Blogs

Analysis of Pre-1978 Book Changes: Srimad Bhagavatam - Over 21000 changes found in Canto 1 to 4 1976+ revised editions

Posted by Tamohara dasa ADMIN. on July 22, 2021 at 7:46
Analysis of Pre-1978 Book Changes: Srimad Bhagavatam -
Over 21000 changes found in Canto 1 to 4 1976+ revised editions
 
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.
[Srila Prabhupada Conversation, "Rascal Editors,"June 22, 1977, Vrndavana]
Hare Krsna. 
Ananta Koti dandavats to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 
vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ
I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Lord who can fulfill the desires of everyone, just like desire trees, and who are full of compassion for the fallen souls.
The links below compare the first 4 cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam.
The comparison is done between the first prints and the later revised prints from 1976. 
Here only the 1976 onwards editions of the first 4 cantos are compared, there are more changes to the remaining cantos revised after 1977 including the cantos 5-10. There are also post-1977 changes in cantos 1-4(these are 3rd editions), but they shall be covered in another article which shows post-1977 changes. Hence, we restrict our analysis to pre-1977 changes for now. 
 
There are over 21000 changes between these editions. Did Srila Prabhupada ever order such kind of unnecessary revisions?  This list goes even greater than the number of changes observed in the Bhagavad Gita 1972 and 1983 editions. 
Note: The original books sites also contain the 1976 prints, for example, prabhupadabooks.com doesn't have many original books.
Where is the proof that each and every of these 21000 changes were approved by Srila Prabhupada? But actually, we find a letter by Srila Prabhupada where he says that there is NO NEED FOR CHANGES IN FIRST 2 CANTOS in contrast to this. 
 
Lots of deletions are found in the 2nd and 4th Cantos which will be presented in this article.
At some places, they have even reintroduced grammatical errors which were absent in the original prints. 
Srila Prabhupada writes against Srimad Bhagavatam changes:
"Yes, there is no need for corrections for the first and second Cantos. Whatever is there is alright. Once Pradyumna comes to join me here from India, then there will be no need for Nitai das or Jagannatha das to edit the Srimad-Bhagavatam. "
[Letter to Radhavallabha, May 4, 1976]
 
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]
 
Detecting Srila Prabhupada's Original Books:
This 10 Volume set cannot be called the original set as it has the same changes that are found in the links below(it is not the 1972 print). Also Srila Prabhupada had never instructed to take out the front covers of the books and merge them as 10 cantos. 

Google drive with Srila Prabhupada’s first edition unrevised, non adulterated, original books.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nHm72gVwAeei95WDkSLf2aw5x-jRXDoF?usp=sharing

Another folder for Srimad Bhagavatam 1972 on-wards first edition original books:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1am9rKGII3wMrmkyxHp85hfjMjgnWGzT9?export?format=pdf

IDENTIFY ORIGINAL SET:
image.png
The scripts on the left show original first editions and the right hand side shows the editions from 1976. 
Note: The estimation of the number of changes has been done carefully after eliminating the count of other trivial changes(missing sanskrit script on left side or some part of previous script appearing in the new parts) that might be shown by the software. 

Note: To download/print the files containing changes: Click on the above link. Then click File -> Export/Print -> Side-by-Side view respectively.
Canto 3: (Over 4000 changes)
Few changes are analysed below, especially hundreds of deletions from these books since it is not possible to highlight all 21000+ changes. 
For all tables: Left side contains the First print books, Right side has 1976 onwards revised editions.
The following is just a list of a few changes to keep the article brief. The links above have a list of all changes and one can find so many adulterations in these links. 
CANTO 2 DELETIONS:
 
2.3.36 P
image.png
2.9.2 P
image.png
2.9.17 P
image.png
2.9.38 P
image.png
CANTO 4 DELETIONS:
4.13.11 T
image.png
4.27.3 P
image.png
4.27.5 P
image.png
4.27.9 P (One entire verse removed)
image.png
4.27.10 P
image.png
4.28.20 P (Content consisting of almost a page cut off)
image.png
image.png
4.28.25 P
image.png
image.png
4.29.78 P
image.png
4.31.14 P
image.png

 
1976 Canto 1 of Srimad Bhagavatam is a "Revised Mixture" of Delhi Bhagavatams and Srimad Bhagavatam 1972 edition
We shall now analyse a few verses from the first editions and second editions of first canto of SB.

There are many who say that 1972 First Cantos had discrepancies. BUT WE SEE HERE THAT HAYAGRIVA PRABHU AND SRILA PRABHUPADA WORKED ON THESE AND SRILA PRABHUPADA APPROVED THE WORK.

