Bhakti Ananda Goswami ; About Srila Prabhupada's Orginal Books g

Bhakti Ananda Goswami About Srila Prabhupada's Orginal Books:
Due to the transcendental activity of Srila Prabhupada, I was blessed to have the association of Dr. Acharya Prabhakar Mishra, who was un-rivaled as a great academically honored Sanskritist and Vaishnava Acharya of the Sanskrit Bhakti Shastras. Dr. Mishra was Srila Prabhupada's intimate friend and devoted first Disciple and Srila Prabhupada's Sanskrit Guru. They lived together in Jhansi for over 5 years, and after Srila Prabhupada moved away from Jhansi, Dr. Mishra continued to try to help him, and supported him at various times, for years. Once, when I asked Hansadutta 'Swami' if Srila Prabhupada ever said anything about Dr. Mishra, he replied that Srila Prabhupada said that "He is the best".

When I was in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal, in the association of both Hindu academic and government leaders, I personally saw for myself the profound esteem which these leaders had for Dr. Mishra as possibly the World's greatest living Master of the Sanskrit Bhakti Shastras and a Great Saintly Vaishnava.

Why should this be of any significance to the other disciples of Srila Prabhupada? Why should we care about Dr. Mishra's extraordinary academic credentials or his personal character, or what Dr. Mishra had to say to me about Srila Prabhupada's Books?

We should care, because there can be NO comparison between the Sanskrit mastery of any other of Srila Prabhupada's disciples and that of Dr. Mishra. However when I questioned him about Srila Prabhupada's Books, Dr. Mishra immediately took the humble position of refusing to make ANY mundane criticism of them! In fact when we discussed the years that Srila Prabhupada studied Sanskrit under Dr. Mishra's guidance, Dr. Mishra again took a most humble position, saying only that he was only helping Srila Prabhupada with some of the finer points of Sanskrit grammar, not not with the root meanings of the words.

Non-linguists often do not realize that in a language like Sanskrit, the same word root can have various meanings. It is the Tradition of Guru, Shastra and Sadhu that INSURES that the correct meanings are passed-down from generation to generation through what Srila Prabhupada rightly called the 'disciplic succession'. Note that he used the 'improper' word DISCIPLIC, but that his use of this grammatically 'incorrect' word WAS more importantly historically and theologically accurate!

In this way, I could give HUNDREDS of examples of how Srila Prabhupada's profound knowledge and realization of the Sanskrit and Bengali Vaishnava Bhakti Shastra, and his unique ability to translate this into Modern English OPENED UP these Shastras to the Global English reading and speaking peoples, and through the international language of English to the rest of Humanity. NO merely accurate but un-inspired Sanskritist could ever have done what Srila Prabhupada did, which was of an entirely OTHER ORDER of divinely inspired genius! To therefore make some mundane criticism of his Books, or to even insult them as being "full of warts" is certainly to miss the point of his Divinely Inspired Contribution entirely.

If ANYONE was academically qualified to criticize Srila Prabhupada's Books from a mundane academic perspective, it would have been Dr. Mishra, who was the HEAD of the Sanskrit Department of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai, India. However, he chose NOT TO CRITICIZE THEM. I saw for myself that within the Native Indian Academic Community among Vaishnava DEVOTEES this non-critical stance of Dr. Mishra was RESPECTED because Srila Prabhupada's Spiritual Genius, 'Realization' and Divine Empowerment was his supreme qualification, NOT his strict adherence to the academic grammatical rules of Sanskrit word-jugglery.

By refusing to insult his Spiritual Master over the so-called defects in his Books, Acharyaji (Dr. Mishra) honored BOTH Srila Prabhupada and himself, showing by his own humble behavior the proper way to treat someone who is both one's SPIRITUAL SUPERIOR and DISCIPLIC TRADITION MASTER.

DISCIPLE: See root of DIKSHA in Sanskrit.

A DOCtor DISCiplines DISCiples, teaching them DOCtrine from a DOCument, and inDOCtrinating them in the DOCtrines of their "DISCIplic succession"!

Given the choice of a grammatically (etc.) perfect manuscript edited by a non-saint and a transcendentally inspired one written and edited by a true SAINT, I will chose the inspired one approved by the self-realized Saint, every time!

All glories to our spotless Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada, whose Divinely Inspired Books can deliver humanity from the Modern Era plague of atheistic impersonalism and voidism!

