers. Where is the humility of Jayadvaita Swami and his self-proclaimed experts? Jayadvaita Swami has gone on the rampage and has become the victim of his speculative brain, that he can formulate words and sentences better than HDG Srila Prabhupada.
Wishing all of you well,
yhs- Gadadhar dasa
Absolutely correct. This was one of the things that Prabhupada was especially adamant about. This is an outright modification of the actual meanings of the Gita, and at the same time self-appointed guru-ism… I have never seen a true disciple like Srila Prabhupada go and say “Oh my spiritual master said such and such, but he was a little incorrect… He should have said this.” No, they always take it literally and fully because to be such a Guru they need to have accepted the exact truth from their Guru… And thus the Supreme Truth is never changed.
Thank you very much for your article!
Hare Bol!!!
There must be a real analized text to text compration
by many MANY scholers and devotees opinions must be put in place .
In my country,,,there was an important topic to be analized.
at first the goverment had its only word…but after they open up and this spoke better of them for they aceppted diferent opionions made summary and a better relation was posible.
Better analized by many to see what was done right what wrong expert scholers way so many expertees in all subjects…..an the sum of all these lead us to make a better end.
finally relation got better people understud the points others made for the best of all
even if it takes time …..if this happens….Spiritual DEMOCRACY…will take place.
May be if many devotee a peaceful dialoge with iskon to veiw this matter that very important
for the future of Krishna understanding may perhaps open the door for dialoge but serious mature devotees.
It is not to encourage divitions its for the best results Bhaktivedanta showed devotees to be tolarant humble wise understanding i beg lord Krishna to help dialoge to arise devotee to devotee this will bring union that is what is needed.
Viva Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad…BHAKTIGURU OF THE WORLD….
jay prabhus apmho agtsp
i already know about this speculation in changing hdg jagat guru acbsp books from HG madhudvisa prabhu
he told me that they want change sp books
i didn’t feel very well regarding the bad news and i told to HG madhudvisa prabhu that they will fall down from the spiritual path if they print aparampara books because all the power is in the parampara praptam
this world is so full of enemies we can’t trust even in the reflection of the so called advanced devotees because the path of spiritual life is made by krsna and not by human dharmam tv saksad bhagavat pranitam
so we have to be careful to not deviate from the path given to us by the acaryas of sri krsna parampara
otherwise maya will catch us immediately with a fake copy of the original one look the same but is not this is the proof that until we find out our original svarupa with sri krsna through the acaryas
without change nothing we are subject to fall down from the spiritual platform because we are not bound up by attachment for krsna then we get bound up with maya
anyway we are most of the time in maya in subtly way we can see that by reading srimad bhagavatam
that even great personality are victim of maya in different levels so i’m not surprise to see iskcon senior devotees to deviate from the parampara praptam
anyway i think is not my business to go further on this subject matter
my pranam prabhus
ys seva das
Hare Krishna Prabhus
I think it is every serious devotees concern to speak on this matter…it is not irrespectful…
it is responsible…to do so on this or what ever matter…for if what your spiritual master showed YOU it must be well protected.
It is not a matter of passion OF TRYING TO HIT SOMEONE, it is love to the knowledge your spiritual master gave you with all his Bhakti..
I just dont understand why Old devotees…who lived…talked…prayed…chanted…did every thing with him…Man they were so close to Bhaktivedanta and are so cold so passive in expressing there concern in protecting Prabhupada’s devotional works…I just don t get it…
where is the understanding…where is there devotion…where is there loyalty?
Maybe everyone is so advanced there s nothing to do I m ok let the world turn it is not our advance that matters most it is helping others to advance…
Correcting errors made by the first editors, that’s not a problem…I m not putting down there effort…but if mayor editing would be left as a leafth at could be a problem for followers.
Reading opinions of many devotees and reading my self these text changes i see some make sense …in what it seems to be different a focus let us say not intentional let us say the mood the editors had when went in to this process.
But why not consult with spiritual brothers whom also knew Prabhupada and with more scholars at hand to have a much wider backup that will lead to a better understanding among the followers of Srila Bhaktivedanta.
This is my humble opinion….you may say… how are you?…Just a humble person not more.
Swami Prabhupada left to his close people the logistic problems of the temple s in his letters to them for he needed to attend
word by word frase by frase the translation of the Sridmad Bhagavatam…he was always consulting others let us take example of his personality.
This dedicated ecstatic mercy that he gave to the human race it is for me something very special i am nothing but he is something for me… it touches me so deeply.
At his advanced age he was working as a juvenal all around the world always in a good mood…thinking of our well being…I pray Chatya guru for a better understanding between you devotees lets give peace a chance. excuse my grammar errors its the meaning i focus.
Lord give us service at thy lotus feet
Viva A.C.Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Another side to the story? http://www.bbtedit.com/jayadvaita-swami-attacks-madhudvisa-dasa–falsehood
Can there really be another side to the the story? the story is a neophyte disciple edits and changes the pure devotees words with no authorization to do so, and then tries to pass it off as Srila Prabhupada’s books. So he is a demon and you claim there is another side to the story? the other side of the story is Jayadwaita is a bogus guru fraud who has no right, authority or the spiritual capacity to change, edit and mangle Srila Prabhupada’s books. He claims ISKCON gurus have illicit sex with men, women and children and then thinks he can change Srila Prabhupada’s books with that mentality?
Here is another detailed article that completely exposes Jayadvaita and his gang for who they really are….
kali chelas, dressed in the garb of devotees….cheaters of the worst kind….
http://prabhupadavision.com/2011/03/iskcon-academia-part-three/