Sunday, August 1, 2021 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time] Subject: Sri Lokanatha Goswami Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day] compiled by Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa
Sri Lokanatha Goswami tirobhava [disappearance day]Tuesday, July 26,.2016 [Los Angeles, California time]Wednesday, July 27, 2016 [Mayapura, West Bengal time] compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Lokanatha Goswami Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 1: The Spiritual Masters : Adi 1.19 : PURPORT : Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained this mode of devotional service in three stages, and therefore these worshipable Deities were installed in Vṛndāvana by different Gosvāmīs. They are very dear to the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas there, who visit the temples at least once a day. Besides the temples of these three Deities, many other temples have been established in Vṛndāvana, such as the temple of Rādhā-Dāmodara of Jīva Gosvāmī, the temple of Śyāmasundara of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, the temple of Gokulānanda of Lokanātha Gosvāmī, and the temple of Rādhā-ramaṇa of Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī. There are seven principal temples over four hundred years old that are the most important of the five thousand temples now existing in Vṛndāvana. Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.164 : PURPORT : When Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana, there was not a single temple, but by their preaching they were gradually able to construct various temples. Sanātana Gosvāmī constructed the Madana-mohana temple, and Rūpa Gosvāmī constructed the Govindajī temple. Similarly, their nephew Jīva Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-ramaṇa temple, Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī constructed the Gokulānanda temple, and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī constructed the Śyāmasundara temple. In this way, many temples were gradually constructed. For preaching, construction of temples is also necessary. The Gosvāmīs not only engaged in writing books but also constructed temples because both are needed for preaching work. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted the cult of His saṅkīrtana movement to spread all over the world. Now that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has taken up this task of preaching the cult of Lord Caitanya, its members should not only construct temples in every town and village of the globe but also distribute books that have already been written and further increase the number of books. Both distribution of books and construction of temples must continue side by side in parallel lines. bhūgarbha gosāñi, āra bhāgavata-dāsayei dui āsi’ kaila vṛndāvane vāsa SYNONYMSbhūgarbhagosāñi—of the name BhūgarbhaGosāñi; āra—and; bhāgavata–dāsa—of the name Bhāgavatadāsa; yeidui—both of them; āsi‘-coming; kaila—did; vṛndāvanevāsa—residing in Vṛndāvana. TRANSLATIONThe eleventh branch of Gadādhara Gosvāmī was BhūgarbhaGosāñi, and the twelfth was Bhāgavatadāsa. Both of them went to Vṛndāvana and resided there for life. PURPORTBhūgarbhaGosāñi, formerly known as Prema–mañjarī, was a great friend of Lokanātha Gosvāmī, who constructed the temple of Gokulānanda, one of the seven important temples of Vṛndāvana-namely, Govinda, Gopīnātha, Madana–mohana, Rādhāramaṇa, Śyāmasundara, Rādhā–Dāmodara and Gokulānanda-that are authorized institutions of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 12: The Expansions of Advaita Acarya and Gadadhara Pandita : Adi 12.82 : Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 12: The Expansions of Advaita Acarya and Gadadhara Pandita : Adi 12.88 : PURPORT : The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 183, mentions that Śivānanda Cakravartī was formerly Lavaṅga-mañjarī. The Śākhā-nirṇaya, written by Yadunandana dāsa, also names other branches of Gadādhara Paṇḍita, as follows: (1) Mādhava Ācārya, (2) Gopāla dāsa, (3) Hṛdayānanda, (4) Vallabha Bhaṭṭa (the Vallabha-sampradāya, or Puṣṭimārga-sampradāya, is very famous), (5) Madhu Paṇḍita (this famous devotee lived near Khaḍadaha in the village known as Sāṅibonā-grāma, about two miles east of the Khaḍadaha station, and constructed the temple of Gopīnāthajī in Vṛndāvana), (6) Acyutānanda, (7) Candraśekhara, (8) Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, (9) Dāmodara, (10) Bhagavān Ācārya, (11) Ananta Ācāryavarya, (12) Kṛṣṇadāsa, (13) Paramānanda Bhaṭṭācārya, (14) Bhavānanda Gosvāmī, (15) Caitanya dāsa, (16) Lokanātha Bhaṭṭa (this devotee, who lived in the village of Tālakhaḍi in the district of Yaśohara and constructed the temple of Rādhāvinoda, was the spiritual master of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and a great friend of Bhūgarbha Gosvāmī), (17) Govinda Ācārya, (18) Akrūra Ṭhākura, (19) Saṅketa Ācārya, (20) Pratāpāditya, (21) Kamalākānta Ācārya, (22) Yādava Ācārya and (23) Nārāyaṇa Paḍihārī (a resident of Jagannātha Purī). saṅge gopāla-bhaṭṭa, dāsa-raghunātharaghunātha-bhaṭṭa-gosāñi, āra lokanātha SYNONYMSsaṅge—with Rūpa Gosvāmī; gopāla–bhaṭṭa—GopālaBhaṭṭa; dāsa–raghunātha—Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī; raghunātha–bhaṭṭa–gosāñi—RaghunāthaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī; āra—and; lokanātha—Lokanāthadāsa Gosvāmī. TRANSLATIONWhen Rūpa Gosvāmī stayed at Mathurā, he was accompanied by GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī, RaghunāthaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Lokanāthadāsa Gosvāmī. PURPORT Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī was a personal associate of Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu and a great devotee of the Lord. He was a resident of a village named Tālakhaḍi in the district of Yaśohara in Bengal. Previously he lived in Kācnāpāḍā. His father’s name was Padmanābha, and his only younger brother was Pragalbha. Following the orders of Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu, Śrī Lokanātha went to Vṛndāvana to live. He established a temple named Gokulānanda. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura selected Lokanāthadāsa Gosvāmī to be his spiritual master, and he was his only disciple. Because Lokanāthadāsa Gosvāmī did not want his name mentioned in Caitanya–caritāmṛta, we do not often see it in this celebrated book. On the E.B.R. Railroad, the Yaśohara station is located in Bangladesh. From the railway station one has to go by bus to the village of Sonākhāli and from there to Khejurā. From there one has to walk, or, during the rainy season, go by boat to the village of Tālakhaḍi. In this village there are still descendants of Lokanātha Gosvāmī’s younger brother.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Sri Vrndavana : Madhya 18.49 n Bhakti-ratnākara (Sixth Wave), there is a list of many of the chief devotees who accompanied Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. gosvāmī gopāla-bhaṭṭa ati dayāmaya bhūgarbha, śrī-lokanātha--guṇera ālayaśrī-mādhava, śrī-paramānanda-bhaṭṭācārya śrī-madhu-paṇḍita–yāṅra caritra āścaryapremī kṛṣṇadāsa kṛṣṇadāsa brahmacārī yādava ācārya, nārāyaṇa kṛpāvān śrī-puṇḍarīkākṣa-gosāñi, govinda, īśānaśrī-govinda vāṇī-kṛṣṇadāsa aty-udāra śrī-uddhava–madhye-madhye gauḍe gati yāṅradvija-haridāsa kṛṣṇadāsa kavirāja śrī-gopāla-dāsa yāṅra alaukika kāya śrī-gopāla, mādhavādi yateka vaiṣṇava”The following Vaiṣṇavas were present with Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī: the merciful GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī; Bhūgarbha Gosvāmī; Śrī Lokanāthadāsa Gosvāmī, a reservoir of good qualities; Śrī Mādhava; Śrī ParamānandaBhaṭṭācārya; Śrī MadhuPaṇḍita, whose characteristics are all wonderful; PremīKṛṣṇadāsa; KṛṣṇadāsaBrahmacārī; Yādava Ācārya; the merciful Nārāyaṇa; Śrī Puṇḍarīkākṣa Gosvāmī; Govinda; Īśāna; Śrī Govinda; the magnanimous VāṇīKṛṣṇadāsa; Śrī Uddhava, who occasionally visited Bengal; DvijaHaridāsa; KṛṣṇadāsaKavirāja; Śrī Gopāladāsa, whose body is completely spiritual; Śrī Gopāla; Mādhava; and many others.”Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Sri Vrndavana : Madhya 18.52_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ srimad-radha-vinodaika- seva-sampat-samanvitam padmanabhatmajam srimal- lokanatha prabhum bhaje“I worship the lotus feet of Srila Lokanatha Prabhu, the son of Sri Padmanabha. He is a storehouse of singleminded service to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda.” Pranam mantra for Lokanatha Dasa Goswami written by Narottama Dasa Thakura.
In the mangalaracana to the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, Sri Sanatana Goswami offers his respects to Lokanatha Goswami as follows: vrindavan priyan vande sri govinda padasritansrimad-kashishvaramlokanatam sri krishnadasakam “I offer my obeisances unto Sri Kashishvara Pandit, Sri Lokanatha Goswami and Sri Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami who are very dear to Sri Govinda in Vrindavana, having taken shelter at his lotus feet.” Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura Mahashaya prays as follows at the lotus feet of his gurudeva: ha ha prabhu lokanatha, rakha padadvandvekripadrishthye chaha yadi haiya anande manovancha siddhi habe hang purna trishna hethaya chaitanya mile setha radhakrishna tumi na karile daya ke kairbe ara manera vasana purna kara eibara ei tini samsare mora ara keho nai kripa kari nija padatale deha thai radhakrishna lilaguna gao ratri dine narottama vancha purna nahe tuwa vine “O Lokanatha, O gurudeva! If you are pleased with me, please keep me in the shelter of your lotus feet, and cast your merciful glance upon me. By your mercy I can find the perfection of inner fulfillment. And by your mercy I can someday meet Sri Caitanya and Radha-Krishna. If you are not merciful to me, then what shall I do? Please, just once, fulfill my heart’s desire. In the three worlds of birth and death no one is more in need of your mercy. Please give me your mercy and give me a place at your lotus feet. Day and night I sing the qualities and pastimes of Radha and Krishna. Still, the inner aspirations of Narottama for the service of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda and Caitanya Mahaprabhu can only be realized through your grace, o Lokanatha Goswami Prabhu.”
lokanathakhya-gosvami shri-lila-ma�jari pura\Lokanatha Goswami was known as Lila Manjari in Krishna lila. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 187) shrimad-radha-vinodaika-seva-sampat-samanvitam padmanabhatmajam shrimal-lokanatha-prabhum bhaje I worship Lokanatha Prabhu, the son of Padmanabha, whose life revolved around the wealth of service he possessed in his deity Radhavinoda. (Bhakti-ratnakara 1.297) The descendants of Lokanatha�s brother, Pragalbha Bhattacharya are still living in Talakharii. Bhugarbha Goswami was Lokanatha�s closest friend and constant companion. He was Prema Manjari in Vraja (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 187).bhugarbha-thakkurasyasit purvakhya prema-ma�jari. According to the Sadhana-dipika, Bhugarbha was Lokanatha�s paternal uncle. The Shakha-nirnayamrita adds the following comments on Bhugarbha Goswami:gosvaminam ca bhugarbham bhugarbhottham suvishrutam sada mahashayam vande krishna-prema-pradam prabhum shrila-govinda-devasya seva-sukha-vilasinam dayalum premadam svaccham nityam ananda-vigraham I offer my reverence to the illustrious Bhugarbha Prabhu, who is said to have been born from the bowels of the earth. He bestows love of Krishna; he takes pleasure in the service of Govinda Deva, is compassionate, simple and always joyful.
Sri Sri Radha Vinoda – Deities of Lokanatha Goswami in Vrindavana
Samadhi of Sri Lokanatha Goswami
Original deities of Sri Radha Vinoda now in Jayapura, Rajasthan “I worship Shri Lokanath Prabhu, the son of Shri Padmanabh, who possesses great wealth of devotion to Shri Shri RadhaBinod and always engaged in Their service.” Shrila Lokanath Gosvami was born in the village of Talkhari, within the district of Jessore, Bangladesh, as the son of Shri Padmanabh Bhattacarja and his wife, Shri Sita debi. Talkhari can be reached from Sonakhali and Khejura. Shri Padmanabh was a devoted follower (most probably the initiated disciple) of Shri Adwaita Acarja, who was very fond of him. The younger brother of Lokanath was Pragalbha Bhattacarja. His descendants are still residing at Talkhari. From his childhood Lokanath was disinterested in worldly affairs. He decided to leave his home and came to Nabadwip to have darshan of Mahaprabhu. Shri Gaursundor very lovingly embraced Lokanath and instructed him to go to Brindaban as soon as possible.Lokanath could understand that Mahaprabhu would renounce His family life and accept sannyasa within a few days. When he considered how Prabhu’s near and dear ones would react to see His head shorn of its beautiful locks of curly hair, he felt very aggrieved and began to cry. Mahaprabhu consoled him and told him that they would meet again in Brindaban. With tears flowing from his eyes Lokanath offered his obeisances to Mahaprabhu, the all-omniscient Lord, Who lovingly embraced him. After explaining some hidden truths to him, He instructed him to go to Brindaban. Thus Lokanath, after surrendering his self at the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu, set out for Brindaban in the company of Bhugarbha.Lokanath never returned home. Being afflicted greatly by separation from the Lord, he set out to tour the holy places, and then finally came to Brindaban. Meanwhile, Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted sannyas and departed Nadiya for Nilacal. After some time, when Mahaprabhu set out on His tour of South India, Lokanath also journeyed there after having received this news. From the South Mahaprabhu came to Brindaban and Lokanath followed Him there. But by the time he reached Brajabhumi, Mahaprabhu had already left for Prayag. Lokanath was extremely sad. Again having missed darshan of his Prabhu, He decided to leave the next morning for Prayag. In a dream however, Prabhu came to console Lokanath and requested him to stay in Brindaban. Not wanting to neglect the order of Mahaprabhu, Lokanath remained at Brajadham. After some days he and Bhugarbha Gosvami met the dear disciples of Mahaprabhu, Shri Rupa, Shri Sanatan, Shri Gopal Bhatta and Subuddhi Ray amongst others. Only Subuddhi Ray had come to Brindaban before Lokanath and Bhugarbha. They were all very affectionate to one another; especially Bhugarbha had a very intimate relationship with Lokanath. Only there was some bodily difference between them, otherwise they were one. Amongst the Goswamis, Lokanath was the eldest. He had reached the outermost boundaries of the realm of renunciation and was thus always intensely absorbed in loving ecstatic mellows.In the mangalacaran of Shri Baisnab Toshani we find the following verse: “I worship Shrimat Kasisvar, Lokanath and Shri Krishnadas (Kabiraj), who have taken shelter at the lotus feet of Shri Gobinda and who are very dear to Shri Brindaban.” Similarly in the mangalacaran (invocation of auspiciousness) of Shri Hari Bhakti Vilas,” May Kasisvar, Shri Krishnadas and Lokanath continue to reside in Brindaban (Krishna ban) and attain to the full limits of beauty and splendour.” Lokanath Goswami used to visit the many places of Krishna’s pastimes within Brajadham and in this way he was always absorbed in intense ecstasy. Once Lokanath came to the banks of Kisori kund within the village of Umrao, by the side of Chatrabon, and remained there for a few days. He wanted very much to be able to worship the Deity form of the Lord, so Shri Krishna, Who is within the heart of everyone, accepted another form and arrived there with just such a suitable Deity in His possession. He presented the Deity to Lokanath, telling him, “This Deity’s name is RadhaBinod. Then Krishna went away. Lokanath received the Deity and looked up to see who had brought Him, but seeing no one present he began to reflect on the mystery of His appearance. Seeing Lokanath deep in thought, RadhaBinod laughed, “Who would have brought Me here! I have come Myself! I live here on the banks of Kisorikund and this is My village, Umrao. Now please give me some thing to eat.” Lokanath was beside himself with bliss. Immersed in that ecstasy, he prepared some foodstuffs and offered them to RadhaBinod. Then he made a bed of flowers and laid the Deity down to take rest. He fanned the Deity with some leaves and meditated on massaging the lotus feet of his Lord. Having surrendered his body, mind and very life itself, he was totally absorbed as though drinking a flow of honey-like nectar. Lokanath Goswami had no permanent abode. Some Brajabasi villagers wanted to build a little hut for him but he wasn’t interested. He preferred to take shelter under the trees. He made a cloth satchel for RadhaBinod which he kept around his neck. RadhaBinod were like a rare gem suspended on a necklace round the neck of Lokanath. His activities represented the crest jewel of asceticism and the other Goswamis managed to keep him in their company only by great endeavour. It is very difficult to describe the character of Lokanath Goswami, who was so dear to Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu and some of the other Goswamis began their pastimes of disappearance, Lokanath maintained his life only due to the desire of Mahaprabhu.[Bhakti Ratna 1st Taranga] Lokanath Gosvami was quite adamant not to accept any disciples, since the worship they might offer him could be a disturbance to his mood of devotional service. ‘Raj Kumar’ Narottam however, had a similar determination to accept Lokanath as his guru . It is not possible to describe the care with which Narottam Thakur served his guru. In the early morning he would clean the place where his guru used to answer the calls of nature. Shri Lokanath Goswami finally conceded to initiate Narottam das Thakur Mahasoy with the divine mantra. There is no mention anywhere of any other disciple of his. Lokanath Goswami, having become quite advanced in years, entered into his eternal pastimes while residing at Khadir bon (Khoyra gram). On the banks of a large lake there, called Shri Jugalkund, his samadhi has been established.His worshipful Deities Shri Shri RadhaBinod are at present being worshipped in Jaipur, Rajasthan. His puspasamadhi is within the courtyard of Shri Gokulananda Mandir in Brindaban. It is said that Shrila Krishna das Kabiraj Goswami approached Lokanath Goswami for his blessings and any information that he might be able to provide for the compilation of Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita. At that time, Lokanath forbade Kabiraj Goswami to mention his name or describe anything about him. In order to honour the request of this great Baisnab, Kabiraj Gosvami therefore didn’t write anything about him. His identity in Braja lila is Lilamanjari. His disappearance is on the eighth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Srabon
Compilation of experiences of devotees feeling presence of Srila Prabhupada despite his physical absence Hare Krsna. All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. A compilation of devotees feeling the presence of Srila Prabhupada even in his physical absence is presented below, which proves that spiritual master is not a bodily concept unlike those who insult Srila Prabhupada saying he’s dead,etc. Never think that I am absent from you. Physical presence is not essential; presence by message (or hearing) is real touch. Lord Krishna is present by His message which was delivered 5,000 years ago. We feel always the presence of our past Acharyas simply by their immutable instructions. [Letter to Students written from Vrndavana, 2 August 1967]——————————————————————————————————- If you try to follow my instruction you will feel that my body is in your presence always. I know that you all devotees of San Francisco are very much anxious to get me back there and I am also trying to go back there as soon as possible, in the meantime go on with your chanting and hearing and everything will be all right by the grace of Krishna. I hope this will find you all right. [Letter to Ballabhi written from New York,May 05,1967]——————————————————————————————————- “I also do not feel separation from my Guru Maharaja. When I am engaged in his service, his pictures give me sufficient strength. To serve master’s word is more important than to serve him physically.”
