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Bhagavad-Gita As It Is
A translation of the short Sanskrit text with EXTENSIVE commentary from a Hare Krishna standpoint.
883 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
About the author
Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
326 books761 followersKrishna Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, also known as Vyāsa or Veda-Vyāsa (वेदव्यास, the one who classified the Vedas into four parts) is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. He is traditonally regarded as the author of the Mahābhārata, although it is also widely held that he only composed the core of the epic, the Bhārata. A significant portion of the epic later was only added in later centuries, which then came to be known as the Mahābhārata. The date of composition of this epic is not known - It was definitvely part of the traditions in Indian subcontinent at the time Gautam Buddha (~500 BCE) which would suggest it having been already around for atleast a few centuries. It was chiefy put down in the written form only somewhere between 300 BCE to 300 CE.
As the name would suggest, Vyāsa is believed to have categorised the primordial single Veda into its four canonical collections. He is also considered to be the scribe of Purānās, ancient Hindu texts eulogizing various deities, primarily the divine Trimurti God in Hinduism through divine stories.
As the name would suggest, Vyāsa is believed to have categorised the primordial single Veda into its four canonical collections. He is also considered to be the scribe of Purānās, ancient Hindu texts eulogizing various deities, primarily the divine Trimurti God in Hinduism through divine stories.
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February 12, 2024
The Bhagavad Gita is considered as the condensed form of complex philosophical texts, The Upanishads. It is said to have all the essence of Vedas. Bhagavad Gita means the Lord's song, and it can be seen in the 11th chapter of the Indian epic, The Mahabharata.
Gita has Lord Krishna's conversation with his disciple, Arjuna, on the Kurukshetra battlefield. This is considered one of the important religious texts of Hinduism. But in my opinion, it can't be just considered as a holy book for a single religion. It is a treasure house of wisdom that will help every person irrespective of their caste, religion, and nationality.
I am a person who believes in the following quote by Tryon Edwards,
"Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny."
Bhagavad Gita is my favorite book of all time. Every day I start my daily routine by reading few pages from it in the morning and thinking about what I read for some time. I believe that this habit has played a vital role in building up my character. I have read multiple versions of the Bhagavad Gita. Each one is unique in its own way. This is a book that every human being must read at least once in their lifetime.
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November 11, 2015
Bhagavada Gita is a text when you read it in Sanskrit produces an effect that resonates somewhere deep in your heart. I know this because as a child I used to hear my grand father recite Gita as it is in Sanskrit (he knew it by heart), and that had some kind of celestial experience inside me.
It was a very big book which needed patience to finish. I read from cover to cover. Since I didn't know Sanskrit I had to depend on a translated version. The translation is said to be 'as it is', however, I found the translation very dry. This particular translation just couldn't make much impact, else its one of the greatest spiritual text of India. Regarding commentary, I never dared to touch it. It was too orthodox, for me.
Note: This rating represent only the quality of the translation and no the original content. The Bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi is a much better book. He was a selfless man who followed the teachings of Bhagavad Gita throughout his life. Gandhi has lived the words he had said. You can check his version here: Gita According to Gandhi
It was a very big book which needed patience to finish. I read from cover to cover. Since I didn't know Sanskrit I had to depend on a translated version. The translation is said to be 'as it is', however, I found the translation very dry. This particular translation just couldn't make much impact, else its one of the greatest spiritual text of India. Regarding commentary, I never dared to touch it. It was too orthodox, for me.
Note: This rating represent only the quality of the translation and no the original content. The Bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi is a much better book. He was a selfless man who followed the teachings of Bhagavad Gita throughout his life. Gandhi has lived the words he had said. You can check his version here: Gita According to Gandhi
July 11, 2008
I love the Bhagavad Gita. It offers something for everyone, no matter what your religous/spritual persuasion might be.
However, I had mixed feelings about this version which made me debate between three and four stars for this book.
This is Prabhupada's translation. He is best known as the Founder and/or person who brought the Hare Krishna form of Vasinavism to the United States. The only issue I take with it is that at times he can be rather controversial in his interpretive purports of the verses naturally injecting his personal opinions that may or may not be accurate to the meaning of the verse.
However, whether in agreeance with him or not, Prabhupada is still a person who deserves respect and the translations of the Gita passages themselves are some of the more personal and clear. This is a review of the hardbound edition, which makes a lovely showpiece.
All in all worth reading for the great translation, and worth owning for the durable beautiful hardbound edition which also has color photo/art inserts. Prabhupada's purports and interpretations are interesting to look at as well... so long as you don't take his interpretation as law and you form your own opinions.
Overall, a translation worth having.
However, I had mixed feelings about this version which made me debate between three and four stars for this book.
This is Prabhupada's translation. He is best known as the Founder and/or person who brought the Hare Krishna form of Vasinavism to the United States. The only issue I take with it is that at times he can be rather controversial in his interpretive purports of the verses naturally injecting his personal opinions that may or may not be accurate to the meaning of the verse.
However, whether in agreeance with him or not, Prabhupada is still a person who deserves respect and the translations of the Gita passages themselves are some of the more personal and clear. This is a review of the hardbound edition, which makes a lovely showpiece.
All in all worth reading for the great translation, and worth owning for the durable beautiful hardbound edition which also has color photo/art inserts. Prabhupada's purports and interpretations are interesting to look at as well... so long as you don't take his interpretation as law and you form your own opinions.
Overall, a translation worth having.
November 13, 2007
The Bhagavad is one of the greatest works of literature. Here it is tenderly and lovingly mangled from its original by a sectarian and abusive translator who, while offering the "original" sanskrit, still departs wildly from it in his purports. What the book gains from is an immense popularity due it's publishers fervent marketing of the book, free copies, etc.
May 31, 2022
I read this version of the Gita alongside the Eknath Easwaran's translation published by Nilgiri Press in 2007. This version differs as it gets in-depth as a whole. The book gives the Sanskrit text, the transliteration, a correlating lexicon, the translation, and then a purport which summarizes and interprets the Sanskrit passage.
From what I have read and visually compared to the Eknath Easwaran text both books are the same and include the entire Gita. I could be wrong as this is my first rodeo into the Bhagavad Gita.
The chapters include: Karma-yoga, Transcendental Knowledge, Krishna Consciousness, Sankhya-yoga, Knowledge of the Absolute, Attaining the Supreme, The Opulence of the Absolute, and lots of other powerful information.
An appendix includes: an index about all artwork throughout the book, a glossary, a Sanskrit pronunciation guide, and a helpful generalized index.
This version, The Bhagavad-gita - As It Is, is full of spiritual advice and is for the serious student in Hindu studies and Vedic literature. These pages contain a lifetime of knowledge and spirituality.
As It Is translation: "Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, one becomes too strongly attached to sense of enjoyment and falls down into hell." pg. 739
Eknath Easwaran translation: "Bound by their greed and entangled in a web of delusion, whirled about by a fragmented mind, they fall into a dark hell." pg. 240
From what I have read and visually compared to the Eknath Easwaran text both books are the same and include the entire Gita. I could be wrong as this is my first rodeo into the Bhagavad Gita.
