EXPOSING THE BOOK CHANGES: EXTENSIVE LIST OF 50,000+
MAJOR CHANGES IN SRILA PRABHUPADA’S ORIGINAL BOOKS
Compiled by yasoda nandana dasa
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. It is known to many that Srila Prabhupada’s original books have undergone disastrous changes. The editors have claimed that they have fixed only the grammatical errors and have kept the writings philosophically untouched, but this is not so. Therefore, the following list of book changes has been compiled to present the changes in an explicit manner for all to know. This analysis of book changes will clear the confusions and will encourage the devotees to stick to the original pre-1978 first edition books written by Srila Prabhupada.
The links which will be shown below contain at least a minimum of 50,000+ changes in Srila Prabhupada’s books. We request the devotees to go through these and contemplate whether Srila Prabhupada will be pleased with such nonsense editing against his will.
It should be noted that some of Srila Prabhupada’s books were changed even during his physical presence. Some of these are Srimad Bhagavatam, Isopanishad, Easy Journey To Other Planets, Teachings of Lord Caitanya. Some quotes are presented towards the end of the article which prove that even such revisions were rejected by Srila Prabhupada.
The comparisons have been done for both pre-1978 first editions and pre and post-1978 first and second editions. Hence the devotees are advised to read the first edition pre-1978 books.
A Google drive of book changes articles has been compiled that consists of over 200 articles highlighting the impacts of the changes that pose as an impediment to the understanding of the philosophy of Krsna consciousness. The articles can be found in the link that follows.
BOOK CHANGES ARTICLES DRIVE
Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cyEy4E4WFpjcdEGJ67TaymZjaNeam3NG?usp=sharing
To help the devotees identify the original books, a drive that contains downloadable Srila Prabhupada’s first edition original books has also been compiled.
The devotees are hence requested to take the advantage of this and make the best use of it.
ORIGINAL BOOKS DRIVE
Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nHm72gVwAeei95WDkSLf2aw5x-jRXDoF?usp=sharing
Please find the links below to see the changes for various books.
- Bhagavad Gita changes: (5000+ changes)
Link: https://bookchanges.com/bhagavad-gita-changes-complete-list/ (1972 vs 1983 onwards)
Link: https://bookchanges.com/108-iskcon-bhagavad-gita-changes/
- Krsna book changes: (5000+changes)
Link: https://bookchanges.com/krsna-book-complete-list-of-changes/ (1970 vs 1996 onwards)
- Caitanya Caritamrita changes: (to be calculated)
Link: https://bookchanges.com/caitanya-caritamrta-changes-%e2%80%94-full-list/ (1974-75 vs 1996 onwards)
- Perfect Questions Perfect Answers changes: (100+ changes and 22 pages cut off)
Link: https://bookchanges.com/iskcon-perfect-questions-perfect-answers-book-changes/ (1977vs 1993 onwards)
- Teachings of Lord Caitanya changes: (13000+ changes)
Link: https://bookchanges.com/teachings-of-lord-caitanya-changed-by-bbt/
Link: https://draftable.com/compare/NTdPmapkqklc (1968 and 2011) (13,000+ changes)
Link: https://draftable.com/compare/PIiwxFvmqDmX (1968 and 1974) (13,000+ changes)
Link: https://draftable.com/compare/MjiLRjBDMSSC (1974 and 2011) (7,000+ changes)
- Srimad Bhagavatam changes: (21000+ changes only for the first 4 cantos with the 4th cantos having many pages,lines and verses simply cut off https://krishnaconsciousnessmovement.com/?p=33088)
Link: http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/books/dspobfco.html (1972-77 vs 1976 onwards)
Canto 1: (Over 6000 changes)
Chapters 1-4: https://draftable.com/compare/UTXTvIzsNrmu
Chapters 5-8: https://draftable.com/compare/cupjyEEYuyGn
Chapters 9-12: https://draftable.com/compare/yllqQqNZSlgP
Chapters 13-16: https://draftable.com/compare/VCGEgShIgbNU
Chapters 17-19: https://draftable.com/compare/pMtvfQINaQtE
Canto 2: (Over 6000 changes)
Chapters 1-4: https://draftable.com/compare/wwucNCVgfccF
Chapters 5-8: https://draftable.com/compare/iimgbZjLWGTk
Chapters 9-10: https://draftable.com/compare/VaeVzKEAplpN
Canto 3: (Over 4000 changes)
Chapters 1-5: https://draftable.com/compare/WBtcORNEGUtA
Chapters 6-11: https://draftable.com/compare/EZtdJyOoixCD
Chapters 12-16: https://draftable.com/compare/WMdbAnBHPWcF
Chapters 17-22: https://draftable.com/compare/PWktcoYEdibW
Chapters 23-26: https://draftable.com/compare/zTHMikJhqgiF
Chapters 27-31: https://draftable.com/compare/HIsgZlxBsjPM
Chapters 32-33: https://draftable.com/compare/MFPehjhLQCun
Canto 4: (Over 5000 changes)
Chapters 1-6: https://draftable.com/compare/ushTtFMkmfIq
Chapters 7-10: https://draftable.com/compare/AkqAwNZEppIn
Chapters 11-16: https://draftable.com/compare/MQvlEISQSJVR
Chapters 17-21: https://draftable.com/compare/OjFXdGtBAdNz
Chapters 22-23: https://draftable.com/compare/dEfZIREardwX
Chapters 24-26: https://draftable.com/compare/NfFVFBiJXaSG
Chapters 27-29: https://draftable.com/compare/QzYaMiIksWiK
Chapters 30-31: https://draftable.com/compare/uNPTJpGUBUdi
Note: Remaining cantos shall be compared in the near future.