[Letter to Syamasundara written from Los Angeles, July 7, 1970]——————————————————————————————————- TKG admits that all devotees feel presence of Srila Prabhupada through his booksSatsvarupa: He said that “There have been many commentaries on the Bhagavad-gita, including Ramanuja, Madhva and Sankara, and then,” he said, “Tilak and Gandhi, but of all of them the commentary by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is the greatest commentary.” Punjab University. Then he said later that “In this suffering mankind, God has sent His Holiness A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.”
Tamala Krsna: He said greater than the other acaryas.
Satsvarupa: Yes. Greater than Ramanuja and Madhva.
Tamala Krsna: And he’s a big man.
Prabhupada: He is very big man. Respected. Very good scholar also. He goes outside for lecturing.
Tamala Krsna: Practically all the devotees feel your presence through these books.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: Their life is sustained with these books — these books and chanting and the Deity worship — sustaining all the devotees in the world and bringing new devotees. Everyone we ask who joins this movement, “Before you joined, did you get a book?” “Yes.” In every case I have seen that the first thing was the book.
Prabhupada: Hmm.[Conversation -Mayapur – February 15, 1977]——————————————————————————————————- Prabhupāda: Of course, if I die, there is nothing to be ruined. You are all participants. So organize this farm project, simple living. Human life is meant for God realization. Try to help them. This is my . . .
Paramānanda: We’re always feeling your presence very strongly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, simply by your teachings and your instructions. We’re always meditating on your instructions.
Prabhupāda: Thank you. That is the real presence. Physical presence is not important.
[Conversation B – Vrndavana- October 6,1977]
——————————————————————————————————-
Translator: She says she would like to help spiritually other people.
Prabhupāda: Yes. So first of all you realize yourself.
Translator: She says sometimes she calls you, and she can feel your presence, and she wants to know if you can feel her presence.
Prabhupāda: Yes, I’m ready to help—but spiritually.
[Conversation B – Mayapur- February 28,1977]
——————————————————————————————————- Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She wrote you a letter, very feelingful letter.
Prabhupāda: Hmm, hmm. She is very attached.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Want to hear the letter?
Prabhupāda: I’ll wait.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: All right.
Prabhupāda: Or you can read. No harm.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She says, “Our most revered Guru Mahārāja, my crores of caraṇa and vandana at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and at the lotus feet of our revered Gurujī. When you were here we could not have your darśana due to your illness, and after that, you left Bombay and went to Vṛndāvana. We prayed to Lord Kṛṣṇa for your life, and our Lord Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He again heard our prayers, and now you are better. We are informed by the devotees that Guru Mahārāja is better. May Lord Kṛṣṇa give you a long life, happiness and good health and your stay with us for a few more years. We were in dark, and you have enlightened our life and taught us real religion. You shower your blessings on us. I always feel your presence near me always in the heart. We want you. Your life is very essential for us. Kindly, Guru Mahārāja, take care of your health. We believe in both prayer and medicines, so kindly do not neglect yourself. Your dream of Bombay ISKCON temple has come true. It is just like Kṛṣṇa’s palace in Dvārakā.” She says, “It is a top building, a jewel and . . . (indistinct) . . . Now I close my letter with my prayers for your good health. Your faithful devotee, Nirmala Singol.”
Prabhupāda: You reply that I am progressing little.[Conversation D – Vrndavana-July 01,1977]
From Sent: Friday, March 23, 2012 10:16 AM Subject: article book changes
Glossary: editing – also known as the first editing, these are the edited versions of Srila Prabhupada’s dictation tapes transcripts reediting–going over an already printed book, second editing.
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the Founder and Acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness (ISKCON). He is the author of more than sixty volumes of authoritative translations, commentaries and expositions of the philosophical and religious classics of the Vedic tradition. Of all his various contributions, Srila Prabhupada considered his books most important. In fact, he would often describe his work of translating and explaining the ancient Vedic texts as his very life and soul.
Unfortunately after Prabhupada’s demise in 1977, some of his leading disciples, such as Jayadvaita Swami, have unauthorizedly changed and edited most of Srila Prabhupada’s original translations and books, thus perverting and misinterpreting the real meaning and rendering them useless. Therefore the readers might be warned to only read the original pre 1977 published books of Srila Prabhupada. Otherwise students might be mislead by bogus philosophy preached by Iskcons false successor gurus.
Get Srila Prabhupada’s original, unrevised books. Beware of imitations!
Since 1978, ISKCON and Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. (BBTI) have been publishing revised editions of Srila Prabhupada’s books, heavily edited by disciples without his authorisation.
ISKCON and Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. are NOT the authentic Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) founded by Srila Prabhupada for publishing his phenomenal works. Srila Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is a legal trust and has no connection with ISKCON and the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc., a California corporation formed in 1988, 11 years after Srila Prabhupada departed from this world. Srila Prabhupada established the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust in 1972, and in 1974, appointed Hansadutta dasa BBT trustee for life with these words: “The temples may go, the devotees may go, but my books will live forever.”
This brief article will hopefully serve as a guide in helping devotees to understand how to detect Srila Prabhupada’s original books. We may just say that in the past on different websites certain books have been advertised as being original when in fact on closer observation they have proven to be changed. Whether this was deliberate or done unintentionally is a subject matter for debate but the fact remains that there is still considerable confusion on the matter. We were fortunate to have a full set of Srila Prabhupada’s originals (first printings) and thus started making a comparison. Random checks were done just as a simple test and on every single one of those checks changes were found. The fact that changes were found leaves sufficient room for doubting that entire volumes may well be riddled with changes.
We haven’t gone through each and every one of Srila Prabhupada’s books page for page to list the numerous changes since the time was an issue (hopefully a detailed comparison will be undertaken in the future for the benefit of all devotees).
Srila Prabhupada’s books can be broken into 3 basic categories:
1) Books that he himself directly wrote.
2) Books that are compilations of his statements coming from lectures, letters and conversations etc…(these were compiled specifically under his instruction by his disciples, such compilations were put together in his physical presence.
3) Book compilations that were put together after his physical departure.
Of the above-mentioned 3 categories the first two are of greater relevance to the issue. We are as yet to make a complete comparison of category 2 we thought it more urgent to deal with group 1 since group 2 which consists of letters and conversations etc… can be verified by checking back its original source i.e. complete lectures, conversations or letters which can be found on Vedabase. In the case of group 1 we would have no other source than the books themselves.
The significant point which is worth noting is that even though some books are titled pre-1978, edition they may still have unauthorised changes to them. To properly understand this it would be in the reader’s best interest to read in the Vedabase the 1977 conversation titled “Rascal Editors“. In this conversation with Srila Prabhupada it is very clear that his books were being changed without his authorisation even in HIS PHYSICAL PRESENCE!!! Therefore, the question which should naturally arise is “among the pre-1978 books, which ones are authorised and which are not?” This basically is the crux of the matter.
Srila Prabhupada in the same conversation states that his books should be printed in the original way. What does that mean? It means that to ensure we get the authorised version we must in fact get the first printing of his books!!! Sometimes individuals with an overly compromised mentality argue that not all of the changes were of great significance and therefore minor changes should be overlooked. To answer such faulty logic, one should carefully consider that any action performed without authorization of the spiritual master is in itself the cause of destruction on the spiritual path. Therefore, the issue is not how big or small are the changes, it is only a question of did Srila Prabhupada authorize it or not. One with a little sincerity will accept what he has authorized without posing superfluous and offensive arguments. We therefore present below the first printings of Catergory 1) and 2):
Bhagavad-Gita Unabridged (1972)
Srimad-Bhagavatam-First Canto parts 1,2,3 (1972) Second Canto parts 1,2 (1972) Third Canto part 1(1972) Parts 2,3,4 (1974) Four Canto parts 1,2,3,4 (1974) Fifth Canto parts 1,2 (1975) Sixth Canto parts1,2 (1975) part 3 (1976) Seventh Canto part 1,2,3 (1976) Eighth Canto parts 1,2,3 (1976) Ninth Canto parts 1,2,3 (1977) Tenth Canto parts 1,2 (1977) part 3 (1980)
Sri Caitanya Caritamrta: Adi Lila vol 1,2 ,3 (1973-74) Madhya Lila vol 1-9 (1974-75) Antya lila vol 1-5 (1975)
Krsna Book vol 1,2 (1970) Teachings of Lord Caitanya (1968) Nectar of Devotion (1970) Easy Journey to Other Planets (1958, if not mistaken) Sri Isopanisad (1969) Nectar of Instruction (1975)
Note: Although on the whole one must get the first printings, there are the following few exceptions which were not first printings but were printed in the physical presence of Srila Prabhupada and were definitely not changed. They are:
Teachings of Lord Caitanya (1972) Nectar of Devotion (1972) Sri Isopanisad (1972) Krsna Book (1974)
Otherwise speaking, the others which were printed for a second time in the physical presence of Srila Prabhupada, like the 1st and 2nd Cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam, were changed. One thing which has been circulated by some devotees is that the small set of 30 volumes of Srimad Bhagavatam which were printed in Singapore and also made into a one volume edition are original, but we happen to have a set of that also, and found changes. There are certain tricks to quickly spot first printing Bhagavatams, if found in second hand book shops:
1) The first 4 Cantos do not have the volumes labeled in numerical notations on the spine whereas the remaining cantos do. The titles on the 5th-10th Canto are all in gold letters whereas in the previous cantos (1st-4th) have different colored letters for the titles.
2) The 3rd and 4th Cantos do not have an index but the other cantos do.
3) When checking the inside of the Bhagavatam volumes there should be mentioned only one date, i.e., first printing which is the same as the copyright year. If there are other dates mentioned don’t trust them, with the exception of the above mentioned few books, viz TLC, KB etc.
4) The colors of the dust jacket for the 5th-10th Cantos are the same as with the recent printing, however the 1st-4th Cantos are different.
Vol 1-2 of 1st Canto are blue, Volume 3 is a yellowish colour
Vol 1-2 of 2nd Canto have no brown borders around the pictures like in the second printings. They just have the photos of the temple altar in New York.
3rd Canto Volume 1, blue wall paper design dust jacket Volume 2, grayish wall paper design dust jacket Volume 3, brown Volume 4, pink
We would like to end with examples of some of the changes found in the second printings of Srila Prabhupada’s books, especially ones which were printed in his physical presence, and also the famous morning walk titled “Rascal Editors”, so as to leave no doubt in the mind of the readers that obtaining a set of the first printings is a must. We will appreciate any feedback from devotees and apologise if any statistical facts are not included or are misrepresented. It’s not our intention since we feel that the content herein is as true as can be.
Book Changes in Srimad Bhagavatam:
(The original version stands for the first printing of a particular Canto. The changed version stands for the 1978 printing. In case of the First Canto and the Second Canto second printing of those has been made in 1976 and is identical with the 1978 changed printings.)
Second Canto
Original version:
Lord Brahma said: At the time when the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to lift up the earthly planet, which was drowned in the great ocean of the universe called the Garbhodaka, the first demon (Hiranyaksa) appeared, and the Lord pierced him with His tusk.
(SB 2.7.1 translation)
Changed version:
Lord Brahma said: When the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to lift the planet earth, which was drowned in the great ocean of the universe called the Garbhodaka, the first demon (Hiranyaksa) appeared, and the Lord pierced him with His tusk.
Original version:
The floating of the planets in the weightless air is due to the inner constitution of the globes, and the modernized drilling of the earth to exploit oil from within is a sort of disturbance by the modern demons resulting in a greatly harmful reaction of the floating condition of the earth.
(SB 2.7.1 purport)
Changed version:
The floating of the planets in the weightless air is due to the inner constitution of the globes, and the modernized drilling of the earth to exploit oil from within is a sort of disturbance by the modern demons and can result in a greatly harmful reaction to the floating condition of the earth.
Original version:
When the Lord appeared to pick up the earthly planet, the demon of the name Hiranyaksa tried to create a disturbance in the methodical functions of the Lord.
(SB 2.7.1 purport)
Changed version:
When the Lord appeared to pick up the earth, the demon of the name Hiranyaksa tried to create a disturbance in the methodical functions of the Lord.
Original version:
A sane man, therefore, does not accept any cheap addition of incarnation without reference to the authorized scriptures.
(SB 2.7.2 purport)
Changed version:
A sane man, therefore, does not accept any cheap addition of an incarnation without reference to the authorized scriptures.
Original version:
Thus, with the proportionate improvement of such transcendental devotional service, the devotee makes definite progress in the matter of brahma-gati, or atma-gati.
(SB 2.7.3)
Changed version:
Thus, with the proportionate improvement of such transcendental devotional service, the devotee makes definite progress toward brahma-gati, or atma-gati.
Original version:
The Lord accepted his prayer, and he gave himself as the son of Atreya.
(SB 2.7.4 purport)
Changed version:
The Lord accepted his prayer, and he gave himself as the son of Atri.
Original version:
In order to create different planetary systems I had to undergo austerities and penance, and the Lord, thus being pleased with me, incarnated in four sanas(Sanaka, Sanatkumara, Sanandana and Sanatana). In the previous creation the spiritual truth was devastated, but the four sanas explained it so nicely that the truth at once became clearly perceived by the sages.
