Jayadvaita Swami

Personal site

satyam param dhimahi

You are here: Home / Archives for About editing

Archive of articles about editing

Style sheets, articles about editing, and the editorial policies and guidelines for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Want to learn more about the editing of BBT books? Go here

Lost sentence appears in newly discovered page of Gita transcription

by

BBT press release A sentence handwritten by Srila Prabhupada for a purport of Bhagavad-gita As It Is but never included in any edition of the book has come to light at the Bhaktivedanta Archives. The sentence, written on a newly discovered transcribed page for Chapter 10, text 36, disparages "the unfortunate commentator who wants to cheat Krsna and the public by saying that there is something greater than Krsna." A letter from Jayadvaita Swami discusses the question, What should the BBT do with the newly discovered sentence? You can see the page and the letter. … [Read more...] about Lost sentence appears in newly discovered page of Gita transcription

Book changes: History really does back the BBT

by

It's a persistent image: Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles in December of 1968, working side by side with Hayagriva Prabhu, carefully putting the finishing touches on Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Govinda Dasi was personally serving Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles at the time, and she is sure this is what she saw. And even if Srila Prabhupada wrote two weeks later that what he was working on with Hayagriva was the Bhagavatam, then they must have been working on both books—the Bhagavatam and the Gita. But a careful look at the history shows that this is out of the question. Why? Because even … [Read more...] about Book changes: History really does back the BBT

“Rascal editors”: Mistaking the mistake

by

"Rascal editors!" Srila Prabhupada said. He had come upon an editorial mistake in a verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and so he strongly denounced "rascal editors" who make unauthorized editorial changes. This incident, which took place in Vrindavan on June 22, 1977, has been known to Hare Krishna devotees for more than thirty years. And for more than thirty years, most devotees have been wrong about what mistake he had found. This makes no difference to Srila Prabhupada's point. Rascal editors are rascal editors. Still, we might as well get straight what the editorial error was. The … [Read more...] about “Rascal editors”: Mistaking the mistake

“The senses meant for work”? Check out the “Gita changes” for Chapter 5.

by

BBT press release "Activities such as hearing, seeing, speaking, evacuating, etc., are actions of the senses meant for work." Really? Wait a second--aren't hearing and seeing what we do with our knowledge-gathering senses, not our working ones? But the quotation comes right from Bhagavad-gita As It Is, from the purport to 5.9. So how could it be wrong? It's wrong because it's the first edition and a typist left something out. See for yourself in the annotated scans for chapter five, now online at www.BBTedit.com/changes. You'll see all the revisions done for the purports, along … [Read more...] about “The senses meant for work”? Check out the “Gita changes” for Chapter 5.

“Gita changes” for Chapter 3 now online

by

BBT Press release The "changes" for chapter three of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is are now online at www.BBTedit.com/changes. Perhaps the most notable feature of this chapter is that the revisions to the purports are so few. As in the rest of the book, when revisions are warranted they are made, and otherwise the text is left unchanged. In this chapter fewer revisions are needed, so fewer are made. Still, there are several revisions worth seeing. You'll see: Four places where a typist has skipped from one occurrence of a word to the next--for example, from "teach" to "teach"--leaving … [Read more...] about “Gita changes” for Chapter 3 now online

“Gita changes” for Chapter 2 now online

by

BBT press release The "changes" for chapter two of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is are now online at www.BBTedit.com/changes. See the meaning Srila Prabhupada actually intended where the first edition said: working with the fruitive being situated in the fixed conception of the real self (text 1, purport) Neither Vedic knowledge nor modern science denies the existence of the spirit soul (text 17, purport) People will call you a coward even before your flight (text 34, purport) Restrictions are good only if one actually has a taste for Krsna consciousness (text 59, … [Read more...] about “Gita changes” for Chapter 2 now online

BBTedit.com puts annotated Gita scans online

by

  BBT press release: The BBT has launched a new website, BBTedit.com, full of information about the editing of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Among the features: More than 80 video clips: BBT editors and other senior devotees offer facts and perspectives on editorial history, myths, and controversies. A collection of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions about editing. First time ever: Annotated scans of Jayadvaita Swami's copy of the 1972 Gita show his editing for the second edition. The scans show practically all the revisions and restorations done for the … [Read more...] about BBTedit.com puts annotated Gita scans online

Durga and the lancet

by

On Janmastami I had the pleasure of reading with other devotees from Srila Prabhupada's "Krishna Book" about Lord Krishna's advent in this world. In the course of reading, we heard that when the goddess Durga appeared before Kamsa, "in her eight hands she held a bow, lancet, arrows, bell, conchshell, disc, club and shield." Wait a second. Lancet? Surely that couldn't be right. A lancet is a small, sharp surgical instrument for making small incisions, opening abscesses, and the like. In former days, doctors would sometimes use a lancet to pierce a vein for therapeutic blood-letting. … [Read more...] about Durga and the lancet

BBT publishes unauthorized changes in Vaishnava Calendar, concerned devotees say

by

(Exclusive to the SAMPRAJALPA SUN) "At first I couldn't believe it," said Rijidatma Dasa. "The books, yes. But who would ever think the BBT would start monkeying with the Vaishnava Calendar?" The Vaishnava Calendar has been the guide for ISKCON's holy days and festivals since the early 1970s, when Srila Prabhupada first asked for it to be published. And for nearly two decades the BBT has published an annual BBT Art Calendar with a beautiful picture of Krishna-lila for each month. But ISKCON has now been plunged into turmoil by the discovery that the BBT, unannounced, has made changes … [Read more...] about BBT publishes unauthorized changes in Vaishnava Calendar, concerned devotees say