 

Chapter 2, Transcendental Invitations. (Hare Krsna Explosion)

The next morning, when I go alone to see the Swami, he seems to be expecting me. Directly and simply, he begins to explain that he needs help in spreading Krishna consciousness around the world. Noticing that he has been typing, I offer to type for him, and he hands me the manuscript of the First Chapter, Second Canto, of Vyasadeva’s Srimad-Bhagavatam. 

 

“You can type this?” 

 

“Oh yes,” I say. 

 

He is delighted. We roll a small typewriter table out of the corner, and I begin work. His manuscript is single spaced without margins on flimsy, yellowing Indian paper. It appears that the Swami tried to squeeze every word possible onto the pages. I have to use a ruler to keep from losing my place. 

 

The first words read: “O the king.” I naturally wonder whether “O” is the king’s name, and “the king” stands in apposition. After concluding that “O King” is intended instead, I consult the Swami. 

 

“Yes,” he says. “Change it, then.”

 

 As I retype another paragraph, I notice certain grammatical discrepancies, perhaps typical of Bengalis who learned English from British headmasters in the early 1900s. Considerable editing is required to get the text to conform with current American usage. 

 

After pointing out a few changes, I tell the Swami that if he so desired, I could make all the proper corrections.

 

“Very good,” he says, smiling. “Do it! Put it nicely.” 

 

Thus my editorial services begin. 

 

I type all morning in the room where he reads, translates, welcomes visitors, and “takes rest.” There is a tin footlocker, used as a desk, and a rug on which he sits and sometimes sleeps. Apart from my typewriter table, there is no other furniture. As I type, I hear him cooking in the kitchen, and can smell the butter being boiled to make ghee. I finish the chapter: twenty pages, double spaced with wide margins. The original had filled only eight pages. 

 

“Let me know if there’s any more work,” I tell him. “I can take it back to Mott Street and type there.” 

 

“More? Yes,” he says. “There is lots more.” 

 

He opens the closet door and pulls out two large bundles tied with saffron cloth. Within, he shows me thousands of pages of single spaced, marginless manuscripts of literatures unknown in the Western world. I stand before them, astounded. 

 

“It’s a lifetime of typing,” I protest. 

 

“Oh, yes!” he smiles happily. “Many lifetimes.”


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Some interesting changes were noticed in the SB 1976 canto 1. For example, 1.1.1 was taken from the Delhi Bhagavatams (printed in the early 60s in India), and that verse was also revised, whereas 1.1.2 was taken from SB 1972 with revisions. 
Now, some people claim that canto 1 of 1976 SB is taken from Delhi Bhagavatam, but this claim is totally ludicrous because some verses are taken from Delhi SB and rest revised from 1972 SB, where this becomes a mixture of books. There lines taken from Delhi SB are also not taken as they are as per the claims made by book change
Verse 1.1.1: 
1972 print:
I offer my obeisances unto Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, son of Vasudeva, who is the
supreme all-pervading Personality of Godhead. I meditate upon Him, the
transcendent reality, who is the primeval cause of all causes, from whom all
manifested universes arise, in whom they dwell and by whom they are
destroyed. I meditate upon that eternally effulgent Lord who is directly and
indirectly conscious of all manifestations and yet is beyond them. It is He only who first imparted Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmä, the first
created being. Through Him this world, like a mirage, appears real even to
great sages and demigods. Because of Him, the material universes, created by
the three modes of nature, appear to be factual, although they are unreal. I
meditate therefore upon Him, the Absolute Truth, who is eternally existent in
His transcendental abode, and who is forever free of illusion.
Now Delhi SB and 1976 SB 1.1.1 are compared below:
LHS: Delhi SB   ,RHS: 1976 SB
t
 1 Oh my Lord Sri Krishna the son of Vasudeva the all prevading Personality of Godhead, I do offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I do meditate upon Him because He is the Absolute Truth and is the Primeval cause of all causes of this manifested universes in the matter of creation sustenance and destruction. Directly and indirectly He is conscious of all different manifestations but still He is independent of any other cause beyond Himself. It is He only who imparted first the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of the original living being namely Brahmaji and unto Whom even the great sages and demigods become illusioned as much as there is illusory representation of water in the fire or land on the water and so on. It is on account of Him only the temporary manifestation of the material universes made by the reaction of the three modes of nature appears to be factual although it is unreal. I do therefore meditate upon Him Who is eternally existent in the trancendental abode which is for ever free from the illusory representation of the material world and He is therefore the Absolute Truth.
t
 1 O my Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.
2
3 2