(SB 2.7.5 translation)
Changed version:
To create different planetary systems I had to undergo austerities and penance, and the Lord, thus being pleased with me, incarnated in four sanas(Sanaka, Sanatkumara, Sanandana and Sanatana). In the previous creation the spiritual truth was devastated, but the four sanas explained it so nicely that the truth at once became clearly perceived by the sages.
Original version:
The living entities are positively sanatanam, but superlatively because the living entities are apt to fall to the atmosphere of noneternity also.
(SB 2.7. 5 purport)
Changed version:
The living entities are positively sanatanam, but superlatively because the living entities are apt to fall to the atmosphere of noneternity.
Original version:
Because there is a prime necessity for transcendental knowledge, the ever-conditioned souls are given a chance for liberation in every millennium of creation.
(SB 2.7.5 purport)
Changed version:
Because transcendental knowledge is a prime necessity, the ever-conditioned souls are given a chance for liberation in every millennium of creation.
Original version:
If anyone wants to get freedom from the material bondage of conditional life, he must get free from the attraction for the form the woman.
(SB 2.7.6 purport)
Changed version:
If one wants to get freedom from the material bondage of conditional life, he must get free from the attraction for the form the woman.
Original version:
On the contrary, Bhrgu Muni tested the tolerance of the Lord by purposely kicking His chest,but instead of being angry at Bhrgu Muni the Lord begged his pardon, saying that Bhrgu Muni ‘s leg might have been badly hurt due to His chest being too hard.
(SB 2.7.7 purport)
Changed version:
On the contrary, Bhrgu Muni tested the tolerance of the Lord by purposely kicking His chest,but instead of being angry at Bhrgu Muni the Lord begged his pardon, saying that Bhrgu Muni ‘s leg might have been badly hurt because His chest is too hard.
Original version:
Prince Dhruva was initiated by Narada to chant the hymn composed of eighteen letters, namely om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.
(SB 2.7.8 purport)
Changed version:
Prince Dhruva was initiated by Narada into chanting the hymn composed of eighteen letters, namely om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.
Original version:
Long life, obedience, good reputation, righteousness, prospects of being promoted to higher planets, and blessings of great personalities are all vanquished simply by disobeying a great soul.
(SB 2.7.9 purport)
Changed version:
Long life, obedience, good reputation, righteousness, prospects of being promoted to higher planets, and blessings of great personalities are all vanquished simply by disobedience to a great soul.
Original version:
It is sometimes proposed that Sudevi was another wife of King Agnidhra.
(SB 2.7.10 purport)
Changed version:
It is sometimes proposed that Sudevi was another wife of King Nabhi.
Original version:
The Vedic hymns are generally meant for sacrifices to be performed by the fruitive workers who also want to satisfy the demigods to achieve their fruitive result.
(SB 2.7.11 purport)
Changed version:
The Vedic hymns are generally meant for sacrifices performed by the fruitive workers who also want to satisfy the demigods to achieve their fruitive result.
Original version:
This foretelling is by past experience of Brahmaji, who knew that in a fearful devastating scene, the Vedas would come out his mouth.
(SB 2.7.12 purport)
Changed version:
This foretelling is by past the experience of Brahmaji, who knew that in a fearful devastating scene, the Vedas would come out his mouth.
Original version:
The gigantic work of churning the milk ocean by combined effort of the demigods and the demons required a gigantic resting ground or pivot for the gigantic Mandara Hill.
(SB 2.7.13 purport)
Changed version:
The gigantic work of churning the milk ocean by the combined effort of the demigods and the demons required a gigantic resting ground or pivot for the gigantic Mandara Hill.
Third Canto
Original version:
Both of them knew that the topics discussed by Vidura and Rsi Maitreya were elevated, and thus Maharaja Pariksit was very interested to learn from the bona fide spiritual master.
(SB 3.1.4 purport)
Changed version:
Both of them knew that the topics discussed by Vidura and Rsi Maitreya were elevated, and thus Maharaja Paraksit was very interested in learning from the bona fide spiritual master.
Original version:
Lord Brahma said: Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose abode is in the kingdom of God, after congratulating the sages for their nice words, spoke as follows.
(SB 3.16.1 translation)
Changed version:
Lord Brahma said: After thus congratulating the sages for their nice words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose abode is in the kingdom of God, spoke as follows.
Original version:
He has clearly said, mayavadi-bhasya: if anyone hears the Mayavadis ‘ interpretation of the pastimes of the Lord, or their interpretation of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam or any other Vedic literature, then he is doomed.
(SB.3.19.33 purport)
Changed version:
He has clearly said, mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva nasa: if anyone hears the Mayavadis ‘ interpretation of the pastimes of the Lord, or their interpretation of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam or any other Vedic literature, then he is doomed.
Original version:
Lord Brahma then gave birth to the demons from the backside of his body, and they were very fond of sex. Because they were too lustful, they approached him for copulation.
(SB.3.20.23 translation)
Changed version:
Lord Brahma then gave birth to the demons from his buttocks, and they were very fond of sex. Because they were too lustful, they approached him for copulation.
Original version:
The mystic yoga system, as You have explained, aims at the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is meant for completely ending material existence. Please let me know what the nature of that yoga system is. How many ways are there by which one can understand in truth that sublime yoga?
(SB.3.25.29 translation)
Changed version:
The mystic yoga system, as You have explained, aims at the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is meant for completely ending material existence. Please let me know the nature of that yoga system. How many ways are there by which one can understand in truth that sublime yoga?
Original version:
The different parts of the bhakti-yoga system are hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, worshiping the Lord in the temple, accepting service to Him, carrying out His orders, making friendship with Him and after all surrendering everything for the service of the Lord… As far as jnanis are concerned, they are interested in jnana-yoga, but even if one elevates oneself, after a great performance of austerity, to the Brahman effulgence, there is a chance of falling down again in the material world… Sometimes it is questioned how the living entity falls down from the spiritual world to the material world.
(SB.3.25.29 purport)
Changed version:
The different parts of the bhakti-yoga system are hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, worshiping the Lord in the temple, accepting service to Him, carrying out His orders, making friendship with Him and ultimately surrendering everything for the service of the Lord… As far as jnanis are concerned, they are interested in jnana-yoga, but even if one elevates oneself, after a great performance of austerity, to the Brahman effulgence, there is a chance of falling down again to the material world… Sometimes it is asked how the living entity falls down from the spiritual world to the material world.
Fourth Canto
Original version:
The real creation is done by the Supreme Lord Himself by agitating His material energy, and then, by His order, Brahma, the first living creature in the universe, attempts to create the different planetary systems and their inhabitants, expanding the population through his progeny… Svayambhuva Manu is the son of Brahma.
(SB.4.1.1 purport)
Changed version:
The Supreme Lord Himself does the real creation by agitating His material energy, and then, by His order, Brahma, the first living creature in the universe, attempts to create the different planetary systems and their inhabitants, expanding the population through his progeny… Svayambhuva Manu was the son of Brahma.
Original version:
Akuti had two brothers, but in spite of her brothers, King Svayambhuva Manu handed her over to Prajapati Ruci on the condition that the son born of her be returned to him as his son.
(SB.4.1.2 translation)
Changed version:
Akuti had two brothers, but in spite of her brothers, King Svayambhuva Manu handed her over to Prajapati Ruci on the condition that the son born of her be returned to Manu as his son.
Original version:
This is called putrika-dharma, which means that by execution of religious rituals he gets a son, although he is sonless by one ‘s own wife… Manu is the lawgiver of mankind, and since he personally executed the putrika-dharma, it is to be accepted that such a system can be adopted by mankind also. Thus, even though he has a son, if he wants to have a particular son from his daughter, he can give his daughter in charity on that condition.
(SB.4.1.2 purport)
Changed version:
This is called putrika-dharma, which means that by execution of religious rituals one gets a son, although one is sonless by one ‘s own wife… Manu is the lawgiver of mankind, and since he personally executed the putrika-dharma, we may accept that such a system may be adopted by mankind also. Thus, even though one has a son, if one wants to have a particular son from one ‘s daughter, one may give one ‘s daughter in charity on that condition.
Original version:
When a devotee becomes mature in his prosecution of devotional service, he sees eye to eye the same Syamasundara he has thought of during the entire course of his devotional service.
(SB.4.9.2 purport)
Changed version:
When a devotee becomes mature in his prosecution of devotional service, he sees face to face the same Syamasundara he has thought of during the entire course of his devotional service.
Original version:
The devotee is allowed to see the Supreme Lord eye to eye, although the Lord is beyond the expression of our senses and beyond our direct perception.
(SB.4.19.10 purport)
Changed version:
The devotee is allowed to see the Supreme Lord face to face, although the Lord is beyond the expression of our senses and beyond our direct perception.
Original version: 4th Cnt(1974) 4.24-45-46
Thus the raga-marga, or Bhagavata-marga,friendship exists on a higher platform with Krsna, namely the platform of vipralambha friendship. Paternal friendship, conjugal paternal service, as well as conjugal service, are visible in the Vrndavana raga-marga relationships.
Changed version: 4th Cnt(1978)
Thus the raga-marga, or bhagavata-marga, friendship exists on a higher platform with Krsna, namely the platform of vipralambha friendship. Paternal friendship, paternal service and conjugal service are visible in the Vrndavana raga-marga relationships.
Original version:
Here, however, it is indicated that those who are constantly engaged in meditating on the lotus feet of the Lord are certainly purified of the material contamination of the senses and are thus able to see the Supreme Lord eye to eye… Lord Siva therefore advises that one who is actually serious about purification must engage himself in this type of meditation or in the mystic yoga system, which will help him not only to see the Lord within constantly but to see Him eye to eye and become His associate in Vaikunthaloka or Goloka Vrndavana.
(SB.4.24.53 purport)
Changed version:
Here, however, it is indicated that those who are constantly engaged in meditating on the lotus feet of the Lord are certainly purified of the material contamination of the senses and are thus able to see the Supreme Lord face to face… Lord Siva therefore advises that one who is actually serious about purification must engage himself in this type of meditation or in the mystic yoga system, which will help him not only to see the Lord within constantly but to see Him face to face and become His associate in Vaikunthaloka or Goloka Vrndavana.
Original version:
Just as one gets a chance to consult with the Paramatma within his heart, he also gets a chance to see Him actually situated before him.
(SB.4.28.52 purport)
Changed version:
Just as one gets a chance to consult with the Paramatma within his heart, one also gets a chance to see Him actually situated before him.
Note: There is a very popular argument voiced by certain individuals who have strong affiliations with the book changers. They claim that the current Srimad Bhagavatam set consisting of 18 volumes is completely non-different from the pre-1977 Bhagavatam. However, when such faulty statements are exposed, to smokescreen the issue they say that the First Canto from the 18 volume set is exactly the same as the Delhi-Bhagavatam(another false statement), the one Srila Prabhupada brought with him from India in 1965. To support this statement they quote the famous SB 1.2.18 of the Delhi Bhagavatam,which is supposedly identical with the same verse of the 18 volume set. However, there are two issues. The first is that on closer observation it has been noted that the 1.2.18 of the Delhi is not at all exactly the same as in the 18-volume set. The second issue is that it was not the edition which Srila Prabhupada authorized, set as a standard and gave class from regularly in his physical presence. We have concrete evidence to establish that the Delhi Bhagavatam is different from the First Canto of the 18-volume set. See below:
First Canto:
Original version:
TRANSLATION
Oh, it is our good luck that we have today become again under the protection of our Lord by Your presence; although Your Lordship is rarely visited even by the denizens of heaven. Now it will be possible for us to look unto Your smiling face full of affectionate observance. We can see now Your transcendental form full of all auspiciousness.
PURPORT
The Lord in His eternal personal form can be seen only by the pure devotees. The Lord is never impersonal, but He is the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead, possible to be visited by devotional service face to face, which is impossible to be done even by the denizens of higher planets. When Brahmaji and other demigods, do require to consult Lord Visnu the plenary portion of Lord Krsna, the demigods have to wait on the shore of the ocean of milk where Lord Visnu is lying on White Land (Svetadvipa) in the ocean of milk. This ocean of milk and the Svetadvipa planet is the replica of Vaikunthaloka- within the universe. Neither Brahmaji nor the demigods like Indra etc. can enter into this island of Svetadvipa but they can stand on the shore of the ocean of milk and transmit their message to Lord Visnu, known as Ksirodakasayi Visnu. Therefore, the Lord is rarely seen by them but the inhabitants of Dvaraka because of their being pure devotees without any tinge of material contamination of fruitive activities and empiric philosophical speculation, can see Him eye to eye by the grace of the Lord. This is the original state of the living entities and can be attained by reviving our natural and constitutional state of life discovered by devotional service only.
(SB 1.11.9)
Changed version:
TRANSLATION Oh, it is our good luck that we have come again today under Your protection by Your presence, for Your Lordship rarely visits even the denizens of heaven. Now it is possible for us to look into Your smiling face, which is full of affectionate glances. We can now see Your transcendental form, full of all auspiciousness.
PURPORT The Lord in His eternal personal form can be seen only by the pure devotees. The Lord is never impersonal, but He is the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead, possible to be visited by devotional service face to face, which is impossible to be done even by the denizens of higher planets. When Brahmaji and other demigods want to consult Lord Visnu, the plenary portion of Lord Krsna, they have to wait on the shore of the ocean of milk where Lord Visnu is lying on White Land (Svetadvipa). This ocean of milk and the Svetadvipa planet are the replica of Vaikunthaloka within the universe. Neither Brahmaji nor the demigods like Indra can enter into this island of Svetadvipa, but they can stand on the shore of the ocean of milk and transmit their message to Lord Visnu, known as KsirodakasayiVisnu. Therefore, the Lord is rarely seen by them, but the inhabitants of Dvaraka, because of their being pure devotees without any tinge of the material contamination of fruitive activities and empiric philosophical speculation, can see Him face to face by the grace of the Lord. This is the original state of the living entities and can be attained by reviving our natural and constitutional state of life, which is discovered by devotional service only.
