Guror ajna (Part 22)
Srila Prabhupada warns about danger of own interpretation: blasphemy.
One should accept in toto without any change.
One should not take advantage of Bhagavad-gita and interpret in a foolish way.
“Our present movement is based on Bhagavad-gita—Bhagavad-gita as it is. We don’t interpret. We do not interpret foolishly because… I say purposefully this word “foolishly,” that why should we interpret Krishna’s words? Am I more than Krishna? Or did Krishna leave some portion to be explained by me by interpretation? Then what is the importance of Krishna? If I give my own interpretation, thinking myself more than Krishna, this is blasphemy. How I can become more than Krishna? If actually we want to take advantage of this Bhagavad-gita, then we must take Bhagavad-gita as it is. Just like Arjuna took. Arjuna, after hearing Bhagavad-gita, he said, sarvam etam ritam manye: “I accept all the words, my dear Keshava, whatever You have said. I accept them in toto, without any change.” This is understanding of Bhagavad-gita, not that I take advantage of the Bhagavad-gita and I interpret in my foolish way so that people will accept my philosophy.”
- Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Cornerstone Laying - Bombay, Jan 23, 1975