- TheNectar of Devotion changes: (4000+ changes)
Link: https://draftable.com/compare/BbdfyLvgYWFt (1970 vs 1982 onwards)
- On the way to Krsna changes: (10+ changes)
Link: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:53834992-8735-4857-ba72-4c4f69e2f0b1 (1973 vs 1981 onwards)
- Beyond Birth & Death changes: (almost original)
Link: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:92b46e6b-fc3b-4d22-b215-4fb9bfd58739 (1972 vs 1983 onwards)
- Rāja-Vidyā: The King of Knowledge changes: (300+ changes)
Link: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:252bd5db-6c77-4390-a4ff-c0338af19e21 (1973 vs 1998 onwards)
- The Perfection of Yoga changes: (chapter mixing and 300+changes)
Link: https://draftable.com/compare/CcgKImzADAeT (1972 vs 1983 onwards)
- Śrī Īśopaniṣad changes: (1000+ changes)
Link: https://draftable.com/compare/XHqtwOJumUmc (1969 vs 1974 onwards)
Let us now hear what Srila Prabhupada speaks regarding such changes, as it is very important to follow exactly what he says.
—————————————————
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.
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]
———————————————-
Regarding Easy Journey to Other Planets changes:
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)
———————————————-
Important proof that the Macmillan 1972 Bhagavad Gita is the only original and authorised edition.
“Dr. Vajpeye’s review we are going to print and widely distribute, especially in Bombay and Madras, where there is so much propaganda from these bogus gurus and yogis. He has got practical experience of how they are cheating the innocent people in foreign countries and he has written; “The authorized edition of Bhagavad-gita will help to stop the terrible cheating of ‘gurus’ and ‘yogis’ who are false and unauthorized.”
[Letter to: Svarupa, Ranadhira, Mayapur-3 February, 1976 Los Angeles]“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) “(Reference for the above quote: http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/books/dspobfco.html)
It is hoped that this article will help the devotees to only read Srila Prabhupada’s first edition books that are unchanged.
HOW TO IDENTIFY SRILA PRABHUPADA’S FIRST EDITION ORIGINAL BOOKS?
Hare Krishna. The following difference chart will help all devotees to identify Srila Prabhupada’s pre-1978 first edition original books against the unauthorized edited versions. Please note that “pre-1978 first editions” are the ones authorized by Srila Prabhupda. There were attempts to change his books even in his physical presence, for example, the first 4 cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam were edited for the second time during 1976 without the authorisation from Srila Prabhupada.
What books were changed in his presence? How many were approved?
- Teachings of Lord Caitanya (1974)
- Isopanisad (1974)
- Srimad Bhagavatam (1976-78 — first 4 cantos)
- Easy Journey To Other Planets (1977)
The first 3 are heavily changed, only in the Easy Journey the insertion of the moon landing paragraph is done properly in 1977 according to Srila Prabhupada’s orders.
Regarding Sri Isopanisad changes: (Srila Prabhupada disapproves the 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?
[……..]Yaśodā-nandana: Sometimes they appeal that “We can make better English,” so they change like that, just like in the case of Īśopaniṣad. 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.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: That’s actually a very dangerous mentality.
Yaśodā-nandana: What is it going to be in five years? It’s going to be a different book.
Prabhupāda: 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 Satsvarūpa that “This is the position. They are doing anything and everything at their whim.” The next printing should be again to the original way.
The left hand side of this table contains all the first edition original books.
We must always remember that “Original Books” does not just mean the original content in those books, but it also means original front covers, original paintings inside these books that were completely approved by Srila Prabhupada.
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? (Letter: Bhargava, May 29, 1976)
(This so-called original 10 volume set of Srimad Bhagavatam has removed all front pictures. How can this printing be according to the “original way”? Are we authorized to print according to our whimsical definitions of “original ways”?)
First Edition Books Identification table:
