Why Original Books?
After Srila Prabhupada's departure in November 1977, the institution he trusted to publish his books began making thousands of unauthorized changes to his published works. Here is the evidence.
The Scope of Changes
Bhagavad-gita Verses Changed
The 1983 revised edition altered 77% of the translation verses of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Changes to Krishna Book
Over 15,000 alterations made to the original Krishna Book, ranging from wording changes to complete rewrites of passages.
Paintings Deleted
37 original paintings by Prabhupada's disciples were removed or replaced in revised editions of his books.
The Case for Original Books
The Arsa-Prayoga Principle
In the Vedic tradition, the writings of great spiritual authorities must be preserved exactly as written. This principle recognizes that the words of a self-realized soul carry transcendental potency that should not be tampered with. Even if apparent discrepancies exist, they are accepted as arsa-prayoga.
Read full article →The "Rascal Editors" Conversation
On June 22, 1977, Prabhupada was informed about unauthorized changes to his books. His response was unequivocal: he called the editors "rascals" and ordered the changes restored. This recorded conversation is one of his clearest directives on this subject.
Read full article →No Authorization Given
Prabhupada never authorized a comprehensive revision of his books. The most extensive revision — the 1983 Bhagavad-gita — was carried out six years after his departure. No written or recorded instruction from Prabhupada authorizes this revision.
Artwork Changes
37 original paintings by Prabhupada's disciples were removed or replaced. These paintings were personally approved by Prabhupada for his books. The original artwork carried the devotional mood and artistic vision that he guided.
What Was Changed?
The changes to Prabhupada's books fall into several categories: translation changes that alter philosophical meaning, purport rewrites that substitute the editor's understanding for the author's, deletion of content the editor deemed unnecessary, removal of artwork personally selected by Prabhupada, and structural changes to formatting and presentation.
While some changes may appear minor in isolation, the cumulative effect is significant. When 77% of Bhagavad-gita verses are altered, the reader is no longer reading what Prabhupada wrote. They are reading an interpretation of what someone else thought Prabhupada meant to write.
The original editions were published by major publishers including Macmillan (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 1972), received endorsements from scholars at Princeton, Columbia, and other universities, and were the editions that Prabhupada personally distributed during his lifetime. These are the editions we offer.
“If every time someone feels something they call for changing everything, then all that I have done will very quickly be lost.”
— Srila Prabhupada, Letter, April 2, 1972
Get the Original Editions
We stock original, authorized editions of Srila Prabhupada's books. Every word preserved as it was published.