Verse 1.1.2:
Now, this verse is taken from 1972 SB and has been revised too.
LHS: SB 1972 , RHS : SB 1976
t
 1 Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated,this Bhāgavata Purāṇa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Śrī Vyāsadeva, is sufficient in itself for God realization. As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, he becomes attached to the Supreme Lord.
t
 1 Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhāgavata Purāṇa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyāsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.
Verse in Delhi Bhagavatam: (1.1.2)
In this Bhagwat Puranam all so called religious activities, covered by fruitive intentions, are completely rejected and the highest Truth, understandable by the cent per cent pure hearted devotees, is inculcated. The highest truth is the factual reality distinguished from the shadow is described herein for every one's welbeing and causing uprooting of the threefold miseries. The beautiful Bhagwatam is compiled by the great sage Sri Vyasdeva (in his mature stage) and as such what is the need of other scripture (for self realisation)? As soon as a person applies his attentive and submissive aural reception to the messages of this (Bhagwatam) the Supreme Lord at once becomes fixed up compact by such culture (of knowledge).
Verse 1.1.3:
Now again, this verse is taken from Delhi SB and some words are deleted in 1976 SB. Changes can be noticed below.
LHS- Delhi SB, RHS- 1976 SB
t
 1  Oh the expert and thoughtful men! Please know it that Srimad Bhagwatam is the mature fruit of the desired tree of Vedic literatures and it is emanated from the lips of Sri Sukdeva Goswami. For this the nectarine fruit has become more tasteful although it is already readily swallowable nectarine juice which is relished by all up to those who are already liberated souls.
t
 1 O expert and thoughtful men, relish Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.
1972 edition: (1.1.3)
Know, O thoughtful men, that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the mature fruit of the
tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
Therefore this nectarean fruit is all the more relishable by liberated souls.
Verse 1.1.4: Taken as it is from SB 1972 and texts are identical.
Verse 1.1.5: Revised from SB 1972
Verse from Delhi SB:
 So one day the great sages after finishing the morning duties by burning the sacrificial fire and offering a respectful seat to Srila Suta Goswami made enquiries about the following with great regards.
t
 1 One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and respectfully offering a seat to Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī, the great sages made earnest inquiries about the following matters.
t
 1 One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering a seat of esteem to Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī, the great sages made inquiries, with great respect, about the following matters.
Verse 1.1.6: (Mixed revision, some revisions from Delhi SB and some from 1972 SB)
 
n
 1 Delhi SB:
n
 1 1976 SB:
2 The sages said, "Respected Suta Goswami, you are completely freed from all vices. You are well versed in all the scriptures that are famous for religious life as well as in the Puranas and histories as you have gone through them under proper guidance as also explained them. 2 The sages said: Respected Sūta Gosvāmī, you are completely free from all vice. You are well versed in all the scriptures famous for religious life, and in the Purāṇas and the histories as well, for you have gone through them under proper guidance and have also explained them.
3 3
t
 4 1972 SB:
t
 4 1976 SB:
5 The sages said: Respected Sūta Gosvāmī, you are completely free from all vice. You are well versed in all religious scriptures, the Purāṇas and histories, for you have gone through them under proper guidance and have also explained them. 5 The sages said: Respected Sūta Gosvāmī, you are completely free from all vice. You are well versed in all the scriptures famous for religious life, and in the Purāṇas and the histories as well, for you have gone through them under proper guidance and have also explained them.
Verse 1.1.7: (Taken as it is from SB 1972 and texts are identical)
 
Verse 1.1.8: Revised from Delhi SB
t
 1 And because you are submissive your spiritual masters have endowed you with all the favours, of the spiritual masters, for gentle disciples. As such you can let us know all that you learnt from them scientifically.
t
 1 And because you are submissive, your spiritual masters have endowed you with all the favors bestowed upon a gentle disciple. Therefore you can tell us all that you have scientifically learned from them.
Verse in SB 1972:
And because you are submissive, your spiritual masters have endowed you with all their favors. Therefore you can tell us all you have learned from them.
Verse 1.1.9: 
 
Delhi SB: You are, therefore, requested to explain to us what you ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general,—out of your considered and made easy opinion. Oh you are blessed with good old age.
LHS- 1972 SB, RHS - 1976 SB
t
 1 Please, therefore, being blessed with many years, explain to us what you ascertain to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general.
t
 1 Please, therefore, being blessed with many years, explain to us, in an easily understandable way, what you have ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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."  [Srila Prabhupada 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:
It is best to stick to the original way, that is the first editions of Srila Prabhupada's books.
This holds true even for Srimad Bhagavatam.
Hare Krishna.
Views: 4
Tags: -, 1, 1976+, 4, 21000, Analysis, Bhagavatam, Book, Canto, Changes:, Over, Pre-1978, Srimad, changes, editions, found, in, of, revised, to
★
★
★
★
★
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –
Follow

You need to be a member of puredevoteeseva to add comments!

Join puredevoteeseva