Identifying Srila Prabhupada’s First Edition Originals with the publication dates

Yasoda nandana dasa

Identify and read Srila Prabhupada’s Pre-1978 First Edition Original Books only

Hare Krsna, all glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following is a list of all First Edition Original Books printed before 1977. It is seen that lots of devotees are having some issues with identifying the First Print books. Therefore, this list shows the books’ names and their year of printing.

To read the Original First Print books online in a PDF format, please check the following link.
Please find a link to a Google drive with Srila Prabhupada’s first edition unrevised, non-adulterated, original books.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nHm72gVwAeei95WDkSLf2aw5x-jRXDoF?usp=sharing

It is also observed that some devotees are mistaking “2nd Edition” pre-1978 books for the first edition ones. The history of book changes is very complex to understand and it started even when Srila Prabhupada was physically present.These 4 books, Srimad Bhagavatam, TLC, Isopanisad, Easy Journey to Other Planets were revised even during Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence without getting his approval.The following table displays the publication years for these first and second edition pre-1978 books.

Book NameOriginal approved Edition publication year(s)Revised unapproved edition publication year(s)
Srimad Bhagavatam1962-65 (Delhi, India),1972-771976 onwards(Cantos 1-4 revised during 1976-78)
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya19681974 onwards
Sri Isopanisad19691974 onwards
Easy Journey to Other Planets1960 (Delhi, India) ,19701977 onwards

Regarding Sri Isopanisad changes:

Yaśodā-nandana: In the Gurukula we were teaching Īśopaniṣad class to the children. So we took… [break] …Prabhupāda 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 Prabhupāda: I know that these rascals are doing. What can be done? How they can be relied on? [Rascal editors conversation ,June 22,1977, Vrindavan]

Note: Here we see Srila Prahupada’s direct rejection to such changes. The editors claim that their “new” 2001 Isopanisad edition is as close to the original editions, but it is found that the 2001 edition is almost the same as 1974 edition, with only 3-4 changes.

It is therefore best, to stick to 1969 original first edition Isopanisad.

Regarding Easy Journey to Other Planets changes:

Srila Prabhupāda: He cannot see mistake. He is mistake. (laughter) He should . . . that is being done by this rascal. I don’t want. And the Hayagrīva has . . . the Easy Journey, he has changed so many things. That . . . he is now bad character. You should not maintain him.  [Conversation A ,MAYAPUR – February 27, 1977]

Regarding 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)

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) 

REF: https://harekrsna.org/detecting-srila-prabhupadas-original-books/

Please check the drive link pasted above and only books with the front covers corresponding to the first prints must be read. 

The list below is useful to detect the first edition pre-1978 original books. 

  1. Prayers of King Kulashekhara – Mukunda Mala (1950)
  2. Prospectus, The League of Devotees (1953)
  3. Message of Godhead (1955)
  4. Easy Journey to Other Planets (1960)
  5. Srimad Bhagwatam, Volume 1 (1962)
  6. Srimad Bhagwatam, Volume 2 (1964)
  7. Srimad Bhagwatam, Volume 3 (1965)
  8. Teachings of Lord Chaitanya (1968)
  9. Śrī Īśopaniṣad (1969)
  10. Two Essays – Krishna the Reservoir of Pleasure and Who is Crazy (1969)
  11. Kṛṣṇa Consciousness – The Topmost Yoga System (1970)
  12. KṚṢṆA, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1 (1970)
  13. KṚṢṆA, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 2 (1970)
  14. On Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mantra (1970)
  15. The Cause of All Causes (1970)
  16. The Krsna Consciousness Handbook (1970)
  17. The Krsna Consciousness Movement is the Genuine Vedic Way (1970)
  18. The Nectar of Devotion (1970)
  19. Letters from Śrīla Prabhupāda, Volume 3 (1970-1972)
  20. Bhagavad-gītā As It Is – Macmillan 1972 Edition
  21. Songs of the Vaiṣṇava Ācāryas (1972)
  22. The Hare Kṛṣṇa Cook Book (1972)
  23. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 1, Volume 1 (1972)
  24. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 1, Volume 2 (1972)
  25. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 1, Volume 3 (1972)
  26. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 2, Volume 1 (1972)
  27. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 2, Volume 2 (1972)
  28. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 3, Volume 1 (1972)
  29. The Perfection of Yoga (1972)
  30. Transcendental Broadcast a Television Interview (1972)
  31. Beyond Birth and Death (1972)
  32. Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness (1973)
  33. On the Way to Kṛṣṇa (1973)
  34. Rājā Vidyā – The King of Knowledge (1973)
  35. Transcendental Teachings Of Prahlad Maharaj (1973)
  36. Kṛṣṇa Consciousness – The Matchless Gift (1974)
  37. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, Volume 1 (1974)
  38. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, Volume 2 (1973)
  39. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, Volume 3 (1974)
  40. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, Volume 1 (1975)
  41. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, Volume 2 (1975)
  42. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, Volume 3 (1975)
  43. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, Volume 4 (1975)
  44. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, Volume 5 (1975)
  45. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 1 (1975)
  46. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 2 (1975)
  47. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 3 (1975)
  48. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 4 (1975)
  49. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 5 (1975)
  50. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 6 (1975)
  51. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 7 (1975)
  52. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 8 (1975)
  53. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Volume 9 (1975)
  54. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 3, Volume 2 (1974)
  55. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 3, Volume 3 (1974)
  56. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 3, Volume 4 (1974)
  57. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 4, Volume 1 (1974)
  58. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 4, Volume 2 (1974)
  59. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 4, Volume 3 (1974)
  60. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 4, Volume 4 (1974)
  61. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 5, Volume 1 (1975)
  62. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 5, Volume 2 (1975)
  63. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 6, Volume 1 (1975)
  64. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 6, Volume 2 (1975)
  65. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 6, Volume 3 (1976)
  66. The Krishna Consciousness Movement is Authorized (1975)
  67. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 7, Volume 1 (1976)
  68. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 7, Volume 2 (1976)
  69. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 7, Volume 3 (1976)
  70. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 8, Volume 1 (1976)
  71. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 8, Volume 2 (1976)
  72. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 8, Volume 3 (1976)
  73. The Nectar of Instruction (1975)
  74. Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers (1977)
  75. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 9, Volume 1 (1977)
  76. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 9, Volume 2 (1977)
  77. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 9, Volume 3 (1977)
  78. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 10, Volume 1 (1977)
  79. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 10, Volume 2 (1977)
  80. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 10, Volume 3 (1980)
  81. Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti (1977)