The chapters include: Karma-yoga, Transcendental Knowledge, Krishna Consciousness, Sankhya-yoga, Knowledge of the Absolute, Attaining the Supreme, The Opulence of the Absolute, and lots of other powerful information.
An appendix includes: an index about all artwork throughout the book, a glossary, a Sanskrit pronunciation guide, and a helpful generalized index.
This version, The Bhagavad-gita - As It Is, is full of spiritual advice and is for the serious student in Hindu studies and Vedic literature. These pages contain a lifetime of knowledge and spirituality.
As It Is translation: "Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, one becomes too strongly attached to sense of enjoyment and falls down into hell." pg. 739
Eknath Easwaran translation: "Bound by their greed and entangled in a web of delusion, whirled about by a fragmented mind, they fall into a dark hell." pg. 240
September 29, 2019
Edit, 29.09.2019: I had posted a review for this book back when I [partially] read it in December 2016. In retrospect, the review seems pretty childish to me. I completely disregarded the fact that the Gita was written in a period when women and men were - by and large - not considered to be equals.
What had annoyed me from the very outset was how Krishna-centric this translation was*, but I had soldiered through anyway. Later, when I came across this women-are-of-low-birth bit, it offended me way more than it would have had I not been looking to get triggered. It just made me do what I wanted to do in the first dozen pages itself - abandon the book. "This is misogynistic" seemed like a more concrete reason to stop reading than "the translation seems biased," so I went with it.
Anyhoo, tl;dr: My old review was ignorant. I might decide to read the Gita at some point in the future. What I definitely will not do is read this translation again. It convolutes the original Gita quite a bit, and that's not fair to readers who don't understand Sanskrit and don't know any better. Not nice.
*especially because it came from the founder of ISKCON, which made the Krishna-centricity seem deliberate
On to my original, ignorant take on the book...
---
While reading, I came across this:
"O son of Prthā, those who take shelter in Me, THOUGH THEY BE OF LOWER BIRTH - WOMEN, VAIŚYAS [MERCHANTS] AND ŚŪDRAS [WORKERS] - can attain the supreme destination."
(Chapter 9, Text 32)
That did it for me. I'm sure some human has written this book. I mean, of course a human "has written" this book - has written the entire Mahabharata, which this is a part of - but this one sentence (such a thing can only come from a human) was good enough to tell me that not just the words, but also the message and the ideology they convey are from some human brain (although I have had my doubts regarding this for some time now).
And if they aren't from a human and if "The Supreme Godhead" actually did descend upon earth and grace us with their presence ("His" presence, if I am to follow the style of the Gita) and if they really did say these words or words along these lines, then thank you very much, but I don't find such an entity worth worshipping.
Regards,
An Atheist (an atheist with even more conviction than earlier, thanks to this book)
P.S.: I also read the Sanskrit equivalent, thinking that maybe something went wrong in the translation, but nope... the Sanskrit one says the exact same thing.
What had annoyed me from the very outset was how Krishna-centric this translation was*, but I had soldiered through anyway. Later, when I came across this women-are-of-low-birth bit, it offended me way more than it would have had I not been looking to get triggered. It just made me do what I wanted to do in the first dozen pages itself - abandon the book. "This is misogynistic" seemed like a more concrete reason to stop reading than "the translation seems biased," so I went with it.
Anyhoo, tl;dr: My old review was ignorant. I might decide to read the Gita at some point in the future. What I definitely will not do is read this translation again. It convolutes the original Gita quite a bit, and that's not fair to readers who don't understand Sanskrit and don't know any better. Not nice.
*especially because it came from the founder of ISKCON, which made the Krishna-centricity seem deliberate
On to my original, ignorant take on the book...
---
While reading, I came across this:
"O son of Prthā, those who take shelter in Me, THOUGH THEY BE OF LOWER BIRTH - WOMEN, VAIŚYAS [MERCHANTS] AND ŚŪDRAS [WORKERS] - can attain the supreme destination."
(Chapter 9, Text 32)
That did it for me. I'm sure some human has written this book. I mean, of course a human "has written" this book - has written the entire Mahabharata, which this is a part of - but this one sentence (such a thing can only come from a human) was good enough to tell me that not just the words, but also the message and the ideology they convey are from some human brain (although I have had my doubts regarding this for some time now).
And if they aren't from a human and if "The Supreme Godhead" actually did descend upon earth and grace us with their presence ("His" presence, if I am to follow the style of the Gita) and if they really did say these words or words along these lines, then thank you very much, but I don't find such an entity worth worshipping.
Regards,
An Atheist (an atheist with even more conviction than earlier, thanks to this book)
P.S.: I also read the Sanskrit equivalent, thinking that maybe something went wrong in the translation, but nope... the Sanskrit one says the exact same thing.
June 23, 2009
I'm surprised at the extreme hostility to atheism in this text. Hinduism is certainly on the same level as Christianity in regards to its vicious hatred of the wholly other.
In text 4.7-4.8, Krisna reveals that whenever there's a rise in atheism, God himself descends to annihilate the demonic non-believers and to reestablish religious belief:
Text 4.7-8,
Psalm 14:1
That said, this was an amusing text for me to finally read. The basic setting is famous and I had certainly heard of it before. The great warrior Arjuna is leading his army on the field in a royal civil war. He rides out in his chariot to survey the opposition and he sees his uncles, cousins, friends, etc. arrayed against him. War is hell, but civil war is even worse. Arjuna sits down, overcome with despair at the situation, and Krisna comes to talk to him. Their conversation is the Bhagavad-gita.
I had always thought that their conversation would have a pacifist hue to it. The setting certainly lends itself to a powerful condemnation of warfare in general and civil war in particular. So it was with some surprise that I came to realize Krisna spends this whole conversation exhorting Arjuna to go forth and slaughter the opposition.
It's not a pacifist text; it's jingoistic mysticism!
The Bhagavad-gita sheds some light on one of the darkest, most revolting cockroaches of religious ideology -- the justification, no, glorification, of murdering your fellow humans. This degradation and cheapening of life is a cancer that may not be unique to religion, but it is central in all the major ones, as seen in this text:
Text 2.37,
Religion encourages one to believe -- with no evidence -- in an afterlife, an eternal afterlife of glory, and once one accepts that absurdity, it becomes trivial to convince one to murder and to die for any (religious) reason. After all, if this life is suffering, if this life is but a fleeting shadow of the real life that is to come after, then what real harm is there in killing others, or in dying yourself? Especially if you perceive that your God has commanded it?
This extension of the argument is no exaggeration on my part. This line of reasoning is given full play, front and center, in the Bhagavad-gita, with Krisna eventually opining that it would be immoral for Arjuna to not go out and kill on the battlefield in this civil war. Why? Because Krisna has already killed everyone in the world (if you take a long enough temporal view of things), so what does it matter if some of them die now by Arjuna's hand, or die later by some other cause?
