I'm wondering if anyone has ever noticed this. In the last few verses of the 11th chapter, there are two versions of which form Krishna is referring to.
First, from the Sivananda edition that Gerard linked....
QUOTE
52. The Blessed Lord said: Very hard indeed it is to see this form of Mine which thou hast seen. Even the gods are ever longing to behold it.
53. Neither by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by gift, nor by sacrifice, can I be seen in this form as thou hast seen Me (so easily).
54. But by single-minded devotion can I, of this form, be known and seen in reality and also entered into, O Arjuna!
Then, from vedabase.net (ACBS)...
QUOTE
52: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, this form of Mine you are now seeing is very difficult to behold. Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form, which is so dear.
53: The form you are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious penances, nor by charity, nor by worship. It is not by these means that one can see Me as I am.
54: My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly. Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding.
In verse 52 and 53 we get "in this form as thou hast seen Me" - Sivananda. In ACBS - "the form you are seeing". Yet even in the sanskrit word-for-word in ACBS we find "idam rupam drstavan asi" translated as "this form as you have seen". If you look up in the
Sanskrit Dictionary the use of the word "drstavan" is all in the past tense, "I saw it the day before yesterday". In 54 Sivananda translates "of
this form", but that is in the same context with Krishna referring to the universal form.
I checked this out in two other editions, one by Graham Schweig and another by P. Yogananda. They both seem to favor towards Sivananda's. It also seems to make the conversation flow better, lending itself to the 12 chapter.
Of course I know the Vraja-vasis will have none of this.
), although, sure, it can lack in (spiritual) understanding, but that's not what I need, anyway. I just want a very down to basics, yes, even literal, "no nonsense" text.