Today 09/12/2007 is the Appearance day of Parama Pujyapada Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Maharaja, the foremost amongst the diksha disciples of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I was ordered by Srila Prabhupada to stay with him and continue my devotional service under his guidance; he was my first siksha Guru. On this day I would like to relate a little known pastime of how he defended the legacy of Srila Prabhupada’s books by seeing that they were translated As It Is without change or adulteration in any way. His exemplary behavior is a fine example for all of us.

Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was given the opportunity to reveal to the world the unrivalled perfection of Srila Prabhupada's masterful translation from Sanskrit into English of Bhagavad Gita. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was given the service by Srila Prabhupada of translating all of His books into the Orissan language. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was a great scholar who could write and speak in five languages, Orissan, Hindi, Bengali, English, and Sanskrit. He got his degree in English from the University with a minor in Sanskrit. He translated Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita with the greatest love and devotion and attention for detail. Because of His vast command of languages He was able to notice little details that others may have overlooked.

One thing that was a cause of great transcendental concern for Him was the fact that when Srila Prabhupada translated a word from Sanskrit to English it would not be the same if Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja translated the Sanskrit word directly to Oriya. In other words the English word that Srila Prabhupada used to explain the Sanskrit word had an entirely different meaning than the Oriya word that would normally be used as a translation of this same Sanskrit word. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was concerned that in translating the literal English into Oriya that many Pandits and Scholars would complain that this was not an accurate translation.

Since Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja did not want to change one single word of His beloved Spiritual Masters books but at the same time be able to defend the scholarship of His Guru Maharaja beyond the shadow of a doubt. He devised a plan for writing down all of the so called contradictions in a list until he completed the entire work. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja then went to a little village to see the now retired Sanskrit professor who had taught Him Sanskrit in college. This man was considered one of the foremost authorities on the Sanskrit Language in India having one of the largest personal libraries on the subject, including one of the best collections of Sanskrit to English Dictionaries. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja knew that this Sanskrit scholar’s grasp of Sanskrit to English translation would provide him with the evidence he needed to prove the authority of Srila Prabhupada's work.

After about ten days Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja returned to the little mud hut that we lived in with the Sanskrit professor in tow. The Sanskrit professor introduced himself (I apologize but unfortunately I cannot remember his name) and began glorifying His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's masterful translation work.

The Professor told me that he started studying Sanskrit when he was five years old; now in his late 70's he had been studying the language for over 70 years. He told me how on the first review of his dictionaries he could not find the translations that Srila Prabhupada had made from Sanskrit to English, but he said that Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja kept encouraging him to keep looking, assuring him that he would find the translation if he looked long and hard enough.

The professor said he would have given up if it were not for Srila Gour Govinda Maharajas insistence that if His Guru Maharaja translated the words like that it had been accurate and that if he looked hard enough he would find the translations. Then the professor told me that he found each and every translation that Srila Prabhupada had made from Sanskrit into English.

The professor told me that these translations that your Guru has made are the most obscure and brilliant explanations of these words from Sanskrit to English that he had ever seen. The professor admitted that with all of his education and training he could not have thought of these obscure and brilliant meanings that so perfectly expressed the inner truths of the mysteries of the Bhagavad Gita verses in a way that the usual words used in English would not have done. The professor then said having seen this translation work of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada he was convinced that Srila Prabhupada was the greatest Sanskrit scholar in the history of civilization and must have been directly enlightened by the Supreme Lord Krishna to accomplish this work.

Now what is the important lesson that we learn from this pastime. Unlike some devotees who like to change the words in their Spiritual masters books in order to meet with the approval of scholars and professors. The pure devotional attitude of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was to elevate the professor by engaging him in devotional service and then bringing him up to a spiritual platform so that he could get the mercy of Srila Prabhupada. Instead of acting like an editor and scholar Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja teaches us how to protect and defend the honor of the Spiritual Master through His Pure Devotion to His Guru Maharaja.

Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja could have proved the authenticity of the Sanskrit words himself, instead by his causeless mercy he engaged His former professor in order to give him Krishna and Srila Prabhupada’s mercy. This should be the mood of all devotees interested in performing pure devotional service; My Guru Maharaja, right or wrong he is always right! What my Guru Maharaja says may not be accepted as the highest truth by anyone else but for me it is always the highest truth! Pure Devotion to your Guru Maharaja and His words is the highest form of pure devotion! There is no higher truth or pure devotion than this. This is the valuable lesson learned from Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja's service to His Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada. Everyone who considers him/her self a disciple should learn it well.