Prabhupada:The rascal editors, they are doing havoc. Yasoda-nandana: Sometimes they appeal that “We can make better English,” so they change like that, just like in the case of Isopanisad. There are over a hundred changes. So where is the need? Your words are sufficient. The potency is there. When they change, it is something else. Svarupa Damodara: That’s actually a very dangerous mentality. Yasoda-nandana: What is it going to be in five years? It’s going to be a different book. Prabhupada: So, you… What you are going… It is very serious situation. You write one letter that “Why you have made so many changes?” And whom to write? Who will care? All rascals are there. Write to Satsvarupa that “This is the position. They are doing anything and everything at their whim.” The next printing should be again to the original way. Tamala Krsna: They should have a board of Satsvarupa and Jayadvaita. Prabhupada: Hm. Tamala Krsna: Those two men are both in Los Angeles now. Prabhupada:So, write them immediately that“The rascal editors, they are doing havoc, and they are being maintained by Ramesvara and party.” (S.P.Conversation, “Rascal Editors,”June 22, 1977, Vrndavana)
Prabhupada: Change of government… Just like they say, a change of theories by the rascals. Change means rascal. Harikesa: But as soon as a government changes… Prabhupada:Anything change means it is the domain of rascals, pandemonium. Just like in Manu-samhita it is said that, nasyam svatantratam arhati, women should not be given independence. Once said, that is fact. If you want to change, you suffer. That’s all. (S.P. Morning Walk December 14, 1975, New Delhi)
Don’t make addition, alteration. Then you become rascal.Immediately you become rascal. And many times they give me very great credit that I have done wonderful. Yes, I have done wonderful. But what is the reason? Because I am not a rascal. I speak what Krsna has spoken. That’s all. Very easy. Everyone can do that. Not only I. Any of you, you can do this. Simply speak what is…, what Krsna has said. That’s all. Don’t make addition, alteration. Then you become rascal. Immediately you become rascal. (Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture 1.5.29 Vrndavana, August 10, 1974)
Rascal Editors
June 22, 1977, Vrndavana
Srila Prabhupada: Where are others? Tamala Krsna: Shall I get other people? Satadhanya Maharaja? (long pause) Srila Prabhupada: That… Find this verse, munayah sadhu prsto ‘ham… [SB 1.2.5]. Tamala Krsna: There’s no index. It’s not a new Bhagavatam. There’s no index in this Bhagavatam. Munayah sadhu…? “The Effects of Kali-yuga” chapter? Is that the verse, about the effects of Kali-yuga? No. (background talking, looking for verse) munayah sadhu prsto ‘ham bhavadbhir loka-mangalam yat krtah krsna-samprasno yenatma suprasidati [SB 1.2.5] “munayah-of the sages; sadhu-this is relevant; prstah-questioned; aham…” Srila Prabhupada: No? What is that? Sadhu? What is that? Munayah? Tamala Krsna: Says, “sadhu-this is relevant.” Srila Prabhupada: Relevant? Tamala Krsna: That’s what it’s translated as, “this is relevant.” May be a mistake. Devotee (1): It’s a mistake. Srila Prabhupada:Munayah? Tamala Krsna: “Munayah-of the sages; sadhu-this is relevant…” Srila Prabhupada:The nonsense, they are… They are correcting my trans… Rascal. Who has done this? Munayah is addressing all these munis. Tamala Krsna: It’s addressing the munis? Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna:Sadhus, great sages. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Sadhu means they are very pure. What can be done if it goes there and these rascals becomes Sanskrit scholar and do everything nonsense? One Sanskrit scholar strayed, that rascal… He take… What is his…? Saci-suta? Saci-sandana? Tamala Krsna:Jaya-sacinandana? Srila Prabhupada: And they are maintaining them. Different meaning. Tamala Krsna: “Bhavadbhih-by all of you; loka-the world; mangalam– welfare; yat-because; krtah-made; krsna-the Personality of Godhead; samprasnah-relevant question; yena-by which; atma-self; suprasidati-completely pleased.” Translation: “O sages…” Srila Prabhupada: Now here is “O sages,” and the word meaning is “of the munis.” Just see. Such a rascal Sanskrit scholar. Here it is addressed, sambodhana, and they touch(?) it-“munayah-of the munis.” It is very risky to give to them for editorial direction. Little learning is dangerous. However proper Sanskrit scholar, little learning, dangerous. Immediately they become very big scholars, high salaried, and write all nonsense. Who they are? (pause) Then? Tamala Krsna: “O sages, I have been…” Srila Prabhupada: No, they cannot be reliable. They can do more harm. Just see here the fun(?). Tamala Krsna: Yeah. We ‘re finding out in the Fifth Canto that there ‘re words that are so off, the meaning is completely changed, completely changed. I mean, in the three chapters that we read, Bhakti-prema Maharaja made at least half a dozen corrections of serious corrections. They had changed the meaning. Svarupa Damodara: Some of the mistakes in the numbers, the figures. Tamala Krsna: Oh, yeah, they ‘re all… Srila Prabhupada: So how they can be reliable, so-called, this way…? (background whispering) Hm? Yasoda-nandana: In the Gurukula we were teaching Isopanisad class to the children. So we took… [break] …Prabhupada and the words which the recent edition of the Press is wrong. Many changes were brought. They were trying to make better English, but sometimes, to make better English, I think they were making philosophical mistakes also. There is no so much need of making so much better English. Your English is sufficient. It is very clear, very simple. We have caught over 125 changes. They ‘re changing so many things. We are wondering if this is necessary. I will show you today. I have kept the book. Srila Prabhupada: I know that these rascals are doing. What can be done? How they can be relied on? Svarupa Damodara: It’s not the responsibility of the BBT trustee, to see these things don’t change without Prabhupada ‘s sanction? Srila Prabhupada: And Ramesvara is indulging this. The great rascal is that Jagannatha? He’s there in Los Angeles. Tamala Krsna: Jagannatha dasa? Srila Prabhupada: Maybe. Indian devotee (2): Jagannatha-suta. Srila Prabhupada: Jagannatha-suta. Tamala Krsna: No… Srila Prabhupada: And the one rascal is gone. Tamala Krsna: Nitai. Srila Prabhupada: It is starting. What can I do? These cannot… These rascals cannot be educated. Dangerous. Little learning, dangerous. So how to correct? The leader of these dangerous-Radha-vallabha. Tamala Krsna: Radha-vallabha? Srila Prabhupada: Hm. He’s a dangerous, who maintains these rascal with this work. He ‘ll always have questions and alteration. That is his business. That is American business. They take that always. What can I do? Ultimate, it goes for editorial. They make changes, such changes. Tamala Krsna: Your original work that you ‘re doing now, that is edited by Jayadvaita. That’s the first editing. Srila Prabhupada: He is good. Tamala Krsna: He is good. But then, after they print the books, they ‘re going over. So, when they reprint… Srila Prabhupada: So how to check this? How to stop this? Tamala Krsna: They should not make any changes without consulting Jayadvaita. Srila Prabhupada: But they are doing without any authority. Svarupa Damodara: I think we should make whole survey, all books already printed, before printing the next batch and check any mistakes so that it should be all corrected. Otherwise, if the scholars find out that there are so many mistakes in the books, then the quality and the appreciation will be reduced. Giriraja(?): (indistinct) Svarupa Damodara: Yes. We find so far that they are appreciating so much within the scholarly circle, and we want to maintain that actually. Srila Prabhupada: Very serious feature. It is not possible for me to check, and they are doing all nonsense, freedom. (pause) Yasoda-nandana: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada: What to do? Tamala Krsna: I think Svarupa Damodara ‘s point, that all the books should now be checked before they’re reprinted again… And they have to be checked not by some so-called learned Sanskrit man but by a learned devotee. Just like you always favored Jayadvaita because his Krsna consciousness… Srila Prabhupada: Jayadvaita, Satsvarupa… Yasoda-nandana: Bhakti-prema, Satsvarupa is there. Tamala Krsna: So, Bhakti-prema… That’s a good solution. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: You know, the real point is that the Sanskrit is often not translated properly in the translation, what Nitai and others have done. Srila Prabhupada: He’s a rascal. That’s… He’s finding out guru and job for filling the belly. That is the latest news. Tamala Krsna: What is he doing? Srila Prabhupada: To find out some job to fill up the belly. Otherwise he ‘ll starve if he doesn ‘t get any job. And he’s finding out guru. Job-guru. Now do the needful. Otherwise everything will be spoiled. These rascal editorial… That Easy Journey, original, this (indistinct) Hayagriva has changed so many things. Tamala Krsna: He actually took out the whole part about their going to the moon being childish. He deleted the whole section. Yasoda-nandana: Also, in the Bhagavatam, where Prabhupada was talking about Lord Buddha… You mentioned that if the followers of Lord Buddha do not close the slaughterhouse, there is no meaning to such a caricature. That word was very nice. But in new book that word is not there anymore. They have pulled the word. The meaning of the word is not… So many times. Srila Prabhupada: It is very serious situation. Ramesvara is in direct… Svarupa Damodara: I think they ‘re working too independently without consulting properly. Yasoda-nandana: Sometimes they appeal that “We can make better English,” so they change like that, just like in the case of Isopanisad. There are over a hundred changes. So where is the need? Your words are sufficient. The potency is there. When they change, it is something else. Svarupa Damodara: That’s actually a very dangerous mentality. Yasoda-nandana: What is it going to be in five years? It’s going to be a different book. Srila Prabhupada: So, you… What you are going… It is very serious situation. You write one letter that “Why you have made so many changes?” And whom to write? Who will care? All rascals are there. Write to Satsvarüpa that “This is the position. They are doing anything and everything at their whim.” The next printing should be again to the original way. Tamala Krsna: They should have a board of Satsvarupa and Jayadvaita. Srila Prabhupada: Hm. Tamala Krsna: Those two men are both in Los Angeles now. Srila Prabhupada: So write them immediately that “The rascal editors, they are doing havoc, and they are being maintained by Ramesvara and party.” Tamala Krsna: Sometimes there’s a fear that some word will be unpopular, and on account of desire to gain popularity or acceptance, they lessen the strength of the word. They change the word. They choose a word which is more so-called acceptable. Svarupa Damodara: Same thing is with the Back to Godhead. Just publish some photo, try to change so many things in order to make it popularized. They have been doing that even with the philosophy. (pause) Satadhanya: I remember when Ramesvara was here, he had mentioned that in one article you had denounced the Christians strongly, so he said he left one part out because he was afraid there would be a bad reaction from the Christians in America. Srila Prabhupada: That is possible. That is possible. He should be careful. Then? Tamala Krsna: I think in addition to Satsvarupa and Jayadvaita checking the English, that Bhakti-prema Maharaja has to check all the Sanskrit of all of the books… He’s translating now, so as he’s translating, he can check. He’s going, starting from the First Canto. Svarupa Damodara: I think this is very appropriate, because checking English doesn ‘t have any meaning without checking the Sanskrit, the original. Tamala Krsna: There was one verse in the Fifth Canto. From the way that they translated it, there was no way that anyone could possibly have understood what the verse meant. I mean, it was made unintelligible by the translation. So, we were reading. Finally, Bhakti-prema says, “Wait a minute. This translation is wrong. They have edited an extra statement here that is not there, and it makes it completely not understandable.” Then suddenly, when he corrected the Sanskrit, it was easy to understand. It was very clear. Srila Prabhupada: So, what to do? Tamala Krsna: So, I think we just have to be slow but sure. We have to go over all of the books and make sure that they ‘re perfect before they ‘re printed again. Not be in such a rush, print, print, and print all nonsense. Svarupa Damodara: One time I had a strong talk with Ramesvara Maharaja about our article for printing in the Back to Godhead. I didn ‘t want them to be printed in Back to Godhead because they made so many changes… Srila Prabhupada: Oh, he has dared to change yours also? Svarupa Damodara: Oh, yes. They change so many things in our article. And it was on the telephone. I was speaking to him in Atlanta from Los Angeles. And I told him that “This article should not be printed because they have made so many changes.” And I didn ‘t like that. Then they answered that “It has already been offset, and BBT policy is always to be rushing. It’s always BBT policy.” Then I told him that “If you sacrifice quality on the strength of rushing, then it is your business, but that’s not my way, so please don ‘t print it.” But in any case, they have printed anyway that article. And we all had a bad reaction. Srila Prabhupada: So, you bring this to Satsvarupa. They cannot change anything. Tamala Krsna: (indistinct) Svarupa Damodara: So, we stopped writing article for Back to Godhead since then because… Tamala Krsna: Now, I think, with Satsvarupa there, you won’t have that problem of changing like that. He wrote a letter saying that one of his first things is that he will not change what is given there unless… He will not make changes. Svarupa Damodara: No, if they consult us, even with changing, that’s all right. But they just edit here and there and cut it out, certain things. They ‘re changing the whole meaning. And that makes sometimes nonsense instead of making sense. Srila Prabhupada: So, on the whole, these dangerous things are going on. How to check it? Tamala Krsna: There has to be strong philosophical leaders who can check this, like Satsvarupa and Jayadvaita. Srila Prabhupada: Hm. Tamala Krsna: They have to also be included in the decisions of the BBT. It can ‘t simply be that managers make decisions. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Without their sanction, there will be… Let them… These all rascals… Svarupa Damodara: One time in that article they made a change. Saying that, the whole Vaisnava philosophy became Mayavadi in that scientific article. So I told them that “You are better than…, a better (indistinct).” It all become Mayavadi, so it became all mad. That is why I strongly told them that “This shouldn ‘t be the way. If you want to change, you have to consult with those who are writers.” Srila Prabhupada: So, they are doing very freely and dangerously. And this rascal is always after change, Radha-vallabha. He’s a great rascal. (pause) Read. Tamala Krsna: Translation: Previously all the great sages rendered service unto the Personality of Godhead due to His existence above the three modes of material nature. They worshiped Him to become free from material conditions and thus derive the ultimate benefit. Whoever follows such great authorities is also eligible for liberation from the material world. Purport: The purpose of performing religion is neither to profit by material gain nor to get the simple knowledge of discerning matter from spirit. The ultimate aim of religious performances is to release oneself from material bondage and regain the life of freedom in the transcendental world, where the Personality of Godhead is the Supreme Person. Laws of religion, therefore, are directly enacted by the Personality of Godhead, and except for the mahajanas, or the authorized agents of the Lord, no one knows the purpose of religion. There are twelve particular agents of the Lord who know the purpose of religion, and all of them render transcendental service unto Him. Persons who desire their own good may follow these mahajanas and thus attain the supreme benefit. Srila Prabhupada: Read. Tamala Krsna: Next verse? Srila Prabhupada: No. Yes. Here is… So, this is the aim, that one should know Krsna. And the human life is meant for that purpose. That is the distinction between animal life and human life. Therefore, the next verse is yato bhaktir adhoksaje. Find out. Tamala Krsna:sa vai pumsah paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati [SB 1.2.6] Srila Prabhupada: So, life is divided into two, that body and the soul. Actually, the soul requires satisfaction. So, unless the soul approaches Adhoksaja–adhoksaja means beyond the sense perception of bodily understanding-there is no possibility. So, we can start later this chapter. Next verse? Tamala Krsna: Translation? Svarupa Damodara: Next verse. Tamala Krsna: Translation. Srila Prabhupada: No, no, no. Next verse. Tamala Krsna:vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7] Srila Prabhupada: So, this perfection can be achieved by direct devotional service to Vasudeva. Next verse? Tamala Krsna:dharmah svanusthitah pumsam visvaksena-kathasu yah notpadayed yadi ratim srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8] Srila Prabhupada: So unless one comes to this position, to understand Vasudeva, whatever he is doing or occupational duty, that is waste of time. It is waste of time in this way, that the body will change, so whatever he has done in this life, body will change. So, it is waste of time. After the change of the body, everything is finished. Srama eva hi kevalam. Tamala Krsna: Next verse? Srila Prabhupada: Hm. Tamala Krsna:dharmasya hy apavargyasya nartho ‘rthayopakalpate narthasya dharmaikantasya kamo labhaya hi smrtah Srila Prabhupada: The dharma, artha, kama, moksa… Generally, people take to religion for improving economic condition. It is going on. They go to the church: “O God, give us our daily bread.” And they ‘ll go to the temple: “O mother Kali, give me this. O father Siva, give me this.” So, they take it for economic development, dharma. But that is is not the proper way. Dharmasya hy apavargyasya. Dharma should be executed for stopping this material condition of life, apavarga. Pavarga. This material life is pavarga. Pa means parisrama, hard labor. And pha means phena, so hard labor that foams comes. Pa, pha, ba. And still it is baffled, vyartha. Bha: and always fear. And ma means death. So, pa, pha, ba, bha, ma. So, dharma means to stop this pa, pha, ba, bha, ma. Svarupa Damodara: This is apa…? Srila Prabhupada:Varga. It is pa-varga. There are five vargas, ka-varga, ca-varga, and the pa-varga. Very scientific. A-pa-varga. And that is the meaning. But these rascals, they have taken to increase the pa-varga, that srama eva hi kevalam. The basic principle of dharma is wrong. Dharma is meant for stopping this pa-varga. And they are increasing this pa-varga. And the next word? Tamala Krsna:kamasya nendriya-pritir labho jiveta yavata jivasya tattva-jijnasa nartho yas ceha karmabhih [SB 1.2.10] Srila Prabhupada: So, then question will be that “If we do not get some economic facilities, so how we can live?” And that’s a fact. Therefore, it is said here, dharmasya hi… No. What is that? Tamala Krsna:Kamasya nendriya-pritir labho jiveta … [SB 1.2.10]. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Kamasya, sense gratification, required, but not for sense gratification’s sake. It requires only for living comfortably. You try to make the economic development, that is all right. But they have taken simply for sense gratification. “I have got one car, and there must be another three cars for my children and wife.” This is going on, kama, increasing. Economic development… You require some occupational duty for earning your livelihood… That is allowed. But why more and more, more, more, more? For that, they are making scientific research how to satisfy senses. So kamasya na indriya-pritih. You require some sense gratification not for the senses, but because you have got a bad bargain, this body, just to maintain it, not more than. That is varnasrama-dharma. So, there are so many problems we have created. They do not understand. And this civilization are simply gratifying senses, so dangerous. And dehantara-praptih. And they create a position by very, very hard labor, and the body is changed. Then srama eva hi kevalam. What benefit you get? This life, you make a skyscraper building, three dozen cars, and next life, you become a dog. Then what is your profit? What do you gain? They do not gain anything. So that change of body is in nature’s hand. Karmana daiva-netrena. That is not in your hand. When the body will change, you cannot say, “No, no, I’ll not change,” because that is not under your dictation. So, is not simply waste of time? Svarupa Damodara: Yes. Bhagavata says so clearly, srama eva hi kevalam. Srila Prabhupada: These rascals, they do not understand. This is the position. Tamala Krsna: Next verse? Srila Prabhupada: Hm. Tamala Krsna:Vadanti tat tattva-vidas… [Bhag. 1.2.11]. Srila Prabhupada: That’s all right. And therefore, the civilization should be athato brahma jijnasa, simply to enquire about the Absolute Truth. And that is civilization. Now you can… Whatever little we have discussed, you can discuss now and close our book. How wrongly the whole civilization is carried on, how risky it is, that they do not know. Now, what the materialist has to say in this connection? Satadhanya: They say everything is getting better. Srila Prabhupada: What is that better? Yasoda-nandana: Well, a few hundred years ago there was no airplanes, no cars, no facilities… Srila Prabhupada: That’s all right, but when you become a dog next life, then what is your gain? You are not going to use this airplane. You have to make a rest in this car, in this seat. What you are going to do that about? Dehantara-praptih. Krsna says most authoritative statement and giving the example, dehino ‘smin yatha dehe kaumaram… [Bg. 2.13]. So how you can check this dehantara? Tamala Krsna: They argue that “We are getting people to live longer now than they used to live.” Srila Prabhupada: After all, you ‘ll have to change. In a false platform, to live longer, is that very great profit? Tamala Krsna: Well, as we improve material life… Srila Prabhupada: No, where is improved? You are going to be a dog, suppose. Where is your improvement? Svarupa Damodara: It’s an illusion. Srila Prabhupada: They lose. Svarupa Damodara: We are thinking that we are improving, but actually we are not solving the problems. Satadhanya: You said the other day that if we analyze what the scientists have done, we will see that they have actually done nothing beneficial, no benefit. Whatever they have done has no benefit, simply some comfort of the body. But what benefit it has? Srila Prabhupada: Just like they have improved… A man is going to die. By oxygen, by other, other, he may live for a few minutes more. They say, “This is improvement.” Svarupa Damodara: It’s creating more problems. Tamala Krsna: When we read from the Fifth Canto the facility of life is so much better on other planets, anyway, so they can ‘t even begin to imitate that other higher material planets, what to speak of the spiritual… Srila Prabhupada: They do. Karmis do that. They want to go there after death. Therefore karma-kanda. By ritualistic ceremonies they want to be promoted. Irdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. By improving the sattva-guna, you can go to higher planetary system. Tamala Krsna: Would that be considered more intelligent than the gross… Srila Prabhupada: No. No. Because after all, you have to die. Ksine punye punar martya-lokam visanti. Again, you have to come down. Svarupa Damodara: We have to tell them that “We cannot completely negate the scientific advancement. We cannot simply say that what you are all doing is nonsense.” At the same time, we can bring out that “Yes, you are doing, making an attempt to find a solution or comfortable situation. It’s not possible,” that “There must be something beyond. It’s not enough.” Srila Prabhupada: And that is yato bhaktir adhoksaje. That is the first citing. There are two kinds of occupational duty. The one is inferior, going down, and other is superior, go back to home. Svarupa Damodara: Satisfaction of the soul, Srila Prabhupada just mentioned. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Svarupa Damodara: So, the Adhoksaje. Srila Prabhupada:Adhoksaje. Yato bhaktih. When you become a devotee, then you ‘ll go. Svarupa Damodara: That is required. Srila Prabhupada: That is the aim of life. So, everything is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam. And then these unfortunate rascals, they are distorting. What can I do? How to stop it? Devotee (3): But they will argue, “Why should we accept that there will be a next life?”
