Does Bhāgavatam 1.5.11 permit changes to siddhānta?

Q: Are some changes to siddhānta that important? Sometimes, siddhānta is adjusted for the audience. Sometimes, there may be minor mistakes. Verse 1.5.11 in the Bhāgavatam says defects in such works are allowed, because the names of Kṛṣṇa are in that work. The names destroy all impiousness of the whole world through such works.

A: I do not think 1.5.11 states that changes or adjustments to the siddhānta are acceptable in works meant to present śāstra. The verse is as follows:

tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api
nāmāny anantasya yaśo’ṅkitāni yat śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ

[On the other hand,] that linguistic composition in which each verse, even though grammatically or poetically defective, contains the names that are imprinted with the glory of the limitless One [Bhagavān], destroys the sins of humanity, since these are the names that saintly devotees hear, recite, and sing. (sb 1.5.11)

Śrīdhar Swami, Śrī Jīva Goswami, and Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī all agree in their commentaries on this verse that grammatical or poetical defects are allowed. The verse has no mention of adjustments to siddhānta, let alone allowing them. Grammatical or poetic defects do not alter the truth being conveyed, whereas changes to siddhānta do.

Q: What is the problem with changes to siddhānta, if people are induced to chant the names as a result of that work?

A: The problem is that alterations to siddhānta propagate untruth about Bhagavān, and speech tainted by untruth is unfit for glorifying Him. Such speech is displeasing to Śrī Kr̥ṣṇa, which goes against the purpose of chanting His names – which is to please Him. In Anuccheda 262 of the Bhakti Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Goswami cites the following verse to warn against offenses, which obstruct the name from giving its result:

rāgādi-dūṣitaṁ cittaṁ nāspadaṁ madhusūdane badhnāti na ratiṁ haṁsaḥ kadācit kardamāmbuni
na yogyā keśavaṁ stotuṁ vāg-duṣṭā cānṛtādinā tamaso nāśanāyālaṁ nendor lekhā ghanāvṛtā

Bhagavān Madhusūdana does not manifest in a heart polluted by materialistic attachments, for a swan is never attracted to muddy water. Speech defiled by untruth is unfit to extol Bhagavān Keśava, for the moon cannot dispel darkness when covered by clouds. (Viṣṇu-dharma)

Here, we see that speech containing untruth is not yogya or suitable for glorifying Bhagavān. Apasiddhāntas are just that – they are untruths about tattva, whether jīva-tattva, Bhagavad-tattva or bhakti-tattva.

Therefore, it is not sufficient that a work contains Bhagavān’s names. One must also avoid offenses in the course of glorifying Him, because offenses obstruct the name from giving its result.