Quotes from Srila Prabhupada
We are therefore presenting
Bhagavad-gita as it is. We do not change. Why should you change? What
right you have got to change? If Bhagavad-gita is a book of
authority, and if I make my own interpretation, then where is the
authority? Can you change the lawbook according to your interpretation?
Then what is the meaning of that lawbook? That is not lawbook. You
cannot change. Similarly, if you accept Bhagavad-gita as the book
of authority, you cannot change the meaning. That is not allowed. What
right? If you have got some opinion, if you have got some philosophy, you
can write in your own book.
Why you are, I mean
to say, killing others and yourself by interpreting Bhagavad-gita?
(B.G. Lec. 7.1 Hyderabad,
27th April, 1974)
So unless one is self-realized, there is practically no use writing about Krsna. This transcendental writing does not depend on material education. It depends on the spiritual realization. You'll find, therefore, in the comments of Bhagavatam by different acaryas, even there are some discrepancies, they are accepted as asat-patha. It should remain as it is.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam
7.5.23-24 Vrndavana, March 31, 1976)
On the other hand, that
literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of
the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a
different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing
about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected
civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though
imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are
thoroughly honest.
PURPORT: .....
Our presenting this matter in adequate language, especially a
foreign language, will certainly fail, and there will be so many
literary discrepancies despite our honest attempt to present it in the
proper way. But we are sure that with all our faults in this connection
the seriousness of the subject matter will be taken into consideration,
and the leaders of society will still accept this due to its being an
honest attempt to glorify the Almighty God. When there is fire
in a house, the inmates of the house go out to get help from the
neighbors who may be foreigners, and yet without knowing the
language the victims of the fire express themselves, and the
neighbors understand the need, even though not expressed in the same
language. The same spirit of cooperation is needed to broadcast this
transcendental message of the Srimad-Bhagavatam throughout the polluted
atmosphere of the world. After all, it is a technical science of
spiritual values, and thus we are concerned with the techniques and not
with the language. If the techniques of this great literature
are understood by the people of the world, there will be success.
(S.B.
1.5.11)
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.
(S.P.Conversation,
"Rascal Editors,"June 22, 1977, Vrndavana)
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