Prabhupāda Presenting the Message of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is
In this article, we see the deep compassion and unwavering integrity of Śrīla Prabhupāda as he shares his mission to give the world the Bhagavad-gītā in its purest form. He speaks to us not as a cold scholar, but as a loving spiritual father, anxious that we receive the "real thing" so our lives may be truly successful and free from the misguidance of rascals.
The Secret of Pure Success
Śrīla Prabhupāda often told his disciples that he possessed no magic or special scholarship other than his simple honesty. He explains that by presenting the Bhagavad-gītā exactly as it was spoken by Kṛṣṇa five thousand years ago, the spiritual potency is preserved, allowing anyone who reads it to become a Kṛṣṇa conscious person.
- I am not a magician. My only credit is I have not spoiled the Bhagavad-gita. I have presented as it is. Therefore it is successful.
- If personally I (Prabhupada) have any credit in this matter (of Krsna consciousness movement), it is only that I have tried to present Bhagavad-gita as it is, without adulteration (Bhagavad-gita, Preface).
- Our process of preaching this Krsna consciousness movement is only that we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any malinterpretation.
- The report is that our Bhagavad-gita As It Is is increasing in sale; others are decreasing. The reason is that we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any adulteration.
Following the Disciplic Succession
Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that the Bhagavad-gītā can only be understood through the paramparā, or disciplic succession. He warns us against the "rascals" and "bluffers" who use the Bhagavad-gītā to push their own political or philosophical agendas, noting that he himself is simply following the order of his Guru Mahārāja to present the truth without change.
- Don't make any addition and alteration of your so-called learned scholarship That will not help you. You must present Bhagavad-gita as it is. There is everything, very easily done, provided we follow parampara system.
- My Guru Maharaja ordered me that "You go and preach this philosophy to the Western world." So under his order I came, and I presented Bhagavad-gita As It Is, as you have read.
- Guru means one who has taken full shelter, complete surrender to Krsna, he is guru. Or he speaks only what is spoken by Krsna. Just like we are speaking in this Bhagavad-gita, as it is. There is no malinterpretation.
- They are responsible, these rascal politicians, the rascal scholars, so-called. Actually if we want good of the people, these rascals should be disclosed and people should come back. We should... Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is.
The History of the Publication
In these personal exchanges, Śrīla Prabhupāda shares his struggles and triumphs regarding the publication of the book. He mentions how the MacMillan Company originally forced him to minimize his manuscript, his subsequent desire to provide the unabridged version, and his immense joy whenever a new edition or a translation in a foreign language was completed.
- I was not very happy when I had to minimize my original manuscript. But later on, when the demand for Bhagavad-gita As It Is considerably increased, I was requested by many scholars and devotees to present the book in its original form (Bhagavad-gita, Preface).
- I am so glad to learn that you are reading my Bhagavad-gita As It Is with great interest, and I hope if you kindly read my books carefully that all your spiritual desires will be fulfilled.
- I was very happy to receive the new edition of Bhagavad gita the make up is very nice. Every time I see a new publication of my books it gives me so much enthusiasm that my life is increased by 100 years. Thank you for helping me so much.
- I have received your letter dated May 26th, 1972, along with the blue-print copies of Bhagavad-gita As It Is from MacMillan Company. It is very nice. So I shall be looking forward to seeing the entire manuscript and book sometime around first July, 1972.
Transforming the World Through Vāṇī
Śrīla Prabhupāda encourages his disciples to distribute this literature as the most valuable service to Kṛṣṇa. He explains that these books are not ordinary; they are the cream of Vedic knowledge. By studying them carefully and chanting the Sanskrit mantras, a person is automatically purified and becomes a steady preacher of the truth.
- Any way we can distribute our books is good because anyone who reads our KRSNA book, Teaching of Lord Caitanya, Nectar Of Devotion, and Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is sure to become a Krishna Conscious person. It is a most valuable service to Krishna to distribute these books.
- By remaining steady in chanting and studying our books carefully, along with chanting Sanskrit mantras in Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, automatically you will become freed from the modes of passion and ignorance, and gravity and steadiness will come.
- I have already answered all questions in my books such as Bhagavad-gita, so kindly read them and chant Hare Krishna Mantra.
- Please read carefully our book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and you will find yourself getting enlightenment to the fullest extent. There is no doubt of this.
Distributing the Topmost Knowledge
Śrīla Prabhupāda's vision was to introduce Bhagavad-gītā As It Is into every college and university. He took great pride in the fact that the book was a topmost seller in London and elsewhere, not for his own fame, but because it meant that the mission of Kṛṣṇa was finally being successfully presented to a godless civilization.
- Now our this Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is the topmost selling book in London. So Macmillan Company is our publisher, and within one year they have published three editions, fifty thousand each. So real thing will have real value.
- Please try to introduce into every college and university our Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
- Our propagation, this Krsna consciousness movement, is that we are trying to get our students well conversed in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. So those who are our students, we have got our books now ready published so nicely. People are accepting it.
- This godless civilization is so acute that it is very difficult to make them understand God consciousness, or Krsna consciousness. But still, as a matter of duty, we have to present, submit, these teachings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
A Life Dedicated to Truth
Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that his mission is simply to give Indian culture to the whole world without cheating. By understanding the Bhagavad-gītā as Arjuna did, without whimsical interpretation, one can solve all the problems of the world and ultimately go back to Kṛṣṇa.
- I want to give Indian culture to the whole world. I'm not going to cheat people, taking Bhagavad-gita and speaking all nonsense. I want to present Bhagavad-gita as it is. That is my mission.
- Practically I have experienced that this Krishna Consciousness Movement or to present the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita as it is can solve all problems of the world.
- In truth, not whimsically, not sentimentally; with sound philosophy, knowledge, argument, you try to understand Bhagavad-gita as it is, then after giving up this body, undoubtedly you go back to Krsna.
- There is no misinterpretation. Try to understand Bhagavad-gita as it is. Your life will be successful. So try to follow Arjuna. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s presentation of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is stands as the cornerstone of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. By strictly following the disciplic succession and refusing to alter Kṛṣṇa’s words for personal fame or scholarly prestige, he provided a transparent path for the world to connect with the Supreme Lord. His deep satisfaction in the publication of these books and his urgent call for their distribution reflect a heart completely dedicated to the spiritual welfare of humanity. To follow Śrīla Prabhupāda is to follow the Bhagavad-gītā as it is, ensuring a life of spiritual success and ultimate liberation.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Bhagavad-gita (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.