IN-DEPTH EXAMINATION OF BOOK REVISIONS:
KRSNA-BOOK
by ISKCON Reform Group (IRG)
These are the results and conclusions of an in-depth examination on the modifications in the revised book "Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead", also known as "Krishna-book". Due to the expensive kind of the examination, only four chapters have been analyzed, viz. the chapters 6, 11, 78 and 88.
STATISTICAL RESULTS OF THE CHAPTERS 6 AND 11 WITH SHORT EXPLANATION
Modifications 1: Spelling mistakes, commas, punctuation marks.
Some of these modifications are justified, some of them are not necessary. However, it would be ridiculous to protest them.
Chapter 6: 11
Chapter 11: 5
Estimate (whole book): 720
Modifications 2: Modifications according to tape recording.
These modifications may be justifiable somehow, because the original edition doesn't follow the tape recording. Well, I can't say that they ARE justifiable indeed, because personally I wouldn't dare to face Srila Prabhupada if I revised his books after his disappearance without his unquestionable and direct order to do so, even if all the modifications were completely according to the recordings. There are various considerable facts, NOT to modify the original edition, even if it isn't completely according to the tape recording, which are discussed later. However, most of this modifications are completely unnecessary anyway, because the meaning remains the same as in the original edition.
Chapter 6: 7
Chapter 11: 5
Estimate (whole book): 540
Modifications 3: Modifications not according to tape recording while the original edition also doesn't follow the tape recording.
Here it is really difficult to understand the mind of the reviser. The original edition very often does not follow the tape recording exactly, because the recording is of bad quality, or the composed sentences need some edition. Mostly the reviser ignores this (otherwise he had to revise practically each sentence of the book), but sometimes, and it is not understandable why, he modifies the original edition, although it is not necessary and his editions too are usually not according to the tape recording (and they can't be, because of the indistinct sections). Sometimes there are modifications to the meaning. There are some examples below (see "Examples for Modifications 3"). To properly count this kind of modifications is impossible. The number below is the number of the "groups" of this kind of modifications. Such a group usually consists of one, two, three or more modified sentences.
Chapter 6: 10
Chapter 11: 22
Estimate (whole book): 1260
Modifications 4: Modifications not according to the tape recording while the original edition follows the tape recording. Minimal effects on the message of a sentence.
This are not justifiable modifications. The original edition is correct and it follows exactly the tape recording, but nevertheless the reviser modifies. Usually this modifications seem to be due to make "better" English. All of them are completely unnecessary and the effects on the meaning of the text are minimal. The reviser seems not to like some of Srila Prabhupada's expressions, and he very often replaces them with his favorites. Sometimes, however, he doesn't do it. Again there seems to be no system behind this kind of modifications.
Chapter 6: 16
Chapter 11: 33
Estimate (whole book): 2160
Modifications 5: Modifications not according to the tape recording while the original edition follows the tape recording. Effects on the meaning of a sentence.
This are the ones why many devotees are (rightfully) claiming, that the books have been modified. This are full-fledged modifications. The original edition is exactly according to the tape recording, but the reviser nevertheless modifies the text and changes the message of the sentence too. Examples below.
Chapter 6: 2
Chapter 11: 4
Estimate (whole book): 270
EXAMPLES FOR MODIFICATIONS 3
(Modifications not according to tape recording while the original edition also doesn't follow the tape recording exactly.)
TR=tape recording
OE=original edition
RE=revised edition
Chapter 6 (sparks and fire)
TR: ... as there are many minute particles of a spark of the original fire. So these sparks can be covered by the influence of maya, but not the original fire, or Krsna.
OE: ... they are minute particles or sparks of the supreme fire, but are not the original fire, or Krsna.
RE: ... they are minute particles or sparks of the original fire. So these sparks can be covered by the influence of maya, but the original fire, Krsna, cannot.
Chapter 6 (protection for Krsna)
TR: My dear Krsna, may Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is [indistinct] known protect your legs, the lord, who is known as Maniman protect Your thighs [indistinct] Lord Visnu, who is known as [indistinct: Yajna?] may protect Your legs;
OE: My dear Krsna, may the Lord known as Maniman protect Your thighs; may Lord Visnu who is known as Yajna protect Your legs;
RE: My dear Krsna, may the Lord who is known as Aja protect Your legs; may Lord Maniman protect Your knees; may Lorry Yajna protect Your thighs;
TR: Lord Acyuta may protect Your arms; Lord Hayagriva may protect Your abdomen; Lord Kesava may protect Your heart; Lord Visnu may protect Your arms;
OE: may Lord Acyuta protect Your arms; may Lord Hayagriva protect Your abdomen; may Lord Kesava protect Your heart; may Lord Visnu protect Your arms;
RE: may Lord Acyuta protect Your upper waist; may Lord Hayagriva protect Your abdomen; may Lord Kesava protect Your heart; may Lord Isa protect Your chest; may Lord Surya protect Your neck; may Lord Visnu protect Your arms;
TR: [...] Lord Visnu carries His conchshell may protect Your left side; [indistinct] Godhead Upendra may protect Your upside and Lord Tarksya may protect you from the downside of the earth;
OE: may Lord Visnu with His conchshell protect Your left side; may the Personality of Godhead Upendra protect You from above, and may Lord Tarksya protect you from below the earth;
RE: may Lord Ajana protect Your left side; may Lord Urugaya with His conchshell protect You on all sides; may the Personality of Godhead Upendra protect You from above; may Lord Tarksya protect You on the ground;