Srila Prabhupada: Rascal, why you are accepting old age? You are young man. You have to accept, become. Why you are accepting, rascal? Answer this. Devotee (3): I don ‘t know. Srila Prabhupada: So then why do you talk nonsense? “Why shall I accept?” You have to accept, nonsense. That is the law of nature. Do you think you’ll not become an old man like me? “I’ll not accept.” You have to accept. So, what is the use of saying like that, foolish rascals? Devotee (3): So they must accept that… Srila Prabhupada: They must accept. They have to accept. Svarupa Damodara: Oh, yes. Srila Prabhupada: You are all young men. Who wants to become an invalid man like me? With three men I have to walk. Nobody wants. But you have to accept. I did not like. But you have to accept, compulsory. What is the use of saying, “Why shall I accept?” You… “Why?” There is no question of “Why?” You have to. That is the control. Tamala Krsna: They might argue that… Srila Prabhupada: What is the meaning of argue? I ‘ll beat you with shoes. You have to accept. What is the use of argument? Svarupa Damodara: Like a madman. Srila Prabhupada: That’s all. Nature will beat you with shoes. You have to accept. Tamala Krsna: They ‘ll say, “We have seen old men, but we have never seen anyone change their body.” Srila Prabhupada: This is not change? You are a young man; now you have become old. Then you have no eyes. You are blind. I was not a young man? Devotee (3): But they will argue, “What is the necessary…” Srila Prabhupada: What is the use of argument? You have to change. You are going to be hanged. There is no argument. You must be hanged. Devotee (3): But why a dog ‘s body? Tamala Krsna: Yeah, why a dog ‘s body? We have seen that you became an old man from a young man, but we never saw a man become a dog. Srila Prabhupada: So, you do not… You live. You go along with him. You ‘ll see. Change means that… That is their defect. The change… Change means you have to accept any change. You see or not see. Tatha dehantaram. Deha, the body, will change. You have got eight million bodies. It can change to anyone. There is no question of seeing. The suggestion is that you have to change. Now, in which body you are going to change, that you cannot see. So how you claim that “I cannot see”? That you cannot… There will be change. So how the change will take? Karmana daiva-netrena, by superior administration and by your karma. Svarupa Damodara: Subtle law. Srila Prabhupada: Subtle law. Svarupa Damodara: Beyond physical laws. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. No, physical law. Just like worm will change into butterfly. You can see. Svarupa Damodara: Science accepts that all the cells in human body changes completely in seven years. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Svarupa Damodara: Every seven years… Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Svarupa Damodara: …all change. So, change is actually… Srila Prabhupada: So that change takes place according to your mentality. You are subtle thing, psychological. One man is thief. By change, he can become a saintly person. One man is saintly person; he becomes a thief. So that change, according to three qualities… Irdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. You cannot ascertain immediately because you are changing from sattva-guna to rajo-guna, rajo-guna to tamo-guna. So how you can be ascertained? But there will be change. That is fixed. So, we have to take this word change. So you cannot expect what changes. Are you going to be dog or hog or god? That will depend on your work. How you can expect to see, that “I do not see”? But that is not certain. There are 8,400,000’s of different types of change of body. But you have to change. Not that you have to become a dog. You can become a demigod. Irdhvam gacchanti… But change is certain. So if change takes place, then where is your position? Whatever you have done-srama eva hi kevalam. Yasoda-nandana: They will say, “We can perceive all the changes during this life. We agree…” Srila Prabhupada: And next life or this life, rascal… Yasoda-nandana: “Because the last change, at death, the last transmigration to another body, because we cannot see according to our scientific experience…” Srila Prabhupada: So, you die, what you will see? Your eyes are taken away. What you will see? You say, “I die.” Then what you will see after death? A dead man has got eyes. Can he see? Tamala Krsna: Then they say, “How have you seen, that you are telling us what will…?” Srila Prabhupada: Seen by intelligence. [break] We are accepting everything like that. Devotee (3): So they will say, “We accept there is a change of bodies. So then life is simply changing bodies. There is no more than this, simply…” Srila Prabhupada: No, there is stoppage of change of body when you… Devotee (3): How so? Srila Prabhupada: How you… How you know? You are a rascal. What do you know? You learn it. You are rascal. What you know? You become intelligent. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. You are a rascal. What do you know? The difficulty is that you are rascal; you want to take the position of a learned man. And that is your fault. You do not accept your position, that you are a rascal. Devotee (3): So first we must… Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Devotee (3): They must become a little humble. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. Svarupa Damodara: They must know that every knowledge-acquiring process requires certain conditions to be fulfilled in order to understand it, that those conditions have to be acquired. Otherwise it’s not possible. Srila Prabhupada: So that is the difficulty at the present… A rascal is arguing. What is the meaning of his argument? He’s a rascal. It has no meaning. Devotee (3): All procrastination. Srila Prabhupada: So, read Bhagavatam very seriously. Then your rascaldom will go. Lokasyajanato vidvams cakre satvata… All rascals, for their knowledge the Bhagavata was written. Mudho nabhijanati, mohito nabhijanati. The difficulty is a rascal is thinking himself as very advanced in knowledge. That is the difficulty. Svarupa Damodara: That is the trouble with the scientists. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. And they are creating greatest trouble. Svarupa Damodara: They think that the destiny of man lies in their hands. Sometimes they say like that. Srila Prabhupada: That is yes. A rascal can become intelligent man. That’s good. But without becoming intelligent, remaining rascal, they are living. Otherwise there is no hindrance. I may be rascal, but in future, I may be intelligent by education, by… That is not checked. But the difficulty is that he remains a rascal and claims to be intelligent. That is the difficulty. That is the difficulty. We don ‘t say that “Because you are rascal, you shall continue to remain a rascal.” No. You become intelligent. Take advantage of intelligent person. But you remain a rascal and claim to be intelligent, and that is… They are doing. Little learning is dangerous. We say that don’t remain rascal. Tamaso ma: “Don’t remain in darkness.” We say; we are canvassing. The Krsna consciousness movement is for that purpose, that “You are rascal, but don’t remain a rascal. Come to the light.” Tamaso ma jyotir gama. That is our business. But this rascal, he’ll remain in rascaldom, and he will claim that “I am not.” That is the difficulty. Take enlightenment. Bhagavata is there. Bhagavad-gita is there. And become intelligent. But don’t claim to be intelligent while you are on the rascal platform. That is not good. That is suicidal. So very carefully read Bhagavatam. Don’t continue to remain rascal. Then life is successful. This is the Western obstinacy. They want to remain in the rascal platform, and still they claim. Is it not? Svarupa Damodara: Yes. Srila Prabhupada: This theory that life comes from matter, it is not settled up. Still, they are getting Nobel Prize. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Srila Prabhupada: Just see. Tamala Krsna: Big amount of money goes with that prize. Svarupa Damodara: Supported by all the… Srila Prabhupada: Another rascal. Andha yathandhaih. He’s a rascal, and he’s appreciated by another rascal. This is going on. Svarupa Damodara: Even the government is behind this research. NASA and federal funding government, they spend billions of dollars on this research. Srila Prabhupada: Just see. Then what is the government? Another combination of rascals, that ‘s all. They have no knowledge. Svarupa Damodara: Some of them are also beginning to feel that… Srila Prabhupada: Yes, that must… Svarupa Damodara: …there is something wrong… Srila Prabhupada: That must be. Svarupa Damodara: …with the whole approach. Srila Prabhupada: That must be there. Svarupa Damodara: Like there is a physicist in Princeton. His name is Dyson, Freeman Dyson(?). Srila Prabhupada: That is inquisitive, jijnasu. That is there, a class of men, jijnasu. Catur-vidha bhajante mam sukrtinah. They are pious. “Actually, what is the truth?” Jijnasu. And jnani. Two third class, fourth class, and two, first class, second class. The first class, second class, is jïnni jijnasu, and third class, fourth class, arto artharthi. They approach God. The third class, fourth class, those who are in need of money or in distress and seeking the favor of Krsna, they are third class, fourth class. And the jijnasu and jnani, they are first class, second class. Inquisitive, they want to know the truth. That is first class. Jijnasu-“What is that first class?” He is second class. And arto artharthi, he is in need. If he gets some money, then he forgets God. That’s all. His disease is cured. Then finished business. “O God, give us our bread.” As soon as I get bread, then finished church. Tamala Krsna: Sometimes people join our movement like that. Srila Prabhupada: Yes, that is the nature. But they are still pious because they have come to God. And those who are very, very miscreant, they, at any circumstance, they’ll never. Dog ‘s obstinacy. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. They are last class. Svarupa Damodara: Few years ago, there was a German physicist Schroedinger(?). He wrote a book called What is Life? And he said life could be understood just like physics. Then this Freeman Dyson(?)… He’s a very renowned scientist in Princeton University. He gave a lecture in our university at Emory about few months ago. He was speaking about cosmic manifestations of the universe. And I asked a question about this Schroedinger’s(?) approach, saying that Schroedinger is a very well-known and Nobel Prize-winning physicist. He stated that life could be understood in terms of physics and chemistry. I asked him, “What do you think about this approach?” His answer was “Schroedinger did not know at that time that the physics of modern science, especially quantum physics, cannot be explained without invoking consciousness.” That means life is a different entity than normal physics and chemistry. So, they are starting to realize, at least to some extent, that life could be completely different process than was planned about few years ago. Srila Prabhupada: So, on the whole, they have not come to the platform to know about life. That’s all right. Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. (end)
Prabhupāda: No, everyone gives his own opinion. Everyone will say… He’ll not dare to say that he’s speaking right, scientifically. He’ll say, “It is my opinion.” To avoid any difficulty, he’ll say, “In my opinion it is this.” I think he’s speaking of that, (that) there are so many people, and they have got so many opinions.
Śyāmasundara: How do we know, then, what is the real fact?
Prabhupāda: We have to understand it from a real man who knows it. Upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ. Find out that. Tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā. So, we have to approach the real person who has seen. Then you’ll get the right goal of life.
Pradyumna:tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ [Bg. 4.34]
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.”
Prabhupāda: So, we have to approach a person who has seen the truth. It is not difficult. Just like if you are suffering from some disease, you have to go to a doctor who knows how to treat. It is same thing, like that.
Śyāmasundara: How do we know he’s a good doctor or not? By his credential or…?
Prabhupāda: No. That also… Therefore, it is called sādhu-śāstra-guru-vākya. Three things there are for knowledge. Sādhu, saintly person; śāstra, scripture; and guru. So, one statement we have to corroborate with other statement. If you accept somebody as guru, then you have to corroborate it whether śāstra says that he is guru or any saintly person says that he is guru. This is the way. Similarly, when you take a scripture, you have to know it from the spiritual master, whether that is actually scripture, whether it is accepted by the saintly person. Sādhu. Similarly, sādhu also, whether guru says, “Yes, he is sādhu.” Whether śāstra says, “Yes, he is sādhu.” There are three things, sādhu-śāstra-guru. So, to accept one, you have to take the opinion of the other two. Then you’ll get the right way. Just like who is a guru? That is stated in the śāstras. Śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham. Śāstra says, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] “One must approach a guru.” Then the same question comes, “Who is guru?” That is also stated, śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham. “He’s well-versed in Vedas, knowledge of Vedas, and fully Kṛṣṇa conscious.” He is guru. Just like how do you know that here is a medical practitioner? Before going for treatment, you find out. How do you find out?
Śyāmasundara: Some friend, perhaps.
Prabhupāda: Anyway, you have to take information. Similarly, guru, according to śāstra, who is guru, he must be confirmed by sādhu, saintly person, by śāstra. Then he’s guru. Sadhu-śāstra, guru-vākya, tinete kariyā aikya.
Haṁsadūta: What’s the difference between a sādhu and a guru? Sadhu means authorities like Vyāsa?
Prabhupāda: Guru… He must be a sādhu.
Haṁsadūta: It means the previous ācāryas.
Prabhupāda:A sādhu means titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām, ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ [SB 3.25.21]. Everything, there is definition, who is sādhu, who is guru.
Haṁsadūta: Yes.
Prabhupāda: …what is śāstra. Everything is there. You have to know it. What is avatāra. That is my business, how to know. But there is, everything’s there. What… Everyone can know it. Sādhavaḥ, sādhu. Sum and substance of sādhu means devotee. Just like in the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa says, api cet sudurācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ [Bg. 9.30]. “He’s sādhu.” Who? Ananya-bhāk: “Without any diversion of attention, he’s completely engaged in My devotional service… Even if he has got some minor defects, still, because he is completely surrendered and engaged in My service, he’s sādhu.” Sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ [Bg. 9.30]. So this is the test of sādhu. Sādhu means he must be a devotee. Sādhu does not mean having saffron color and long beard and doing all nonsense. No. Sādhu means… First test is that he is unflinching, without any deviation. Api cet sudurā…, bhajate mām ananya-bhāk. Ananya-bhāk means he does not know anything except the service of the Lord. That is the qualification of sādhu. So similarly, in other places also, the definition of sādhu is there. Sādhu means titikṣavaḥ: he’s very tolerant because a sādhu has to face so many opposing elements and sometimes very offensive, but he has to tolerate. Titikṣavaḥ. At the same time, kāruṇikāḥ, very merciful. The same man who is torturing him, torturing him, he is trying to convince him about Kṛṣṇa. That means very merciful. He’s not rejecting. Although he’s torturing him, but he’s trying to convince him, Kṛṣṇa. Therefore kāruṇikāḥ. And he is not friend of any particular society or man. Suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām. He is well-wisher of all living entities. It doesn’t matter whether he’s Indian, American, or black and white. No, no conception. Or even human being or animal. He is kind to everyone, friend, well-wisher of everyone. Ajāta-śatravaḥ. He does not create any enemies. Such… These are the qualifications of sādhu. Śāstra means the transcendental literature, not ordinary writings. That is śāstra. Just like Bhagavad-gītā is śāstra, Veda is śāstra, or Bible, śāstra. Scripture means given by God or His authorized representative. That is śāstra. So sādhu-śāstra-guru. And guru means who is completely devotee of Kṛṣṇa without any material motives. This is sādhu-śāstra-guru.
Some additional quotes-on who gets a bona fide guru or not….
SB 8.24.53 purport-Sometimes it is argued that people do not know who is a spiritual master and that finding a spiritual master from whom to get enlightenment in regard to the destination of life is very difficult. …It is difficult, however, to understand Bhagavad-gītā without the help of the guru. Therefore, the guru appears in the paramparā system. In Bhagavad-gītā (4.34) the Supreme Personality of Godhead recommends: tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” … Where, then, is the difficulty in finding a guru? If one is sincere he can find the guru and learn everything.
———————————-
What follows are many quotes by Srila Prabhupda as to why some people simply do not get a pure devotee of the Lord as their spiritual master. Those of us who have accepted Srila Prabhupada as our guru looks at all the others who have been cheated by imposter gurus in this age and we feel sorry for them. We pray and hope that someday Krsna as supersoul will guide them to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and accept him only as their one and only spiritual guide, master and friend.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
———————————
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
Only that person whom Lord Krishna sends us as spiritual master will manifest before us as our guru. By the Lord’s mercy we attain a spiritual master, and by the spiritual master’s mercy we attain Krishna. We are given a spiritual master according to our fortune.Different people have different mentalities, and the omniscient Lord sends each an appropriate spiritual master. There are those who desire the Lord’s non-duplicitous mercy and who completely depend on him for their success. These souls please the Lord with their simple sincerity. To bestow his mercy upon them, he appears before them personally. To those who want something else from the Lord, who are not actually aspiring for his complete mercy, the Lord sends through his illusory energy a spiritual master appropriate to their mentality.A sincere person never faces difficulty but quickly finds a bona fide guru. — From Amrta Vani, collected teachings of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Compiled in Bengali by Sri Bhakti Bhagavat Mayukha Maharaja. Adapted and translated into English by Bhumipati Das and Isvara Das. Touchstone Media. Mumbai. 2004. Page 28.
———————————————————————
Morning Walk—December 7, 1973, Los Angeles:
Bali Mardana: If someone is actually sincere, can he be cheated or will he always get a bona fide guru?
Prabhupāda: No, if he is sincere he’ll get. Yes. Guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Guru and Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is within you. As soon as He sees that you are sincere, He’ll give you the right person.
Bali Mardana: So, if you are not completely sincere, you might get a Guru Maharaji.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Bali Mardana: If you’re not completely sincere, you might get someone else.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Because you want to be cheated, you go to the cheater. That’s all. Ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham [Bg. 4.11]. Kṛṣṇa is intelligent, super intelligent. If you are a cheater, He’ll cheat you. He’ll cheat you. First-class cheat, Kṛṣṇa. But if you’re actually sincere, then He’ll give you the right thing. That is stated in the Bhag…, mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: [Bg. 15.15] “Everything is coming from Me: smṛtiḥ, remembrance, and forgetfulness.” If you are a cheater, Kṛṣṇa will give you such intelligence, you’ll forget Kṛṣṇa forever.
Dr. Wolfe: Śrīla Prabhupāda, so it is so, “Birds of a feather flock together.” The cheaters flock together.
Prabhupāda: Yes. “Birds of the same feather flock together.”
TLC 18–Unless one is under the shelter of a realized spiritual master, his understanding of the Supreme is simply foolishness.
Yaśomatīnandana: Sometimes they even say that “You have your guru and I have my guru. It’s all the same thing.”
Prabhupāda: Yes, and a thief has also a guru. Then that guru is also the same thing. (Hindi) Here guru means tasmād gurum prapadyeta jijñāsur śreya uttaman [SB 11.3.21]. (Hindi) Nāpnuvanti mahātmānam saṁsiddhiṁ paramaṁ gataḥ. SP conv Nov 14, 1975
TEXT 13–TRANSLATION–Sometimes, to mitigate distresses in this forest of the material world, the conditioned soul receives cheap blessings from atheists. He then loses all intelligence in their association. This is exactly like jumping in a shallow river. As a result, one simply breaks his head. He is not able to mitigate his sufferings from the heat, and in both ways, he suffers. The misguided conditioned soul also approaches so-called sādhus and svāmīs who preach against the principles of the Vedas. He does not receive benefit from them, either in the present or in the future.
PURPORT-Cheaters are always there to manufacture their own way of spiritual realization. To get some material benefit, the conditioned soul approaches these pseudo sannyāsīs and yogīs for cheap blessings, but he does not receive any benefit from them, either spiritual or material. In this age there are many cheaters who show some jugglery and magic. They even create gold to amaze their followers, and their followers accept them as God. This type of cheating is very prominent in Kali-yuga. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes the real guru in this way.saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvamprāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
One should approach a guru who can extinguish the blazing fire of this material world, the struggle for existence.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.3.21) gives similar advice:
tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta
jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ
brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
“Any person who seriously desires to achieve real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of his spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters.” …
“Now, to take such guidance means the spiritual master should also be a very perfect man. Otherwise, how can he guide? … Therefore, one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you’ll not commit a mistake. You see? Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So, one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master.” Lectures: Bhagavad-gita 2.7-11 — New York, March 2, 1966
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, why has it taken so long for a pure devotee to come to the West? Has the West been so sinful that no pure devotee has come before Your Divine Grace?
Prabhupada: Don’t be sorry. At that time, you were so sinful that you could not receive a pure devotee.
Devotee: Yes. Once in a lecture a lady asked you why hadn’t you come sooner, and you just said, “Well, you weren’t ready for me.”
Prabhupada: Yes, “Because you were not ready.” Yes, I told. Yes. Now the Western boys, the descendant of the Western people, they are fortunate; therefore, they receive Kṛṣṇa. Kona bhāgyavān jīva (CC Madhya 19.151). It is Kṛṣṇa’s desire that “These people are suffering so much; let some devotees come here.” So, you are all devotees. You have come to join together.
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Los Angeles, December 7, 1973)
“You have asked ‘How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple?’ You should know that the value of accepting a bonafide spiritual master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality. Of course everyone is encouraged to chant Hare Krishna, but until one gives up sinful activities and becomes determined to serve Krishna through His representative then the firm fixing up of devotional service will not take hold, and there is every chance that one will fall prey to all sorts of material desires and have to come back again in the next life—and one cannot guarantee that he will be born in the form of life he may desire.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Ravendra Gupta, February 12, 1974)
SSR 2
Reporter: Don’t you feel that people are suspicious because of their experience with fake gurus? If you went to a quack dentist and he broke your tooth, you might be suspicious about going to another dentist.
Śrīla Prabhupāda: Yes. Naturally, if you are cheated, you become suspicious. But this does not mean that if you are cheated once, you will always be cheated. You should find someone genuine. But to come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you must be either very fortunate or well aware of this science.
Reporter: I wondered how many people you think might have been taken in by fake gurus.
Śrīla Prabhupāda: Practically everyone. [Laughter.] There is no question of counting. Everyone.
Reporter: This would mean thousands of people, wouldn’t it?
Śrīla Prabhupāda: Millions. Millions have been cheated, because they want to be cheated. God is omniscient. He can understand your desires. He is within your heart, and if you want to be cheated, God sends you a cheater.
June 30 1974 letterAs far as my blessing is concerned it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krishna there and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krsna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Caitanya whose mission I am humbly trying to push on.
Sri Gopala Bhatta Tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] Wednesday, July 28, 2021 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata bhumi] Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami 1503-1578
Gopala Bhatta Goswami (1503–1578) is one of the foremost disciples of the Vaishnavasaint, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and a leading historical figure in the Gaudiya Vaishnava school of Vedanta. He was part of a group of Vaishnava devotees known collectively as the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, who were influential in establishing the philosophical basis of the Gaudiya tradition in formalised writings. śrī-gopāla bhaṭṭa eka śākhā sarvottamarūpa-sanātana-saṅge yāṅra prema-ālāpanaSYNONYMSśrī–gopālabhaṭṭa—of the name Śrī GopālaBhaṭṭa; eka—one; śākhā—branch; sarva–uttama—very exalted; rūpa—of the name Rūpa; sanātana—of the name Sanātana; saṅge—company; yāṅra—whose; prema—love of Godhead; ālāpana—discussion. TRANSLATIONŚrī GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches of the tree. He always engaged in discourses about love of Godhead in the company of Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī. PURPORT Śrī GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was the son of Veṅkata Bhaṭṭa, a resident of Śrīraṅgam. GopālaBhaṭṭa formerly belonged to the disciplic succession of the Rāmānuja-sampradāya but later became part of the Gauḍīya–sampradāya. In the year 1433 śakābda (A.D. 1512), when Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu was touring South India, He stayed for four months during the period of Cāturmāsya at the house of Veṅkata Bhaṭṭa, who then got the opportunity to serve the Lord to his heart’s content. GopālaBhaṭṭa also got the opportunity to serve the Lord at this time. Śrī GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was later initiated by his uncle, the great sannyāsī Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī. Both the father and mother of GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī were extremely fortunate, for they dedicated their entire lives to the service of Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu. They allowed GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī to go to Vṛndāvana, and they gave up their lives thinking of Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu. When Lord Caitanya was later informed that GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī had gone to Vṛndāvana and met Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmī, He was very pleased, and He advised Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana to accept GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī as their younger brother and take care of him. Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, out of his great affection for GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, compiled the Vaiṣṇavasmṛti named Hari–bhakti–vilāsa and published it under his name. Under the instruction of Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana, GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī installed one of the seven principal Deities of Vṛndāvana, the Rādhāramaṇa Deity. The sevaits (priests) of the Rādhāramaṇa temple belong to the Gauḍīya–sampradāya. When KṛṣṇadāsaKavirāja Gosvāmī took permission from all the Vaiṣṇavas before writing ŚrīCaitanya–caritāmṛta,GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī also gave him his blessings, but he requested him not to mention his name in the book. Therefore KṛṣṇadāsaKavirāja Gosvāmī has mentioned GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī only very cautiously in one or two passages of the Caitanya–caritāmṛta. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has written in the beginning of his Tattva–sandarbha, “A devotee from southern India who was born of a brāhmaṇa family and was a very intimate friend of Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī has written a book that he has not compiled chronologically. Therefore I, a tiny living entity known as jīva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of great personalities like Madhvācārya, Śrīdhara Svāmī, Rāmānujācārya and other senior Vaiṣṇavas in the disciplic succession.” In the beginning of the Bhagavat–sandarbha there are similar statements by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. Śrīla GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī compiled a book called Sat–kriyā–sāra-dīpikā, edited the Hari–bhakti–vilāsa, wrote a forword to the Ṣaṭ-sandarbha and a commentary on the Kṛṣṇa–karṇāmṛta, and installed the Rādhāramaṇa Deity in Vṛndāvana. In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 184, it is mentioned that his previous name in the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa was Anaṅga–mañjarī. Sometimes he is also said to have been an incarnation of Guṇa–mañjarī. Śrīnivāsa Ācārya and GopīnāthaPūjārī were two of his disciples. Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi-Lila 10.105 Śrī Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa was a Vaiṣṇavabrāhmaṇa and an inhabitant of Śrī Raṅga–kṣetra. He belonged to the disciplic succession of Śrī Rāmānujācārya. Śrī Raṅga is one of the places of pilgrimage in the province of Tāmil Naduś. The inhabitants of that province do not retain the name Veṅkaṭa. It is therefore supposed that Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa did not belong to that province, although he may have been residing there for a very long time. Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa was in a branch of the Rāmānuja-sampradāya known as Baḍagala-i. He had a brother in the Rāmānuja-sampradāya known as Śrīpāda Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī. The son of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa was later known in the Gauḍīya–sampradāya as GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, and he established the Rādhāramaṇa temple in Vṛndāvana. More information about him may be found in a book known as Bhakti-ratnākara, by NarahariCakravartī. Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya-Lila 9.82 Many devotees of Lord Caitanya like Śrīla Vṛndāvanadāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Locanadāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīla KṛṣṇadāsaKavirāja Gosvāmī, Śrī Kavikarṇapūra, Śrī Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī RaghunāthaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrī GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī and in this latter age within two hundred years, Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, Śrī Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and at last Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura (our spiritual master) and many other great and renowned scholars and devotees of the Lord have prepared voluminous books and literatures on the life and precepts of the Lord. Such literatures are all based on the śāstras like the Vedas, Purāṇas, Upaniṣads, Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata and other histories and authentic literatures approved by the recognized ācāryas. They are unique in composition and unrivaled in presentation, and they are full of transcendental knowledge. Unfortunately, the people of the world are still ignorant of them, but when these literatures, which are mostly in Sanskrit and Bengali, come to light the world and when they are presented before thinking people, then India’s glory and the message of love will overflood this morbid world, which is vainly searching after peace and prosperity by various illusory methods not approved by the ācāryas in the chain of disciplic succession. Srimad-Bhagavatam Intruduction If a person is Kṛṣṇa conscious, he can work like a young man even if he is seventy-five or eighty years old. Thus, the daughter of Kāla (Time) cannot overcome a Vaiṣṇava. Śrīla KṛṣṇadāsaKavirāja Gosvāmī engaged in writing Caitanya–caritāmṛta when he was very old, yet he presented the most wonderful literature about the activities of Lord Caitanya. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī began their spiritual lives at a very old age, that is, after they retired from their occupations and family lives. Yet they presented many valuable literatures for the advancement of spiritual life. This is confirmed by Śrīla Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, who praised the Gosvāmīs in this way: nānā–śāstra-vicāraṇaika-nipuṇau sad–dharma-saṁsthāpakau lokānāṁhita-kāriṇau tri–bhuvane mānyau śaraṇyākarau rādhā–kṛṣṇa-padāravinda-bhajanānandena mattālikau vanderūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī–jīva-gopālakau“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvāmīs, namely Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī RaghunāthaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī and Śrī GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. Thus they are honored all over the three worlds, and they are worth taking shelter of because they are absorbed in the mood of the gopīs and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.” Srimad-Bhagavatam purport 4.27.24 Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami as instructor guru of Krsna dasa Kavirajaśrī-rūpa, sanātana, bhaṭṭa-raghunāthaśrī-jīva, gopāla-bhaṭṭa, dāsa-raghunātha SYNONYMSśrī–rūpa—Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; sanātana—Sanātana Gosvāmī; bhaṭṭa–raghunātha—RaghunāthaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī; śrī–jīva—Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī; gopāla–bhaṭṭa—GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī; dāsa–raghunātha—Śrīla Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī. TRANSLATIONThe instructing spiritual masters are Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī BhaṭṭaRaghunātha, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrī GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī.Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi-Lila 1.36 Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami and Prakasanana SarasvatiIn this connection it may be mentioned that sometimes the sahajiyā class of devotees opine that PrakāśānandaSarasvatī and Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī are the same man. Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī was a great Vaiṣṇava devotee of Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu, but PrakāśānandaSarasvatī, the head of the Māyāvādīsannyāsīs in Benares, was a different person. Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī belonged to the Rāmānuja-sampradāya, whereas PrakāśānandaSarasvatī belonged to the Śaṅkarācārya-sampradāya. Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī wrote a number of books, among which are the Caitanya-candrāmṛta, Rādhā–rasa–sudhā–nidhi, Saṅgīta–mādhava, Vṛndāvana-śataka and Navadvīpa-śataka. While traveling in southern India, CaitanyaMahāprabhu met Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, who had two brothers, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa and Tirumalaya Bhaṭṭa, who were Vaiṣṇavas of the Rāmānuja-sampradāya. GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was the nephew of Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī. From historical records it is found that Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu traveled in South India in the year 1433 śakābda (A.D. 1511) during the Cāturmāsya period, and it was at that time that He met Prabodhānanda, who belonged to the Rāmānuja-sampradāya. How then could the same person meet Him as a member of the Śaṅkara-sampradāya in 1435 śakābda, two years later? It is to be concluded that the guess of the sahijiyā-sampradāya that Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī and PrakāśānandaSarasvatī were the same man is a mistaken idea. Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi-Lila 7.149 Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami constructed the temple of RadhaRamanaWhen Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana, there was not a single temple, but by their preaching they were gradually able to construct various temples. Sanātana Gosvāmī constructed the Madana–mohana temple, and Rūpa Gosvāmī constructed the Govindajī temple. Similarly, their nephew Jīva Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā–Dāmodara temple, Śrī GopālaBhaṭṭa Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā–ramaṇa temple, Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī constructed the Gokulānanda temple, and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī constructed the Śyāmasundara temple. In this way, many temples were gradually constructed. For preaching, construction of temples is also necessary. The Gosvāmīs not only engaged in writing books but also constructed temples because both are needed for preaching work. Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi-Lila 7.164
Srila Prabhupada – “I say straightly that those who comment on Bhagavad-gītā according to their own whims, they’re all rascals.”Lecture BG 07.03 – Montreal – June 3, 1968 What is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness? This Kṛṣṇa consciousness is nothing, is simply a drop in the ocean of these great literatures. Just like there is vast Atlantic Ocean in front of your country, and if you take one drop of Atlantic Ocean water and taste it, then you can understand at least what is the taste of this Atlantic Ocean. That is a fact. If you are intelligent enough, by tasting one drop of water of the Atlantic Ocean you can understand that the taste of the Atlantic Ocean is salty.
Similarly, this Bhagavad-gītā is the essence of all Vedic literature, just like milk is the essence of the blood. Blood . . . the milk is nothing, but it is cow’s blood transformed. Just like mother’s milk. The mother’s milk, wherefrom it comes? It comes from the blood, but transformed in such a way that it becomes nutritious to the child, tasteful to the child. Similarly, cow’s milk also, a most nutritious and valuable food. So it is compared that this Bhagavad-gītā is the milk of the cow of Vedic literature. And the milkman is Kṛṣṇa Himself. And the drinker of the milk is we are—Arjuna, through Arjuna. So these things are there.
So this Bhagavad-gītā is the essence of the Atlantic Ocean of Vedic literature, and this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means that we are presenting the . . . that taste of Bhagavad-gītā to the world as it is, without any interpretation. Just like milk, if you get it directly from the milk bag of the cow and taste it, you’ll find very nice. But if you take it and adulterate with something, water, then it is not so tasteful. Similarly, Bhagavad-gītā, if you understand as it is, then you can have the taste of the milk.
But as there are many rascal commentators . . . I say straightly that those who comment on Bhagavad-gītā according to their own whims, they’re all rascals. Just like milk, if you adulterate with water, the taste is gone, and the man who adulterates milk with water, he’s a rascal. He’s condemned. Similarly, Bhagavad-gītā, if you taste as it is, oh, then you’ll relish what is that Vedic knowledge, what is that essence of brahma-saukhyam. You can understand.
So, many people in America, since I came here they asked me to recommend an edition of Bhagavad-gītā in English. There are so many editions of Bhagavad-gītā in your country. Some of them are compiled by your countrymen, some of them compiled by Indians, but all of them different interpretation. Different interpretation. But we should not accept Bhagavad-gītā in different interpretation. We should accept Bhagavad-gītā as it is. Then we can relish.
So we shall very shortly present our Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. It has been taken by Messrs. Macmillan and Company to publish it. Most probably in the month of October it will be published. So I shall request you to read Bhagavad-gītā as it is, without any interpretation. Just like I’ll give you some examples. The first verse of Bhagavad-gītā is stated as follows:
The first word is dharma-kṣetra. The second word is kuru-kṣetra. Now, the meaning is that Kurukṣetra is a place which is considered as the holy place of pilgrimage. Now, this dharma-kṣetra, kuru-kṣetra, is still present. Even in the modern day, if you go to India, it is about hundred miles from New Delhi. There is a place, Kurukṣetra, and which is, according to Hindu rites, Vedic rites, that is a place of pilgrimage. Many people go there, to the sacred place. And in the Vedic literature it is stated that kuru-kṣetre dharmaṁ yājayet: “If you want to perform religious rites, then you should perform at Kurukṣetra.”
So Kurukṣetra is a place of pilgrimage; that is a fact. But unfortunately, even a great man like Mahatma Gandhi, he comments that “Kurukṣetra means this body.” “Kurukṣetra means this body.” Now, wherefrom he got this meaning, “Kurukṣetra means this body,” which is that dictionary, I do not know. But he has interpreted in that way. Similarly, in Dr. Radhakrishnan’s book also the translation is . . . Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru (BG 18.65): “My dear Arjuna, you just always think of Me, you just become My devotee, you just offer your all obeisances unto Me, and the result will be that you’ll come to Me, without any doubt.” That means you’ll come to the spiritual planets.
So “Come to Me . . .” Kṛṣṇa lives in Vaikuṇṭha or Goloka Vṛndāvana. These are Vedic literatures’ statement. So how you go to Kṛṣṇa? Kṛṣṇa was there. So what is meant by “come to Me undoubtedly”? Oh, he has . . . he was already there before Kṛṣṇa. Arjuna was already there. What does it mean, “come to Me”? That He has got His own place. That is also stated in the Bhagavad . . . mad-dhāma gatvā punar janma na vidyate (BG 9.25): “Anyone who comes to My place, My abode, he never goes back.”
So in this way, if we accept Bhagavad-gītā as it is . . . but this special verse, man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ, is interpreted by Dr. Radhakrishnan, “It is not up to Kṛṣṇa that we have to surrender.” Now see. Kṛṣṇa says: “directly unto Me,” but he says: “It is not to Kṛṣṇa.” In this way, in different books you’ll find different kind of interpretations. Why? The Bhagavad-gītā is very popular book, and if one has got some nonsense idea, he wants to put forward that nonsense idea through Bhagavad-gītā.
This is going on. But if you want to taste Bhagavad-gītā, then you should accept as it is. Then you’ll relish and you’ll get the benefit. By reading of Bhagavad-gītā, or the essence knowledge, quintessence of all Vedic literature, if you want to taste, just read Bhagavad-gītā as it is and you will be benefited.
So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means that we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā as it is, and in a practical way. Just like we are recommending the members of the Society to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ (BG 9.14): “Those who are mahātmās, great souls, they are always engaged in glorifying Me.” Satatam. Satatam means always. And who is a mahātmā? Oh. We have got conception that Mahatma Gandhi, a great politician, he is called mahātmā. But in the Bhagavad-gītā the definition of mahātmā is different. In the Bhagavad-gītā you’ll find, mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ (BG 9.13): “One who is mahātmā, he is not under the control of this material nature. He is under the protection of the spiritual nature.” Daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ.
Nectar of Instruction 1986 edition changes: BBT has deleted Sanskrit verses, color plates, references, index,Sanskrit pronunciation guide and glossary from Srila Prabhupada’s Nectar of Instruction
In future you don’t do any changes without asking me first. [Letter: Bhargava, May 29,1976]
Do not try to change anything without my permission. [Letter to Radhavallabha, Aug 26, 1976]
The next printing should be again to the original way. [SrilaPrabhupada Conversation, “Rascal Editors,”June 22, 1977, Vrndavana]
Prabhupāda: Yes. I have given glossary. You can follow that principle. Yes. And at the end of each book, glossary, index, will carry weight. [Conversation A – Boston – December 24,1969]
When did Srila Prabhupada ever even ask to change the front cover for this book? Instruction from Srila Prabhupada regarding cover change:“No, the printing of the Gitar-gan cover this fashion is not at all approved by me. You have done most nonsensically. Why change the cover? When people look to see the Bhagavad-gita they expect to see Krishna and Arjuna, not the picture of Krishna with cow. You have done a great mistake by changing the front picture and it will hamper the sale. In future you don’t do any changes without asking me first. Simply because there is no stock of books, we can do anything whimsically??? Is this logic? Gita is not spoken in Vrindaban, it is spoken on the battlefield of Kuruksetra, but this is Vrindaban picture. That chariot driven by 4 horses, that is the real Kuruksetra picture. It is not that because there is no stock we can do whimsically as we like and lose the idea, that is rasa-bhasa. Because there is no bread, you take stone to eat? There is no stock of bread so you will take stone??? The front picture is most important thing and you have changed it. It must remain standard, and not change. Also, the lettering is not nice on the cover. You could have taken a color picture of Krishna and Arjuna and used it black and white (one color) on the front cover. Just as you did with the inside back cover of the Bhagavat darsana, the original picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in color but you have printed it in black and white. You could have done this on the front cover with Krishna and Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, but the cover must not be changed. [Letter: Bhargava, May 29, 1976] Srila Prabhupada speaks about the excellency of his original “Nectar of Instruction”. The Nectar of Instruction has come out very nice. It is very important and must be immediately read by all devotees. In the near future we shall introduce the Bhaktishastri examination for second initiation and this shall be one of the required books of study. Anyone who reads it will immediately understand what Krishna Consciousness is. Some minister in Bombay recently asked me how to create morality amongst the students, because the students are all vagabounds. If this book is introduced for study in the schools and colleges it will give a clear idea of what morality actually is. It is a most important book. [5th January 1976 – Letter to Radhavallabha written from Nellore] The same changed book is sold on amazon websites(1986 or even later editions):https://www.amazon.com/Nectar-Instruction-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0912776854/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= https://www.amazon.in/Nectar-Instruction-C-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/9383095008
Analysis of changes: 1. Removal of Sanskrit Devanagari scripts in the revised editions Only text one is shown here. The Sanskrit is removed for all verses. Why are these book changes whimsically doing anything they want with the books? Where did Srila Prabhupada ever mention that this Sanskrit must be cut out? I am expecting this printing of our literature, especially Srimad Bhagavatam, with devanagari type and diacritic transliteration will be completely entrusted to you. So you cannot type everything from the IBM. That is not possible. In the IBM machine you shall do the English work and the diacritic transliteration work. So far as the devanagari type is concerned, you have to do it with the help of another machine, and either you will have to paste on the lines or adopt some other device so that they can be joined. That shall be the process. But if we publish our Srimad Bhagavatam exactly in the way I have already begun it, it will be a unique contribution. The scholars only require diacritic marks. Then it is all right. That should be very correct and standard. If there is devanagari character it is still better.
[July 24,1969 – Letter to Pradyumna written from Los Angeles] Here we see that Srila Prabhupada emphasizes on being able to read books both in English and Sanskrit.
This is the perfection of education. Gurukula education should be trained up for their character. I have already mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Simply they should be able to read our books in english and sanskrit, and explain. That is compulsory. [June 24,1976 – Letter to Gopala Krishna written from New Vrindaban, USA]Sanskrit should be compulsory for all our children to learn, and anyone who has elementary knowledge of alphabet and grammar can begin to teach it.[February 28,1972 – Letter to Satsvarupa written from Mayapur]
2. Removing many colour plates and changing the retained ones The original book contains 7 plates, where the revised book contains only 4 plates. Where are the rest gone and why were they removed? Deleted plates: Sri Radha Govind Temple Building PlateSri Radha Govinda Deities PlateLord Krsna lifting Govardhan Hill
Our literature is not sentimental stories. It is meant to be understood by the intelligent class of men. Children and those with child-like mentalities will do better to chant “Hare Krishna” and take prasadam. We cannot water down the philosophy to make it more palatable. Our books must remain as they are. Do not waste your time anymore with such attempts. We are not going to publish it. Whatever books we have got, let them try to understand, and if they cannot then let them chant “Hare Krishna” and take prasadam. (Letter to Lilavati, Mar 31, 1977)3. Removing the references, index, Sanskrit pronunciation guide and glossary Hayagrīva: You have a glossary at the end of the first volume. Is that the type of glossary . . .? Prabhupāda: Yes. I have given glossary. You can follow that principle. Yes. And at the end of each book, glossary, index, will carry weight.
[Conversation A – Boston – December 24,1969] Their last part of the book contains none of the items mentioned above. Why did they remove the Sanskrit index, pronunciation guide, glossary and the references? DId Srila Prabhupada ever approve of deleting anything whimsically? Let us have a look at the table of contents where there is no mention of these things.The left side has the original book, and the right side has the changed book.
————————————————————————————————- Some more quotes against unauthorized book changes:
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Oh, yes. They change so many things in our article. And it was on the telephone. I was speaking to him in Atlanta from Los Angeles. And I told him that “This article should not be printed because they have made so many changes.” And I didn’t like that. Then they answered that “It has already been offset, and BBT policy is always to be rushing. It’s always BBT policy.” Then I told him that “If you sacrifice quality on the strength of rushing, then it is your business, but that’s not my way, so please don’t print it.” But in any case, they have printed anyway that article. And we all had a bad reaction.
Prabhupāda: So you bring this to Satsvarūpa. They cannot change anything. Prabhupada: The rascal editors, they are doing havoc.
Yasoda-nandana: Sometimes they appeal that “We can make better English,” so they change like that, just like in the case of Isopanisad. There are over a hundred changes. So where is the need? Your words are sufficient. The potency is there. When they change, it is something else.
Svarupa Damodara: That’s actually a very dangerous mentality. Yasoda-nandana: What is it going to be in five years? It’s going to be a different book.
Prabhupada: So you… What you are going… It is very serious situation. You write one letter that “Why you have made so many changes?” And whom to write? Who will care? All rascals are there. Write to Satsvarupa that “This is the position. They are doing anything and everything at their whim.” The next printing should be again to the original way.
Tamala Krsna: They should have a board of Satsvarupa and Jayadvaita. Prabhupada: Hm. Tamala Krsna: Those two men are both in Los Angeles now.
Prabhupada: So write them immediately that . “The rascal editors, they are doing havoc, and they are being maintained by Ramesvara and party.” [SrilaPrabhupada Conversation, “Rascal Editors,”June 22, 1977, Vrndavana] You may title this book, Teachings of Lord Kapila, but it must be subtitled, “The Son of Devahuti”. That will remain, do not try to change it. The Americans may like it or not like it, but we must make the distinction between devahuti putra kapila, and the atheistic Kapila. Do not try to change anything without my permission.”[Letter to Radhavallabha, Aug 26, 1976] “Our literature is not sentimental stories. It is meant to be understood by the intelligent class of men. Children and those with child-like mentalities will do better to chant “Hare Krishna” and take prasadam. We cannot water down the philosophy to make it more palatable. Our books must remain as they are. Do not waste your time anymore with such attempts. We are not going to publish it. Whatever books we have got, let them try to understand, and if they cannot then let them chant “Hare Krishna” and take prasadam. Hoping this finds you and your husband well.” [Letter to Lilavati — Bombay 31 March, 1977] “He should not think his authority mistake. He’s such irresponsible man. He should not be given any responsible work. Our first business should see how he is advanced in devotion. We don’t want so-called scholars.“ [Room Conversation — February 27, 1977, Mayapura] Prabhupāda: No, no. First thing is that when you speak of Bhagavad-gītā, it is spoken by Kṛṣṇa. So why there is no Kṛṣṇa photograph?
