About
History
Born in 1950 in New York City, Gopiparanadhana Prabhu received his B.A. in linguistics from Columbia University in 1972 and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1973. Under Srila Prabhupada’s guidance he developed an expertise in Sanskrit and served as an editor for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT).
After Srila Prabhupada’s passing, he helped complete Prabhupada’s work on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, as well as work Prabhupada had done on Mukunda-mala-stotra. His crowning achievement in this field may have been his translation of the three-volume Brihad-Bhagavatamrita by Sanatana Goswami, in which we follow the devotee Gopa Kumara on his epic journey to Krishna’s abode of Goloka Vrindavana, as he reaches higher and higher levels of love for the Lord.
Although he was afflicted with severe asthma since childhood, he continued to translate Gaudiya Vaishnava literature from Sanskrit, notably Sanatana Goswami’s Krishna-lila-stava (published) and the six Sandarbhas of Srila Jiva Goswami. In 2005, Gopiparanadhana established the Srimad-Bhagavat Vidyapitham, a Sanskrit Language school backed by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT). Here he trained prospective Sanskrit translators and editors for the BBT. Besides teaching his students Sanskrit grammar, spoken Sanskrit, and Kavi Karnapura’s science of poetry, most importantly he trained them to develop high levels of bhakti and brahminical qualities.
Vaishnavas around the world mourn the loss of this great soul who passed from this world in Krishna’s land and is surely continuing on under Krishna’s protection. As disclosed in his will, Gopiparanadhana Dasa’s ashes are placed in Samadhi at the foot of Govardhana Hill, right across from ISKCON Govardhana and next to the Pushpa Samadhi of his Godbrother Padmalochan Dasa.
Perhaps the greatest hint as to Gopiparanadhana’s personal conduct, nature and inner spiritual focus comes from a framed picture that he kept on his desk in those later days. It read: “Do not hear from the mouths of persons lacking proper conduct. If your conduct is below par, you should not publicly preach about the Lord. Close the door and preach to yourself. Bhajan really begins when one’s outside and inside are the same.”