Tuesday, March 20, 2018

BBT will revert back to original version

“The great soul can impart knowledge unto you” 

A BBT decision explained by Jayadvaita Swami June 10, 2017 Summary In future printings of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the BBT will revert the translation of Chapter 4, text 34, to the text of the first edition. The revised text was fully justified, but there are good reasons for changing it back. 

The BBT is aware of the potential dangers of continuing to fix editorial errors in Srila Prabhupada’s books yet at the same time sees the importance of trying to keep the books free from such errors. The BBT is open to suggestions about the best course to follow. Starting with the next printing of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the BBT intends to reverse a change made to Chapter 4, text 34. What was the change? 

The first edition read: 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. The second edition keeps the first sentence the same but changes the second sentence to the plural: The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth. 

This is the change the BBT is reversing. Now, this naturally raises several questions: Why was the change made to begin with? Didn’t it distort the philosophy? Wasn’t the change in fact unjustified? What now prompts the BBT to change it back? And what does this whole matter tell us about the revision of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and of Srila Prabhupada’s other books, after Srila Prabhupada’s departure? Why was the change made? 

[PADA: Its just not a needed change, period. Now they are going back to the original version, ok that is a good start. Now we need to repair a lot of the other un-required changes. ys pd]

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