Guest (1): They didn’t put the picture.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That means you have not understood Kṛṣṇa. Therefore your . . . this so-called Gītā Society is not bona fide. At least even in ordinary feature, suppose if there is political meeting, you keep Gandhi, this photo, Jawaharlal Nehru’s photo, because they are the political leaders. You are preaching Bhagavad-gītā, Gītā-Samītī, and there is not a single picture of Kṛṣṇa.
Guest (1): There is little misunderstanding, that Gītā-Jayantī is for . . .
Prabhupāda: No, first of all answer me this question, then you go to Gītā Jayantī. That, your Samītī is Gītā Samītī, and there is not a single picture of Kṛṣṇa. Yes.
Guest (1): We don’t know about that one.
Prabhupāda: You were not there present? Oh. That’s not . . . I think you were present.
Guest (2): . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: This is misguided.
Guest (2): I never gone there, never been there. They have just named it Gītā Bhavan, that’s all.
Prabhupāda: This is misguided. That’s all. Now, “Gītā Bhavan,” and they have invited me because we are teaching Bhagavad-gītā, and that was Gītā’s jayantī—and the speaker of Gītā is not present? Therefore I say that there are so many places—here also—they are wrongly representing Bhagavad-gītā. So our position is to rectify that wrong propaganda of Bhagavad-gītā.
Guest (2): So that is what we want to know. What is that wrong propaganda?
Prabhupāda: That is one of the instance. There are many instances, many instances, many instances. Just like Dr. Radhakrishnan. In the Ninth Chapter there is verse, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru (BG 18.65). Radhakrishnan says, “It is not to the person Kṛṣṇa.” Where he gets this nonsense idea?
Guest (1): No, that Vivekananda also has said.
Prabhupāda: They are all nonsense! Therefore I say they are all nonsense, who deviates from the original text of the Bhagavad-gītā.
Guest (2): Swāmījī, by declaring other interpretation as nonsense, you do not . . .
Prabhupāda: Yes! You cannot interpret! First of all if you cannot interpret. First of all my proposal, that you cannot interpret.
Guest (2): We’ll come to that, that you are not interpreting correctly does not make me correct. I must be correct also to . . .
Prabhupāda: I am correct so long I present the correct thing, so long I am . . . if I present Kṛṣṇa as it is, then I am correct.
Guest (2): My solution, Swāmījī, most respectfully, is how do you judge that “I am correct”?
Prabhupāda: Because I am presenting what Kṛṣṇa says. First of all you answer this: What is correct, the standard of correctness? You cannot create correctness. When Kṛṣṇa says this, man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ, “You just surrender unto Me, become My bhakta,” how you can say: “It is not to Kṛṣṇa”? This is not nonsense? If I say, “Give me a glass of . . .” Just hear me. If I say, “Give me a glass of water,” if you say, “It is not to Swāmījī,” is that interpretation? [Conversation, ALLAHABAD – January 18, 1971] Conclusion: From this it looks like it has become an aim of some people to destroy all Srila Prabhupada’s original books and change whatever they want in their own whimsical ways. There is a huge need for all of us to stick to the first edition books and stop the book changes in all possible ways. Therefore,it is our duty to stop this cheating immediately and restore what Srila Prabhupada had published in the exact “As It Is” manner.
Friday, July 16, 2021, Disappearance day of Sri Vakresvara Pandita Srila Prabhupada explains the Glories to Sri Vakresvara Pandita, compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
śrīvāsa, haridāsa, rāmadāsa, gadādharamurāri, mukunda, candraśekhara, vakreśvarae-saba paṇḍita-loka parama-mahattvacaitanyera dāsye sabāya karaye unmattaSYNONYMSśrīvāsa—Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; rāmadāsa—Rāmadāsa; gadādhara—Gadādhara; murāri—Murāri; mukunda—Mukunda; candraśekhara—Candraśekhara; vakreśvara—Vakreśvara; e-saba—all of them; paṇḍita-loka—very learned scholars; parama-mahattva—very much glorified; caitanyera—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dāsye—the servitude; sabāya—all of them; karayeunmatta—makes mad. TRANSLATIONŚrīvāsa, Haridāsa, Rāmadāsa, Gadādhara, Murāri, Mukunda, Candraśekhara and Vakreśvara are all glorious and are all learned scholars, but the sentiment of servitude to Lord Caitanya makes them mad in ecstasy.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 6: The Glories of Sri Advaita Acarya : Adi 6.49-50 vakreśvara paṇḍita--prabhura baḍa priya bhṛtyaeka-bhāve cabbiśa prahara yāṅra nṛtya SYNONYMS vakreśvara paṇḍita—of the name Vakreśvara Paṇḍita; prabhura—of the Lord; baḍa—very; priya—dear; bhṛtya—servant; eka-bhāve—continuously in the same ecstasy; cabbiśa—twenty-four; prahara—a duration of time comprising three hours; yāṅra—whose; nṛtya—dancing. TRANSLATION Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, the fifth branch of the tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Caitanya’s. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. PURPORT
In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 71, it is stated that Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was an incarnation of Aniruddha, one of the quadruple expansions of Viṣṇu (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Aniruddha and Pradyumna). He could dance wonderfully for seventy-two continuous hours. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu played in dramatic performances in the house of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was one of the chief dancers, and he danced continuously for that length of time. Śrī Govinda dāsa, an Oriyā devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, has described the life of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita in his book Gaura-kṛṣṇodaya. There are many disciples of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita in Orissa, and they are known as Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas although they are Oriyās. Among these disciples are Śrī Gopālaguru and his disciple Śrī Dhyānacandra Gosvāmī Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.17 :
āpane mahāprabhu gāya yāṅra nṛtya-kāleprabhura caraṇa dhari’ vakreśvara bale SYNONYMS āpane—personally; mahāprabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gāya—sang; yāṅra—whose; nṛtya-kāle—at the time of dancing; prabhura—of the Lord; caraṇa—lotus feet; dhari‘-embracing; vakreśvara—Vakreśvara Paṇḍita; bale—said. TRANSLATION Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally sang while Vakreśvara Paṇḍita danced, and thus Vakreśvara Paṇḍita fell at the lotus feet of the Lord and spoke as follows.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.18
“daśa-sahasra gandharva more deha’ candramukhatārā gāya, muñi nācoṅ–tabe mora sukha” SYNONYMS daśa-sahasra—ten thousand; gandharva—residents of Gandharvaloka; more—unto me; deha‘-please deliver; candra-mukha—O moon-faced one; tārāgāya—let them sing; muñi nācoṅ—let me dance; tabe—then; mora—my; sukha—happiness.TRANSLATION “O Candramukha! Please give me ten thousand Gandharvas. Let them sing as I dance, and then I will be greatly happy.” PURPORTThe Gandharvas, who are residents of Gandharvaloka, are celebrated as celestial singers. Whenever singing is needed in the celestial planets, the Gandharvas are invited to sing. The Gandharvas can sing continuously for days, and therefore Vakreśvara Paṇḍita wanted to dance as they sang.975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.19 bhāgavatī devānanda vakreśvara-kṛpātebhāgavatera bhakti-artha pāila prabhu haiteSYNONYMSbhāgavatī devānanda—Devānanda, who used to recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam;vakreśvara-kṛpāte—by the mercy of Vakreśvara; bhāgavatera—of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam;bhakti-artha—the bhakti interpretation; pāila—got; prabhuhaite—from the Lord.TRANSLATIONDevānanda Paṇḍita was a professional reciter of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but by the mercy of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita and the grace of the Lord he understood the devotional interpretation of the Bhāgavatam.PURPORTIn the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-līlā, Chapter Twenty-one, it is stated that Devānanda Paṇḍita and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s father, Viśārada, lived in the same village. Devānanda Paṇḍita was a professional reciter of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not like his interpretation of it. In the present town of Navadvīpa, which was formerly known as Kuliyā, Lord Caitanya showed such mercy to him that he gave up the Māyāvādī interpretation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and learned how to explain Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in terms of bhakti. Formerly, when Devānanda was expounding the Māyāvādī interpretation, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura was once present in his meeting, and when he began to cry, Devānanda’s students drove him away. Some days later, Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed that way, and when He met Devānanda He chastised him severely because of his Māyāvāda interpretation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. At that time Devānanda had little faith in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as an incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa, but one night some time later Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was a guest in his house, and when he explained the science of Kṛṣṇa, Devānanda was convinced about the identity of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus he was induced to explain Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam according to the Vaiṣṇava understanding In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 106, it is described that he was formerly Bhāguri Muni, who was the sabhā-paṇḍita who recited Vedic literature in the house of Nanda Mahārāja. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.77
The three brothers Govinda, Mādhava and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa all belonged to a kāyastha family. Govinda established the Gopīnātha temple in Agradvīpa, where he resided. Mādhava Ghoṣa was expert in performing kīrtana. No one within this world could compete with him. He was known as the singer of Vṛndāvana and was very dear to Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. It is said that when the three brothers performed saṅkīrtana, immediately Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda would dance in ecstasy. According to the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (188), the three brothers were formerly Kalāvatī, Rasollāsā and Guṇatuṅgā, who recited the songs composed by Śrī Viśākhā-gopī. The three brothers were among one of the seven parties that performed kīrtana when Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu attended the Ratha-yātrā festival at Jagannātha Purī. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was the chief dancer in their party. This is vividly described in the Madhya-līlā, Chapter Thirteen, verses 42 and 43. Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.115 : PURPORT :
kāśī-miśra, pradyumna-miśra, rāya bhavānandayāṅhāra milane prabhu pāilā ānandaSYNONYMSkāśī-miśra—of the name Kāśī Miśra; pradyumna-miśra—of the name Pradyumna Miśra; rāyabhavānanda—of the name Bhavānanda Rāya; yāṅhāra—of whom; milane—meeting; prabhu—the Lord; pāilā—got; ānanda—great pleasure.TRANSLATIONIn the list of devotees at Jagannātha Purī [which begins with Paramānanda Purī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Gopīnātha Ācārya], Kāśī Miśra was the fifth, Pradyumna Miśra the sixth and Bhavānanda Rāya the seventh. Lord Caitanya took great pleasure in meeting with them.PURPORTIn Jagannātha Purī Lord Caitanya lived at the house of Kāśī Miśra, who was the priest of the king. Later this house was inherited by Vakreśvara Paṇḍita and then by his disciple Gopālaguru Gosvāmī, who established there a Deity of Rādhākānta. The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (193) states that Kāśī Miśra was formerly Kubjā in Mathurā.. Pradyumna Miśra, an inhabitant of Orissa, was a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Pradyumna Miśra was born of a brāhmaṇa family and Rāmānanda Rāya of a non-brāhmaṇa family, yet Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised Pradyumna Miśra to take instruction from Rāmānanda Rāya. This incident is described in the Antya-līlā, Chapter Five.Bhavānanda Rāya was the father of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya. His residence was in Ālālanātha (Brahmagiri), which is about twelve miles west of Jagannātha Purī. By caste he belonged to the karaṇa community of Orissa, whose members were sometimes known as kāyasthas and sometimes as śūdras, but he was the governor of Madras under the control of King Pratāparudra of Jagannātha Purī.Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.131
cakravartī śivānanda sadā vrajavāsīmahāśākhā-madhye teṅho sudṛḍha viśvāsī SYNONYMS cakravartī śivānanda—of the name Śivānanda Cakravartī; sadā—always; vraja-vāsī—resident of Vṛndāvana; mahā-śākhā-madhye—amongst the great branches; teṅho—he is; sudṛḍha viśvāsī—possessing firm faith. TRANSLATION Śivānanda Cakravartī, the thirty-third branch, who always lived in Vṛndāvana with firm conviction, is considered an important branch of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. PURPORTThe Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 183, mentions that Śivānanda Cakravartī was formerly Lavaṅga-mañjarī. The Śākhā-nirṇaya, written by Yadunandana dāsa, also names other branches of Gadādhara Paṇḍita, as follows: (1) Mādhava Ācārya, (2) Gopāla dāsa, (3) Hṛdayānanda, (4) Vallabha Bhaṭṭa (the Vallabha-sampradāya, or Puṣṭimārga-sampradāya, is very famous), (5) Madhu Paṇḍita (this famous devotee lived near Khaḍadaha in the village known as Sāṅibonā-grāma, about two miles east of the Khaḍadaha station, and constructed the temple of Gopīnāthajī in Vṛndāvana), (6) Acyutānanda, (7) Candraśekhara, (8) Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, (9) Dāmodara, (10) Bhagavān Ācārya, (11) Ananta Ācāryavarya, (12) Kṛṣṇadāsa, (13) Paramānanda Bhaṭṭācārya, (14) Bhavānanda Gosvāmī, (15) Caitanya dāsa, (16) Lokanātha Bhaṭṭa (this devotee, who lived in the village of Tālakhaḍi in the district of Yaśohara and constructed the temple of Rādhāvinoda, was the spiritual master of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and a great friend of Bhūgarbha Gosvāmī), (17) Govinda Ācārya, (18) Akrūra Ṭhākura, (19) Saṅketa Ācārya, (20) Pratāpāditya, (21) Kamalākānta Ācārya, (22) Yādava Ācārya and (23) Nārāyaṇa Paḍihārī (a resident of Jagannātha Purī). ri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 12: The Expansions of Advaita Acarya and Gadadhara Pandita : Adi 12.88 :
Srila Prabhupada answers – “Is Hatha-Yoga same as Bhakti Yoga?”
All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Five thousand years ago, a person like Arjuna declined, “Oh, it is not possible for me.” And so many rascals they are trying that yoga system. That is not possible.
Lecture on BG 4.1 — Montreal, August 24, 1968 Prabhupāda: Karma means sense gratification and bhakti-yoga means Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction.
Devotee: Well, karma-yoga…
Prabhupāda: Karma-yoga means just to dovetail your karma with yoga principles to arrive to the bhakti-yoga.
Devotee: To eventually arrive.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That is karma. That is not bhakti-yoga. But the aim is to arrive at the bhakti-yoga. Is it clear? That’s all. Just try to understand in this way. It is very good.
Devotee (2): Is it the same thing with haṭha-yoga?
Prabhupāda: No, haṭha-yoga is not bhakti-yoga.
Devotee (2): No, but…
Prabhupāda: Haṭha-yoga is a process for making the mind under control if it is properly performed. But generally it is in the name “haṭha-yoga.” I have… Several times… In the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, haṭha-yoga, how it is to be performed, that you have to perform in a sacred place, alone in a secluded place, sitting like this, seeing like this, eating like this. Who is following those regulations? Nobody is following. So they are, simply it is going on under the name of “yoga,” but actually, nobody is following the principles. That is difficult. That is not possible in this age. Now suppose if you have to perform haṭha-yoga in a secluded place, in a sanctified place and alone. Who is fulfilling these three conditions? Ekākī yata-cittātmā. Ekākī. Ekākī means alone. Śucau deśe. Śucau deśe means very sanctified place. Samaṁ grīvam. This body and the, I mean to say, neck, and the śiraḥ, śiraḥ means this head—they should be in a straight line. And you cannot close your eyes fully. You have to half-close and see the top of your nose. In this way, you sit down always. Never go to sleep. I have seen in my childhood yogi in Calcutta, Kālīghāṭa. He was twenty-four hours sitting. When he was feeling uncomfortable, he had a wooden cot,(?) like that. But he was never sleeping. That is yoga practice. Who is going to do that? It is very difficult. Therefore Arjuna said, “Kṛṣṇa, You are recommending this yoga practice, but it is impossible for me to do.” Five thousand years ago, a person like Arjuna declined, “Oh, it is not possible for me.” And so many rascals they are trying that yoga system. That is not possible. Yes.
Guest (Indian man): …whether my karma or my life is for satisfying senses, how it is going to help for Kṛṣṇa. To connect Kṛṣṇa through devotion. Then you can know…
Prabhupāda: Yes, first of all you have to connect yourself with Kṛṣṇa, then you act according to the direction of Kṛṣṇa.
