The greatest anxiety Srila Prabhupada expressed, is that after he’s gone, we will make changes in his books, and the whole works, the plan Prabhupada was working on, it will all be spoiled by us because of our tendency to change things.
Srimad-bhagavatam 4.20.17 Purport:
“One should accept the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by bowing down at the lotus feet of the Lord. This means that anything spoken by the Personality of Godhead should be taken as it is, with great care and attention and with great respect. It is not our business to amend the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or make additions or alterations, as it has become a custom for many so-called scholars and swamis who comment on the words of Bhagavad-gita. Here the practical example of how to accept the instruction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is shown by Prthu Maharaja. This is the way to receive knowledge through the parampara system.”
Letter to Kirtananda, Feb 10, 1967:
“Regarding your editing, I would very much like it. I am sending my lecture copies to you. I think my other copies are lying on the left side of my seat in a cardboard box which please find out. Please be careful not to change the ideas.”
Letter to Jayadvaita-Mar 17, 1971:
“I have dictated the missing purports from Chapter IX and they are set enclosed herewith. So far changing the working of verse or purport of 12:12 discussed before, it may remain as it is.”
[Comment: This order from Srila Prabhupada was ignored and the purport was changed.]
Letter to Frederico, Oct 24, 1974:
“I am very glad to learn that you are translating the Bhagavad-gita As It Is into Portuguese. Be careful not to change anything, but present it, exactly as it is. This is how we receive Bhagavad-gita through the disciplic succession as stated in the Fourth Chapter. By this translating work you will learn our philosophy very nicely. It is very important to broadcast Krishna consciousness all over the world. This is the great need of modern civilization.”
Letter: Bhargava-May 29, 1976:
“No, the printing of the Gita cover, this fashion is not at all approved by me. You have done most nonsensically. Why change, the cover? When people look to see the Bhagavad-gita they expect to see Krishna and Arjuna, not the picture of Krishna with cow. You have done a great mistake by changing the front picture
and it will hamper the sale. In future, you do not do any changes without asking me first.
Simply because there is no stock of books, we can do anything whimsically??? Is this logic? Gita is not spoken in Vrindavana, it is spoken on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra[1], but this is Vrindavana picture. That chariot driven by 4 horses, that is the real Kuruksetra picture. It is not that because there is no stock, we can do whimsically as we like and lose the idea, that is rasa-bhasa. Because there is no bread, you take stone to eat? There is no stock of bread so you will take stone??? The front picture is most important thing and you have changed it. It must remain standard, and not change. Also, the lettering is not nice on the cover. You could have taken a color picture of Krishna and Arjuna and used it black and white (one color) on the front cover. Just as you did with the inside back cover of the Bhagavat darsana, the original picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in color but you have printed it in black and white. You could have done this on the front cover with Krishna and Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, but the cover must not be changed.”
Letter to Radhavallabha, Aug 26, 1976:
You may title this book, Teachings of Lord Kapila, but it must be subtitled, “The Son of Devahuti”. That will remain, do not try to change it. The Americans may like it or not like it, but we must make the distinction between devahuti putra kapila, and the atheistic Kapila. Do not try to change anything without my permission.”
Letter to Radhavallabha, Oct 7, 1976:
“Titling of the Ninth Canto as Liberation is good, and the Tenth Canto should be called ‘The Summum Bonum’. As far as the 11th and 12th Cantos are concerned, they shall be named when they are presented. The title which you have given to the Eighth Canto was a little hard to understand at first but if it refers to pralaya, then it is alright. You must consult with me on such matters. Do not manufacture anything.”
Letter to Gopiparanadhana, Sep 28, 1976:
“Please accept my blessings. With reference to your letter to Harikesa dated 21st inst., regarding the purport, 2nd paragraph to Bhagavatam 2.2.38, it is clear. Do not try to change anything.”
Unfortunately, for whatever nefarious reasons, Srila Prabhupada works are currently being “edited”, or “changed”. This is well documented by some devotees in Internet Web-Sites.
FOOT NOTE:
[1] Kuruksetra—a holy place due to the penances of King Kuru. It was here that the great Mahabharata war was fought; situated about ninety miles north of New Delhi where Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, five thousand years ago. It is a place of pilgrimage.