By Kesava Krsna Dasa
We might take the “As It Is” in our Bhagavad-gita title for granted. All authors want to be different and original. With many versions of Bhagavad-gita already available, Srila Prabhupada’s “As It Is” addition was a very bold and provocative one. He is saying, “this is it, how it should be, the definitive and genuine Bhagavad-gita”. Who else can claim this with confidence?
Considering that there are many ways of looking at Krishna’s song of wisdom, and studying it from different angles of vision, it is all the more brazen to say, “As It Is”. What confidence Srila Prabhupada had. It was not blind confidence that sought to be different and original for the sake of it. Though “As It Is” appeared to be different and original, his conviction was such that he could say how God spoke Bhagavad-gita. This chimes with his ability to say, “this is a fact, and that is a fact”.
“As It Is” is intended as a literary weapon to cut asunder all pretence on knowing Krishna’s words and intentions. “As It Is” is a truth package of mercy, love and compassion that helps people be able to tell right from wrong, and coorect frrom bad versions of Bhagavad-gita. “As It Is” was first thought to appeal to a few honest souls, but it’s ‘as it should be’ content struck a chord with millions more people, who want the truth about life.
Some people will say that “As It Is” is a claim to know God’s words. With Srila Prabhupada, and his utter conviction, how can anyone claim this? Srila Prabhupada’s conviction was more than that. One who knows his eternal relationship with Krishna knows more than those who do not know. This knowing gives self-evident finality, and what can be more final than “As It Is?”
Being a pure devotee of the Lord, Srila Prabhupada did not have to contrive an appeal for Krishna’s song of devotion. He did not have to use popularity tricks to promote the now very popular Bhagavad-gita As It Is. He simply repeated what was said before – that’s all. Giving the world an intact, repeated message of wisdom has a self-evident presence that sets it apart from pretence, and how popular it is.
With people being so accustomed to reading and hearing self-generated thoughts that manifest as novels, theories, speculation, self-glorification and other ascending-knowledge limits, “As It Is” breaks this mould so acutely that it is actually original in concept. To repeat what authority says, as Vedic wisdom teaches, is a quality of submission seen as weakness in a society beset with exploitation.
Analysing the properties of submission, one finds that it requires strength of character and integrity to be able to submit to something genuine, that is, if the genuine is there. The genuine “As It Is” has enabled many souls to submit to God, Krishna, out of love and effection, and not by force. “As It Is” draws out eternal love for Krishna that lay dormant within the hearts of everyone.
The eternality of presence is indicated by the word “Is”. In this respect, Is is now, the present. The eternal song of God is an ever-present feature of Krishna’s many pastimes performed now and always. Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is a genuine synthesis of all Vedic thought meant for now, that remains the same in the past and future.
Only someone who lives in the present (liberated soul) can, with certainty and insight, add “As It Is” to an ever-presnet dialogue that is Bhagavad-gita. Srila Prabhupada, living in the now, although adapting the message of Godhead for time, place, and circumstance, is a living emblem of the meaning of Is. Because of this, his Bhagavad-gita is alive with the presence of the Lord’s words, which are the same as the Lord Himself.
Lesser minds will say that Bhagavad-gita was, or is manifest maya. “As It Is” informs of a live transmission spoken directly from Krishna’s lips, that pure devotees aspire for with unquenching thirst. One does not need the mystic ability of Sanjaya to be able to see what transpired on the field of Kurukshetra, when Srila Prabhupada is there in heart, and who transmits Krishna’s words by “As It Is” heart transmission via the written word.
“As It Is” tells us that not only is the message of Bhagavad-gita alive and live now, but devotional service unto the speaker of Bhagavad-gita is a now event, although it takes time to realise it. When Krishna ends His gita song with a request to fully surrender unto Him, then “Man manah bhava mad bhakto” becomes an eternal reality – pure devotees never forget Krishna. To never forget Krishna is indicated by the word Is.
A plural subjective meaning of Is is the word be. One could say, “Let the Bhagavad-gita be”. This requires self-evident intervention from Srila Prabhupada to position the the title of Bhagavad-gita As It Is for proper deliberation. All conjecture surrounding the aura of bhagavad-gita can be ended with “As It Is”.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is then, is an ever-fresh and relevant song of truth. Truth and “As It Is” are synonymous weapons to tear through the illusory veil of maya. The reality of bhagavad-gita As It Is is reviving forgotten “Nitya Krishna Dasa” relationships and creating many more pure devotees. If by making people into pure devotees was Srila Prabhupada’s way of displaying ‘mystic’ power, this is certainly the case with Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Because Srila Prabhupada repeated what was heard, the “As It Is” truth bearer has a pull of attraction. People are attracted to things of old, and original, if possible. Bhagavad-gita As It Is is the perfect original gift. Nothing can be more original than Krishna’s words whih existed before creation. With all these considerations and more, we have to say that a lot of thought went into adding “As It Is”. May Bhagavad-gita As It Is lead us to pure devotional service.
Ys Kesava Krsna Dasa – GRS.
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