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Welcome November 9, 2014 14:59

Today 09/12/2007 is the Appearance day of Parama Pujyapada Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Maharaja, the foremost amongst the diksha disciples of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I was ordered by Srila Prabhupada to stay with him and continue my devotional service under his guidance; he was my first siksha Guru. On this day I would like to relate a little known pastime of how he defended the legacy of Srila Prabhupada’s books by seeing that they were translated As It Is without change or adulteration in any way. His exemplary behavior is a fine example for all of us.

Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was given the opportunity to reveal to the world the unrivalled perfection of Srila Prabhupada's masterful translation from Sanskrit into English of Bhagavad Gita. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was given the service by Srila Prabhupada of translating all of His books into the Orissan language. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was a great scholar who could write and speak in five languages, Orissan, Hindi, Bengali, English, and Sanskrit. He got his degree in English from the University with a minor in Sanskrit. He translated Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita with the greatest love and devotion and attention for detail. Because of His vast command of languages He was able to notice little details that others may have overlooked.

One thing that was a cause of great transcendental concern for Him was the fact that when Srila Prabhupada translated a word from Sanskrit to English it would not be the same if Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja translated the Sanskrit word directly to Oriya. In other words the English word that Srila Prabhupada used to explain the Sanskrit word had an entirely different meaning than the Oriya word that would normally be used as a translation of this same Sanskrit word. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was concerned that in translating the literal English into Oriya that many Pandits and Scholars would complain that this was not an accurate translation.

Since Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja did not want to change one single word of His beloved Spiritual Masters books but at the same time be able to defend the scholarship of His Guru Maharaja beyond the shadow of a doubt. He devised a plan for writing down all of the so called contradictions in a list until he completed the entire work. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja then went to a little village to see the now retired Sanskrit professor who had taught Him Sanskrit in college. This man was considered one of the foremost authorities on the Sanskrit Language in India having one of the largest personal libraries on the subject, including one of the best collections of Sanskrit to English Dictionaries. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja knew that this Sanskrit scholar’s grasp of Sanskrit to English translation would provide him with the evidence he needed to prove the authority of Srila Prabhupada's work.

After about ten days Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja returned to the little mud hut that we lived in with the Sanskrit professor in tow. The Sanskrit professor introduced himself (I apologize but unfortunately I cannot remember his name) and began glorifying His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's masterful translation work.

The Professor told me that he started studying Sanskrit when he was five years old; now in his late 70's he had been studying the language for over 70 years. He told me how on the first review of his dictionaries he could not find the translations that Srila Prabhupada had made from Sanskrit to English, but he said that Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja kept encouraging him to keep looking, assuring him that he would find the translation if he looked long and hard enough.

The professor said he would have given up if it were not for Srila Gour Govinda Maharajas insistence that if His Guru Maharaja translated the words like that it had been accurate and that if he looked hard enough he would find the translations. Then the professor told me that he found each and every translation that Srila Prabhupada had made from Sanskrit into English.

The professor told me that these translations that your Guru has made are the most obscure and brilliant explanations of these words from Sanskrit to English that he had ever seen. The professor admitted that with all of his education and training he could not have thought of these obscure and brilliant meanings that so perfectly expressed the inner truths of the mysteries of the Bhagavad Gita verses in a way that the usual words used in English would not have done. The professor then said having seen this translation work of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada he was convinced that Srila Prabhupada was the greatest Sanskrit scholar in the history of civilization and must have been directly enlightened by the Supreme Lord Krishna to accomplish this work.

Now what is the important lesson that we learn from this pastime. Unlike some devotees who like to change the words in their Spiritual masters books in order to meet with the approval of scholars and professors. The pure devotional attitude of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was to elevate the professor by engaging him in devotional service and then bringing him up to a spiritual platform so that he could get the mercy of Srila Prabhupada. Instead of acting like an editor and scholar Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja teaches us how to protect and defend the honor of the Spiritual Master through His Pure Devotion to His Guru Maharaja.

Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja could have proved the authenticity of the Sanskrit words himself, instead by his causeless mercy he engaged His former professor in order to give him Krishna and Srila Prabhupada’s mercy. This should be the mood of all devotees interested in performing pure devotional service; My Guru Maharaja, right or wrong he is always right! What my Guru Maharaja says may not be accepted as the highest truth by anyone else but for me it is always the highest truth! Pure Devotion to your Guru Maharaja and His words is the highest form of pure devotion! There is no higher truth or pure devotion than this. This is the valuable lesson learned from Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja's service to His Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada. Everyone who considers him/her self a disciple should learn it well.

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