All are dead to God; how they get there is just a detail.
There's some beautiful poetry and thought-provoking phrases of speech in here, though. It's just a shame so many people have a hard time distinguishing reality from fantasy, and turn the interesting nightmares of fiction into a scourge of human life.
_______________
As a note about this particular translation, the translator gives you the verse (1-3 lines), and then he gives a 1-4 page essay on how that verse clearly demonstrates his cult (that he founded) is the only way to attain enlightenment.
I read only the translated verses of the Bhagavad-gita. I did not read any of the translator's "explanations" of the what the texts mean. That took the book from being about ~700 pages to being ~200. The translator is sectarian and wordy.
I was entertained by the Amazon.com reviews of this translation. All the 5-star ratings are by Krisna Cultists who are True Believers(tm). All the 1-star ratings are by Hindi cultists who belong to a different sect, and therefore view the exaltation of Krisna as a delusion.
Most of the 3-star ratings were from academics and scholars who pretty uniformly found the translation of the actual text to be quite good, erring on the side of poetry rather than literal translation, making it an enjoyable and easy read. Simultaneously, the 3-star ratings found the explanation of each verse to be tedious, irritating, and abusively slanted to one particularly extreme interpretation.
This copy also includes a collection of full-color glossy prints of paintings, which are a bit nightmarish and terribly disturbing, but awesome nonetheless!
In text 4.7-4.8, Krisna reveals that whenever there's a rise in atheism, God himself descends to annihilate the demonic non-believers and to reestablish religious belief:
Text 4.7-8,
Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, and a predominant rise of irreligion--at that time I descend myself.And compare Psalm 14:1 from the Bible with the text 7.15 in the Bhagavad-gita:
To deliver the pious and annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.
Psalm 14:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.Text 7.15,
Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto me.I don't know why I was so surprised that Hinduism has the same deplorable problems with non-believers; all religions seem to have a terrible record when it comes to dehumanizing the wholly other. The similarities between text 7.15 and Psalm 14:1 are pretty striking, to me at least.
That said, this was an amusing text for me to finally read. The basic setting is famous and I had certainly heard of it before. The great warrior Arjuna is leading his army on the field in a royal civil war. He rides out in his chariot to survey the opposition and he sees his uncles, cousins, friends, etc. arrayed against him. War is hell, but civil war is even worse. Arjuna sits down, overcome with despair at the situation, and Krisna comes to talk to him. Their conversation is the Bhagavad-gita.
I had always thought that their conversation would have a pacifist hue to it. The setting certainly lends itself to a powerful condemnation of warfare in general and civil war in particular. So it was with some surprise that I came to realize Krisna spends this whole conversation exhorting Arjuna to go forth and slaughter the opposition.
It's not a pacifist text; it's jingoistic mysticism!
The Bhagavad-gita sheds some light on one of the darkest, most revolting cockroaches of religious ideology -- the justification, no, glorification, of murdering your fellow humans. This degradation and cheapening of life is a cancer that may not be unique to religion, but it is central in all the major ones, as seen in this text:
Text 2.37,
either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore, get up with determination and fight.That exact line of reasoning has persuaded and impelled men and women to commit shameful acts beyond description throughout our history. Voltaire may have been thinking of verses like this when he wrote, "He who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
Religion encourages one to believe -- with no evidence -- in an afterlife, an eternal afterlife of glory, and once one accepts that absurdity, it becomes trivial to convince one to murder and to die for any (religious) reason. After all, if this life is suffering, if this life is but a fleeting shadow of the real life that is to come after, then what real harm is there in killing others, or in dying yourself? Especially if you perceive that your God has commanded it?
This extension of the argument is no exaggeration on my part. This line of reasoning is given full play, front and center, in the Bhagavad-gita, with Krisna eventually opining that it would be immoral for Arjuna to not go out and kill on the battlefield in this civil war. Why? Because Krisna has already killed everyone in the world (if you take a long enough temporal view of things), so what does it matter if some of them die now by Arjuna's hand, or die later by some other cause?
All are dead to God; how they get there is just a detail.
There's some beautiful poetry and thought-provoking phrases of speech in here, though. It's just a shame so many people have a hard time distinguishing reality from fantasy, and turn the interesting nightmares of fiction into a scourge of human life.
_______________
As a note about this particular translation, the translator gives you the verse (1-3 lines), and then he gives a 1-4 page essay on how that verse clearly demonstrates his cult (that he founded) is the only way to attain enlightenment.
I read only the translated verses of the Bhagavad-gita. I did not read any of the translator's "explanations" of the what the texts mean. That took the book from being about ~700 pages to being ~200. The translator is sectarian and wordy.
I was entertained by the Amazon.com reviews of this translation. All the 5-star ratings are by Krisna Cultists who are True Believers(tm). All the 1-star ratings are by Hindi cultists who belong to a different sect, and therefore view the exaltation of Krisna as a delusion.
Most of the 3-star ratings were from academics and scholars who pretty uniformly found the translation of the actual text to be quite good, erring on the side of poetry rather than literal translation, making it an enjoyable and easy read. Simultaneously, the 3-star ratings found the explanation of each verse to be tedious, irritating, and abusively slanted to one particularly extreme interpretation.
This copy also includes a collection of full-color glossy prints of paintings, which are a bit nightmarish and terribly disturbing, but awesome nonetheless!
July 9, 2015
EDIT: The five stars are for only for Gita (I'd recommend reading any normal translation) and not for this translation by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of ISKCON who has mixed the nonsensical spices of Krishna-bhakti into an excellent book such as this.
Geeta Saar or Summary of Geeta:
"Whatever happened, it happened for good.
Whatever is happening, is happening for good.
Whatever will happen, will happen for good.
What has slipped away from you, for which you are shedding tears?
What have you brought in this world along with yourself, that you now have lost?
What have you produced (with your own material) that now has been obliterated?
Everything that you have, you have taken from here.
Every small thing you have given out, you have given here.
Whatever is yours today,
Was some other person's yesterday,
Will be someone else's tomorrow.
Transformation (in and of the world), is inevitable."
Bhagavad Geeta meaning in English The Song of God remains the most relieving of all spiritual jewels available to us humans. I confess that I adhere only to the first few chapters that answers the most primitive of questions related to life, death and actions. It is but a small part of Mahabharata (an epic rivaled by none) where Krishna instructs Arjuna before the Kurukshetra war.
Attachment grips Arjuna, and he feels miserable, amoral and sorry for participating in the war against his own kin. It is then Krishna who moralises him, shakes him off his cowardice and reminds him of his Dharma (roughly translates to 'Duty', 'Righteousness' and 'Morality' albeit there's no equivalent of that term in English). Hailed as mystical, mysterious, righteous, a cunning strategist, wisest of all beings and therefore an incarnation of God himself, nectar of bliss drops from every word of his.
An exceptional guide better than any and every, to free oneself from mental shackles and material problems. Though to feel the real thorn in Arjuna's throat and to comprehend why he felt helpless, acquaintance with Mahabharata and its characters is a necessity.
Geeta Saar or Summary of Geeta:
"Whatever happened, it happened for good.
Whatever is happening, is happening for good.
Whatever will happen, will happen for good.
What has slipped away from you, for which you are shedding tears?
What have you brought in this world along with yourself, that you now have lost?
What have you produced (with your own material) that now has been obliterated?
Everything that you have, you have taken from here.
Every small thing you have given out, you have given here.
Whatever is yours today,
Was some other person's yesterday,
Will be someone else's tomorrow.
Transformation (in and of the world), is inevitable."
Bhagavad Geeta meaning in English The Song of God remains the most relieving of all spiritual jewels available to us humans. I confess that I adhere only to the first few chapters that answers the most primitive of questions related to life, death and actions. It is but a small part of Mahabharata (an epic rivaled by none) where Krishna instructs Arjuna before the Kurukshetra war.
Attachment grips Arjuna, and he feels miserable, amoral and sorry for participating in the war against his own kin. It is then Krishna who moralises him, shakes him off his cowardice and reminds him of his Dharma (roughly translates to 'Duty', 'Righteousness' and 'Morality' albeit there's no equivalent of that term in English). Hailed as mystical, mysterious, righteous, a cunning strategist, wisest of all beings and therefore an incarnation of God himself, nectar of bliss drops from every word of his.
An exceptional guide better than any and every, to free oneself from mental shackles and material problems. Though to feel the real thorn in Arjuna's throat and to comprehend why he felt helpless, acquaintance with Mahabharata and its characters is a necessity.
August 20, 2015
I have read some Hindi versions of the text. This is the first English version that I am reading. The author has done a nice job in translating the verses from Sanskrit to English and pointing out the meanings of tough Sanskrit words. But everything good ends there. The explanation or "Purport" written here have some faults according to me.
In Hindu scriptures, God is treated as an entity having no shape, no figure; it is omnipresent and has no name nor any gender. But in this text, Lord Krishna is treated as THE God and every other God/Demigod has been sidelined in his favor. This is totally against the teachings of Bhakti Yoga which ironically is described inside the Bhagavad-Gita, and allows each person to have his/her personal God.
Almost wherever the word "God" has been used in the Sanskrit verses, the translation has been given as "Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead". This is a bit overwhelming, since the simpler and absolute word God could've been written there and that would've made more sense. And this may drive away people who follow some other God or some other theory or some other religion.
Instead of reading the whole explanation, people may want to read only the English translation of the verses which, in any case, are the true words spoken by Krishna. The translation of these seems to be correct and instead of being wrongly spoon-fed by the author, reader should derive his/her own version of the verses. This is what Krishna wanted ;)
In Hindu scriptures, God is treated as an entity having no shape, no figure; it is omnipresent and has no name nor any gender. But in this text, Lord Krishna is treated as THE God and every other God/Demigod has been sidelined in his favor. This is totally against the teachings of Bhakti Yoga which ironically is described inside the Bhagavad-Gita, and allows each person to have his/her personal God.
Almost wherever the word "God" has been used in the Sanskrit verses, the translation has been given as "Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead". This is a bit overwhelming, since the simpler and absolute word God could've been written there and that would've made more sense. And this may drive away people who follow some other God or some other theory or some other religion.
Instead of reading the whole explanation, people may want to read only the English translation of the verses which, in any case, are the true words spoken by Krishna. The translation of these seems to be correct and instead of being wrongly spoon-fed by the author, reader should derive his/her own version of the verses. This is what Krishna wanted ;)
Read
April 6, 2009This book is a way to live life..hence will be reading it forever...
August 11, 2021
This is by far the most powerful book I have read my entire life. I didn’t understand this when I began reading it 7 months back but I apply it every second of my life these days and I now understand fully just how powerful it is. I have become more disciplined, fearless and peaceful than I have ever been before, I am losing interest in all my personal desires and ambitions and have been pursuing them from a very different angle. They say once you have a taste of Krishna consciousness, you will not want anything from this material world.
But the overarching realisation that creeps upon me everyday is this
Each day I recognise a very deep truth which had eluded me all my life.... it is this—->
The more I follow Bhagwad Gita, the more I realise that I am only a guest in the world!
I own nothing, not even my body!
Four books I have come by that have altered my life in ways far beyond my wildest imagination:
1) THIS
2) Death by Sadhguru
3) Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch and For one more day by Mitch (again!)
Bhagwad Gita has completely altered the trajectory of my life. The more I apply it, the more I find myself losing interest in everything in this world and yet performing tasks here simply because Krishna wanted me to! The more I experience a kind of inner bliss even in thoughts of death, losing things and people! It's a very powerful book for anyone!
This is my life's gift! This book (as well the three enumerated after it)
But the overarching realisation that creeps upon me everyday is this
Each day I recognise a very deep truth which had eluded me all my life.... it is this—->
The more I follow Bhagwad Gita, the more I realise that I am only a guest in the world!
I own nothing, not even my body!
Four books I have come by that have altered my life in ways far beyond my wildest imagination:
1) THIS
2) Death by Sadhguru
3) Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch and For one more day by Mitch (again!)
Bhagwad Gita has completely altered the trajectory of my life. The more I apply it, the more I find myself losing interest in everything in this world and yet performing tasks here simply because Krishna wanted me to! The more I experience a kind of inner bliss even in thoughts of death, losing things and people! It's a very powerful book for anyone!
This is my life's gift! This book (as well the three enumerated after it)
March 11, 2014
I'll begin by saying that my intention of reading Bhagavad Gita was not to find god, but to gain a better understanding of life.
Unfortunately, most part of the book is just blind following of Krsna - "DO THIS; DON'T DO THAT because Krsna said so". The primary goal of the book was to provide enlightenment to the ignorant and those in suffering. Instead all it does is to drive people in believing that 'follow Krsna and all your problems will go away'. Hmm.. I don't think so.
In 9:23, it says: "Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kunti, but they do so in a wrong way.".
And the purport of 3:22 goes as: "The Supreme Lord is the controller of all other controllers, and He is the greatest of all the diverse planetary leaders. Everyone is under His control. All entities are delegated with particular power only by the Supreme Lord; they are not supreme themselves."
So are other gods like Jesus and Prophet in agreement with this? Indoctrination breeds religious intolerance.
It is deeply disturbing to note what Krsna thinks of women. Verse 1:40 is only concerned about women getting 'polluted', but not the fact that men are equally responsible for 'polluting' a woman. The purport that follows takes this discrimination one step further - "women are generally not very intelligent and therefore not trustworthy". Verse 9:32 considers women as 'lower birth'.
Verse 2:31 and the purport that follows seems to be written by a fanatic. Preachings like these cause people to take the law in their own hands and 'kill someone in the name of their religion'. I'm also pretty sure that organizations like PETA completely disagree with 'killing animals in the sacrificial fire benefits'.
There's also a contradictory statement made - "The animal sacrificed gets a human life immediately without undergoing the gradual evolutionary process from one form to another". So does Bhagavad Gita endorse evolution?
There are some parts of the Gita that stand out brilliantly. My best take aways from the book are versus 2:47 and 2:48 where it is mentioned that every person has to do their duties diligently and equipoised. This point should have been elaborated and stressed more to signify it's importance. Sadly, the author deviates from this topic very soon, giving an impression that it is less critical (than say praying god) to lead a better life.
Also, 18:47 clearly states that it is not your 'janma' (birth), but your 'karma' (deeds) that decides your caste. On the whole, chapter 18 is the best chapter where it clarifies what are the requisites if you claim yourself to be a brahmana, kshatriya, vaisya or a sudra.
Can we lead a moral life independently and in absence of god? Can we ignore religion, thus removing all the divisions among humans and build a peaceful world? I think yes, but this is not the book to provide answers to such questions.
Unfortunately, most part of the book is just blind following of Krsna - "DO THIS; DON'T DO THAT because Krsna said so". The primary goal of the book was to provide enlightenment to the ignorant and those in suffering. Instead all it does is to drive people in believing that 'follow Krsna and all your problems will go away'. Hmm.. I don't think so.
In 9:23, it says: "Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kunti, but they do so in a wrong way.".
And the purport of 3:22 goes as: "The Supreme Lord is the controller of all other controllers, and He is the greatest of all the diverse planetary leaders. Everyone is under His control. All entities are delegated with particular power only by the Supreme Lord; they are not supreme themselves."
So are other gods like Jesus and Prophet in agreement with this? Indoctrination breeds religious intolerance.
It is deeply disturbing to note what Krsna thinks of women. Verse 1:40 is only concerned about women getting 'polluted', but not the fact that men are equally responsible for 'polluting' a woman. The purport that follows takes this discrimination one step further - "women are generally not very intelligent and therefore not trustworthy". Verse 9:32 considers women as 'lower birth'.
Verse 2:31 and the purport that follows seems to be written by a fanatic. Preachings like these cause people to take the law in their own hands and 'kill someone in the name of their religion'. I'm also pretty sure that organizations like PETA completely disagree with 'killing animals in the sacrificial fire benefits'.
There's also a contradictory statement made - "The animal sacrificed gets a human life immediately without undergoing the gradual evolutionary process from one form to another". So does Bhagavad Gita endorse evolution?
There are some parts of the Gita that stand out brilliantly. My best take aways from the book are versus 2:47 and 2:48 where it is mentioned that every person has to do their duties diligently and equipoised. This point should have been elaborated and stressed more to signify it's importance. Sadly, the author deviates from this topic very soon, giving an impression that it is less critical (than say praying god) to lead a better life.
Also, 18:47 clearly states that it is not your 'janma' (birth), but your 'karma' (deeds) that decides your caste. On the whole, chapter 18 is the best chapter where it clarifies what are the requisites if you claim yourself to be a brahmana, kshatriya, vaisya or a sudra.
Can we lead a moral life independently and in absence of god? Can we ignore religion, thus removing all the divisions among humans and build a peaceful world? I think yes, but this is not the book to provide answers to such questions.
May 10, 2024
It is not true that "Hinduism" does not have a central set of scriptures the way other organized and monotheistic cultures do. We do - they're called the Vedas, and they are not only some of the oldest scriptures of humankind (dating back to over 3500 years ago), but they are also some of the most copious explorations of humankind's relationship with the divine. But the Vedas are voluminous, and one can easily spend an entire lifetime poring over them. How, then, to partake of the nectar of the Vedas more easily? Answer: the Bhagavad Gita. The Gita is considered to be the distillation of the wisdom and spirit of the Vedas in a more compact form, and you could do worse than to read it in order to understand the essence of Hindu-Dharmic cultural wisdom. Everyone should read the Bhagavad Gita at least once in their lives, because you'll get something quite unique and transformative from it, regardless of whether you're religious or irreligious.
I guess my issue with the ISKCON version of the Bhagavad Gita is that it seems a little too theistic in its interpretations of the text, demanding a level of belief that I am not comfortable with, and that its English interpretations of the Sanskrit shlokas can be a little narrow, lacking the gentleness and nuance of the original.
That being said, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is to be respected as a spiritual teacher who brought awareness and respect for Hindu scriptures and practices in the West, and rightly deserves to be regarded as one of the pivotal figures of both 20th century thought and culture, and global Hindu culture. His vast corpus of works are a good starting point for people interested in learning more about Hinduism. Without him, there would be no Hare Krishna movement, which has done more than any other group in recent memory to systematically, peacefully and honestly cultivate a worldwide awareness and practice of sustainable and simple living, and which, compared to some of the other religious groups active in the world today, is a breath of fresh air. This is still an important interpretation of the Gita that should be read and scrutinized for insights (and there are many), because the truth cannot be found in one book, place or time alone.
Personally, I think I prefer the Advaita Vedanta interpretation by Swami Chidbhavananda of the Ramakrishna Mission, which acknowledges the intelligence of the reader. But the practice of kirtans and communal singing, chanting and dancing is fun, and it is in that sense of community that I believe a kernel of the truth can be found in the ISKCON approach to Hinduism, and life.
--
Update (April 1, 2024): There are clear inaccuracies in the translation of Sanskrit shlokas, and dubious interpretations of key passages that have made me remove one star.
I guess my issue with the ISKCON version of the Bhagavad Gita is that it seems a little too theistic in its interpretations of the text, demanding a level of belief that I am not comfortable with, and that its English interpretations of the Sanskrit shlokas can be a little narrow, lacking the gentleness and nuance of the original.
That being said, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is to be respected as a spiritual teacher who brought awareness and respect for Hindu scriptures and practices in the West, and rightly deserves to be regarded as one of the pivotal figures of both 20th century thought and culture, and global Hindu culture. His vast corpus of works are a good starting point for people interested in learning more about Hinduism. Without him, there would be no Hare Krishna movement, which has done more than any other group in recent memory to systematically, peacefully and honestly cultivate a worldwide awareness and practice of sustainable and simple living, and which, compared to some of the other religious groups active in the world today, is a breath of fresh air. This is still an important interpretation of the Gita that should be read and scrutinized for insights (and there are many), because the truth cannot be found in one book, place or time alone.
Personally, I think I prefer the Advaita Vedanta interpretation by Swami Chidbhavananda of the Ramakrishna Mission, which acknowledges the intelligence of the reader. But the practice of kirtans and communal singing, chanting and dancing is fun, and it is in that sense of community that I believe a kernel of the truth can be found in the ISKCON approach to Hinduism, and life.
--
Update (April 1, 2024): There are clear inaccuracies in the translation of Sanskrit shlokas, and dubious interpretations of key passages that have made me remove one star.
January 23, 2020
Recibí este volumen como un regalo por parte de los fieles religiosos de la Conciencia de Krishna, en Turín. Si la memoria no me engaña recuerdo que en mis manos me lo dio el devoto Abhiram. Se puede decir que fue un regalo inesperto, a veces incluso por una relativa coincidencia: después de un almuerzo vegetariano ofrecido a las personas sin hogar en el Grupo Abele el lunes de Pascua de 2019, los devotos de Krishna se recordaron que durante un cierto período iba al templo donde ellos rezan constantemente; como sujeto ateo no iba al templo porque quería ser devoto o católico, pero decidí de ir al templo y conocerlo mejor porque estos religiosos filosóficamente más allá de la lectura sánscrita de la Bhagavadgītā explicaban el texto y los comentarios atribuidos al mismo texto del libro. Como mejor decir: ¡parecían un poco lecciones universitarias por la que valían la pena hacer presencia! Y fue así que después de un tiempo, en haberlos encontrado otra vez, el devoto Abhiram sin prejuicios me dio de leer la Bhagavad-Gita.
Como modelo literario no es el primer libro que he leído. Y este volumen en particular es un libro apreciable por la claridad y simplicidad con la que tradujeron los temas: se puede estar de acuerdo o menos con el pensamiento de Prabhupada, pero él es una persona que merece respeto por qué dal sánscrito las traducciones de la Gita son las más claras. Es un texto sagrado. Obviamente su escrictura se basa con todo lo que es inherente a la espiritualidad de la persona: por lo tanto, para los fieles del hinduismo; a pesar que el libro no menciona el nombre de la persona o de quienes que a la vez se tomaron la molestia de traducirlo al italiano, se debe reconocer que el libro en sí mismo a un tema de gran interés da una explicación autoritaria, clara y completa.
El texto está disponible bajo la Licencia Creative Commons Atribución Compartir Igual 3.0; pueden aplicarse cláusulas adicionales.
Como modelo literario no es el primer libro que he leído. Y este volumen en particular es un libro apreciable por la claridad y simplicidad con la que tradujeron los temas: se puede estar de acuerdo o menos con el pensamiento de Prabhupada, pero él es una persona que merece respeto por qué dal sánscrito las traducciones de la Gita son las más claras. Es un texto sagrado. Obviamente su escrictura se basa con todo lo que es inherente a la espiritualidad de la persona: por lo tanto, para los fieles del hinduismo; a pesar que el libro no menciona el nombre de la persona o de quienes que a la vez se tomaron la molestia de traducirlo al italiano, se debe reconocer que el libro en sí mismo a un tema de gran interés da una explicación autoritaria, clara y completa.
El texto está disponible bajo la Licencia Creative Commons Atribución Compartir Igual 3.0; pueden aplicarse cláusulas adicionales.
January 6, 2015
Well, many people asks "Does the Bhagvad Gita have a solution to every problem?" Here is the answer you'd agree with after reading this book:
Bhagavad-Gita doesn't contain how do fusion and fission work, but it does tell the person to use these to address world's energy issues rather than destructing it with weapons.
It doesn't tell you how to learn calculus for your exam, but it does tell you to prepare with full dedication and hardwork, thinking how you would use your future career to do good for the society, without worrying or fearing about the outcome.
It doesn't tell you how to play guitar, but it does tell you to use it to create harmony in the world and get lost in the divine with full devotion.
It doesn't tell you whether you should read Harry Potter or A Brief History of Time, but it does tell you to derive knowledge of oneness and equality of all beings to enjoy eternal bliss.
Human knowledge is ever increasing - there are new questions, answers and discoveries everyday. It evolves according to the needs of the hour, discarding the old and replacing it with new - just as you replace your clothes with new design, fashion and age. But there is certain aspect of life, far away from the grasp of our hands and eyes, beyond the logical intellect, which is eternal, which specifies how to use the new knowledge, what purpose it should have, how inner self needs to be kept pure in the wake of unintentional consequences and so on. This knowledge contains the fundamental laws of life, the underlying principles needed to sustain the humanity as it should be - loving, progressing and happy. It is this piece of knowledge which this book contains.
Bhagavad-Gita doesn't contain how do fusion and fission work, but it does tell the person to use these to address world's energy issues rather than destructing it with weapons.
It doesn't tell you how to learn calculus for your exam, but it does tell you to prepare with full dedication and hardwork, thinking how you would use your future career to do good for the society, without worrying or fearing about the outcome.
It doesn't tell you how to play guitar, but it does tell you to use it to create harmony in the world and get lost in the divine with full devotion.
It doesn't tell you whether you should read Harry Potter or A Brief History of Time, but it does tell you to derive knowledge of oneness and equality of all beings to enjoy eternal bliss.
Human knowledge is ever increasing - there are new questions, answers and discoveries everyday. It evolves according to the needs of the hour, discarding the old and replacing it with new - just as you replace your clothes with new design, fashion and age. But there is certain aspect of life, far away from the grasp of our hands and eyes, beyond the logical intellect, which is eternal, which specifies how to use the new knowledge, what purpose it should have, how inner self needs to be kept pure in the wake of unintentional consequences and so on. This knowledge contains the fundamental laws of life, the underlying principles needed to sustain the humanity as it should be - loving, progressing and happy. It is this piece of knowledge which this book contains.
Read
July 11, 2020So am not gonna rate this one
It was a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna regarding worldly philosophy, personal actions, salvation, yoga etc. It was highly prejudiced and maybe even offensive to some but the underlying means was devotion for Krishna. The POV has to be kept in mind, if you are reading this version of Geeta, you are kinda expected to be a devotee (which I wasn't, so hello misery read)
Updates-
Pg 105- Krishna centered, as expected given the POV. Very good source of if one wants to learn Sanskrit. The translations are upto the mark, if someone is from a non-Hindu background, refer to notes written as well.
Pg 313- Surely narcissistic accounts but it actually helped explain how to keep negative thoughts at bay.
Pg 556- This is making me angry. If the secret to salvation is such a secret and can only be shared to the devotee Arjuna then how am I reading this huh? Such secret u say.
It was a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna regarding worldly philosophy, personal actions, salvation, yoga etc. It was highly prejudiced and maybe even offensive to some but the underlying means was devotion for Krishna. The POV has to be kept in mind, if you are reading this version of Geeta, you are kinda expected to be a devotee (which I wasn't, so hello misery read)
Updates-
Pg 105- Krishna centered, as expected given the POV. Very good source of if one wants to learn Sanskrit. The translations are upto the mark, if someone is from a non-Hindu background, refer to notes written as well.
Pg 313- Surely narcissistic accounts but it actually helped explain how to keep negative thoughts at bay.
Pg 556- This is making me angry. If the secret to salvation is such a secret and can only be shared to the devotee Arjuna then how am I reading this huh? Such secret u say.
May 15, 2019
Questo volume l’ho ricevuto in regalo per parte dei fedeli religiosi dell'Associazione Internazionale per la Coscienza di Krishna di Torino, se la memoria non m'inganna fra le mani me lo diede il devoto Abhiram. Si può dire che fu un dono inaspettato. Tal volta anche per una coincidenza relativa in quanto, a seguito di un pranzo vegetariano offerto ai senza fissa dimora, presso il Gruppo Abele di Torino nel giorno di Pasquetta 2019, i devoti di Krishna si sono ricordati che per un certo periodo ho frequentato il tempio dove loro pregano costantemente; da persona atea il tempio non l'ho frequentato perché avrei voluto diventare devoto o cattolico, ma decisi di andarci e conoscerlo meglio perché questi religiosi filosoficamente oltre la lettura in sanscrito della Bhagavadgītā spiegavano il testo e i commenti attribuiti al testo. Come meglio dire: sono state un po' come delle lezioni universitarie alle quali è valsa la pena render la propria presenza! Ed è stato così che a distanza di tempo nell’averli ritrovati il devoto Abhiram senza pregiudizi mi diede da leggere la Bhagavad-Gita.
Come modello letterario non è il primo libro che ho letto. E questo volume in particolare è un libro alquanto apprezzabile per la chiarezza e semplicità con la quale hanno tradotto le tematiche. E' un testo sacro. Ovviamente la stesura è basata con tutto ciò che diventa inerente alla spiritualità della persona. Quindi ai fedeli dell'induismo: nonostante che il libro non riporta il nome di colui o di coloro che si presero la briga di tradurlo in lingua italiana c’è da riconoscere che a un tema di grande interesse il volume stesso al lettore devolve una spiegazione autorevole, chiara ed esauriente.
Come modello letterario non è il primo libro che ho letto. E questo volume in particolare è un libro alquanto apprezzabile per la chiarezza e semplicità con la quale hanno tradotto le tematiche. E' un testo sacro. Ovviamente la stesura è basata con tutto ciò che diventa inerente alla spiritualità della persona. Quindi ai fedeli dell'induismo: nonostante che il libro non riporta il nome di colui o di coloro che si presero la briga di tradurlo in lingua italiana c’è da riconoscere che a un tema di grande interesse il volume stesso al lettore devolve una spiegazione autorevole, chiara ed esauriente.
January 27, 2010
People who do not understand that this particular Gita translation is under the context of Gaudiya Vaishnavism have a more difficult time appreciating this Gita.
The translation in itself is beautifully done, made simple for people to understand. They are translated towards the slant of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and thus are to be appreciated for this age-old philosophy of bhakti-yoga, or loving devotion to Lord Krishna.
The purports, however, are the ones that are considered controversial, especially towards those who are not of a conservative background. Depending on how one reads the purports, Srila Prabhupad could be considered backward, sexist, and conservative. Others who come from a formal Hindu background can appreciate some of the ideals that came from Vedic culture. And yet Westerners who make Indian religions a study and life-goal, will find this Gita translation unparalleled and true to the Vaishnavite spirit.
I myself am a follower of Gaudiya Vaishnavism under the organisation of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math (SCS Math) led by His Divine Grace Srila Govinda Maharaj. But as a religionist who has studied many religions in the past, I have to say that in order to appreciate Srila Prabhupad's writings, even that of the whole Gaudiya Vaishnava world, it truly necessitates context and understanding of the tradition in itself before one can truly make an honest judgement.
The translation in itself is beautifully done, made simple for people to understand. They are translated towards the slant of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and thus are to be appreciated for this age-old philosophy of bhakti-yoga, or loving devotion to Lord Krishna.
The purports, however, are the ones that are considered controversial, especially towards those who are not of a conservative background. Depending on how one reads the purports, Srila Prabhupad could be considered backward, sexist, and conservative. Others who come from a formal Hindu background can appreciate some of the ideals that came from Vedic culture. And yet Westerners who make Indian religions a study and life-goal, will find this Gita translation unparalleled and true to the Vaishnavite spirit.
I myself am a follower of Gaudiya Vaishnavism under the organisation of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math (SCS Math) led by His Divine Grace Srila Govinda Maharaj. But as a religionist who has studied many religions in the past, I have to say that in order to appreciate Srila Prabhupad's writings, even that of the whole Gaudiya Vaishnava world, it truly necessitates context and understanding of the tradition in itself before one can truly make an honest judgement.
December 11, 2013
Mostly what surprised me about this is how much is was like other religious texts, telling you that in order for you to understand, you first have to believe, and that god is everything etc. A lot of the language seemed very old testament-ish.
It was repetitive, like any religious texts, meant to brainwash you. The biggest difference between this and other religious texts is how much it talked about transcendentalism and compassion. All that can be addressed without a deity. What is a transcendental deity? How do you prove it's there? Well, if you want to find out, spend your life doing what this book says, and it promises you'll find out. The old circular argument, the book proves that the book is correct.
It was repetitive, like any religious texts, meant to brainwash you. The biggest difference between this and other religious texts is how much it talked about transcendentalism and compassion. All that can be addressed without a deity. What is a transcendental deity? How do you prove it's there? Well, if you want to find out, spend your life doing what this book says, and it promises you'll find out. The old circular argument, the book proves that the book is correct.
August 8, 2019
Sectarian, fundamentalist dogma. Although I read it cover to cover, my advice is, don't bother with it.
And as Hayagriva Dasa has documented, Prahbupadha did not do the translation, as is claimed. He used Sarvapelli Radhakrishnan's translation, unacknowledged, and added his own purports.
But then the cult of ISKCON seems to believe that the end justifies the means if the end is "for Krishna."
And as Hayagriva Dasa has documented, Prahbupadha did not do the translation, as is claimed. He used Sarvapelli Radhakrishnan's translation, unacknowledged, and added his own purports.
But then the cult of ISKCON seems to believe that the end justifies the means if the end is "for Krishna."
October 29, 2013
Here are some of my favorite passages:
2:47 - You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
2:48 - Perform your duty equiposed, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachement to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.
5:20 - A person who neither rejoinces upon achieving something
pleasant nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant, who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered, and who knows the science of God, is already situated in transcendence.
6:6 - For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remian the greatest enemy.
6:16 - There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.
12:6-20 - But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having fixed their minds upon Me, O son of Prtha - for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.
Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.
My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upone Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me.
If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage.
If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated.
If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is mediation, and better than mediation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.
One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, slef controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me - such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.
He by whome no one is put into difficulty and who is not distrubed by anyone, who is equipoised in happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me.
My devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all pains, and not striving for some result, is very dear to Me.
One who neither rejoices nor grieves, who neither laments nor desires, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things - such a devotee is very dear to Me.
One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, hapiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn't care for any residence , who is fixed in knowledge and who is engaged in devotional service - such a person is very dear to Me.
Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.
2:47 - You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
2:48 - Perform your duty equiposed, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachement to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.
5:20 - A person who neither rejoinces upon achieving something
pleasant nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant, who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered, and who knows the science of God, is already situated in transcendence.
6:6 - For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remian the greatest enemy.
6:16 - There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.
12:6-20 - But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having fixed their minds upon Me, O son of Prtha - for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.
Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.
My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upone Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me.
If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage.
If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated.
If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is mediation, and better than mediation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.
One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, slef controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me - such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.
He by whome no one is put into difficulty and who is not distrubed by anyone, who is equipoised in happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me.
My devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all pains, and not striving for some result, is very dear to Me.
One who neither rejoices nor grieves, who neither laments nor desires, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things - such a devotee is very dear to Me.
One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, hapiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn't care for any residence , who is fixed in knowledge and who is engaged in devotional service - such a person is very dear to Me.
Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.
May 21, 2019
I am kind of reluctant to give this particular translation more than two stars. It has many, many issues. It is particularly ironic that the phrase "as is" is part of the title, as I find the translator's introduction and commentary both contradictory and extremely redundant. It is not unlike the mind that wanders during meditation. I also find it absurd that he claims the superiority of his translation compared to others because others have ulterior motives, when it's clear that he is on a propaganda mission for his Krishna Consciousness movement on every page. That said, if you ignore the introduction and commentary (or just use the commentary when the text is unclear), it's an OK translation. The Bhagavad-Gita already has a few contradictions and a lot of redundancy, but the central message is incontrovertible. It has been a long time since I had read any translations, but I may try and find a version I can easier tolerate. In the meantime, Hare Krishna.
August 28, 2018
Re-reading the Gita before my visit to the temple next weekend ;0)
May 17, 2017
May 2017. I don't know why but I've been wanting to read this again. I'm a Christian but I love this beautiful story.
January 8, 2021
Bhagwat Gita is one of the most inspiring book but for the passages on varnas which is the most unjust social/religious system in the world.
This book, however, is pretty disappointing and overhyped. You can find the Hare Krishna followers on many intersections of Delhi selling this book.
The commentary is lame and self-indulgent. Adding Krsna consciousness in every third line does not help the matter. This is a book promoting a cult and not Gita.
I request everyone to read a translated version of the Gita (in Hindi or English) and draw your own conclusions.
This book, however, is pretty disappointing and overhyped. You can find the Hare Krishna followers on many intersections of Delhi selling this book.
The commentary is lame and self-indulgent. Adding Krsna consciousness in every third line does not help the matter. This is a book promoting a cult and not Gita.
I request everyone to read a translated version of the Gita (in Hindi or English) and draw your own conclusions.
October 17, 2013
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the greatest,best scripture,most profound books ever written.
March 9, 2021
This is the second time I have read the Gita, and I take little pride in saying that this was a total different experience than the previous one. The only logical explanation to this is, that I have grown up since then. I agree, that more than a religious book, the Bhagavat Gita should be taken as a way of life. Even if you are not a religious person, it would still make a lot of sense. Honestly, all the self-help books combined, is equal to the Bhagavat Gita.
However, to summarize the Gita will probably take me whole another book and hence, here I write only the most constructive messages I take away from each chapter.
Chapter 1:
It is important to break the entitled mindset. Man, by nature, believes that he deserves everything he wants. Because of this ego, the man often practices to live in his delusional world. He starts walking over people’s life only to get what he thinks he deserves. However, if you are truly dedicated to your work and acknowledge the objective of your existence, put your ego aside and carry on with each day with an open mind of a child. (Remember! no one owes you anything in this world).
Chapter 2:
Man is made omnipotent. We already have within us what we seek outside of us. For example, if I want to seek knowledge, my medium would be a good education, good books and knowledgeable partnerships. I draw strength from these infinite sources. However, it is important to realize that the strength is already within me. (Remember! We have problems in our lives only because we have inner strength to face them boldly).
Chapter 3:
If man can follow the path balanced by right knowledge and action, he/ she can be a leader for many. Man, by nature is reactive to situations and people around. However, if we seek knowledge constantly, it leads us to non-reactive behaviour towards another man’s actions. Knowledge helps us to mind our own business and honestly do our actions. (Remember! You are answerable for your actions only).
Chapter 4:
Furthering on knowledge, thriving for self – advancement through right action leads to wisdom. Hence, this chapter stresses on never to stop doing right actions and never to stop seeking knowledge.
Chapter 5:
One of my favourite chapters because it talks about meditation. Meditation does not always mean yoga; man’s dedication to its work, actions, duties and responsibilities is a path to meditation. This chapter makes us realize the importance of focus in our daily activities. For example, even if you are doing a thoughtless job like sweeping the floor, if done with focus – is your meditation and hence, worship. (Remember! Work is worship).
Chapter 6:
“….mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and the soul is even higher than the intelligence”, says it all.
Chapter 7:
This chapter talks about practicing non attachment or absolute freedom. The destination of peace and self-realization which we are all set out to achieve, is a rather longer path – called life. It is necessary to understand absolute freedom, self and nature of action to go through this journey.
Chapter 8:
The concept of death and rebirth are highlighted in this chapter. Man needs to acknowledge this cycle and the nature of its functioning. Man cannot avoid his prominent presence in this cycle, but meditation, yoga and right actions can definitely prepare him for a peaceful endless future.
Chapter 9:
This chapter reveals the secret of how to attain wisdom and overcome suffering. Man needs to have trust and faith in their beliefs. Remember! You are limited to your faith but your faith is not limited to only you. This understanding is much larger than the belief itself. And hence, man should never give up on faith and belief.
Chapter 10:
Continuing of the previous chapter further, “The wise seek the self. The ignorant disregard the Self and pursue the world with vain hopes and aspirations. And go through the cycle of birth and death. Thus humanity strives for material or spiritual goals. The ignorant fulfil their mundane desires but never gain fulfilment in life. Whereas, the wise pursuing the Self attain the state of absolute peace and bliss in Self-realization.”
Chapter 11:
Man must visualize the entire universe in a colossal, immeasurable form and yet realize the philosophical aspect of those theologies and cosmologies.
Chapter 12:
This chapter is apologetic in favour of those who are unable to rise to a philosophical state (as explained in the other chapters).
Chapter 13:
This chapter talks about the vision, which is not a static one. There is no fixed mould into which the vision is supposed to fit. The man who has the vision can see whatever he desires to see, according to his own conditionings. Without conditioning, that is to say in the case of a man without religious or other prejudices, it is to be inferred that there is no vision, or that the vision is of no importance.
Chapter 14:
This chapter informs that it is the domain of necessity or action which forms the subject. Necessity has an irreducible minimum implicit in it which is itself eternal, and therefore has to be given due recognition in the context of the Absolute. The Absolute which is merely conceived in terms of an idea has no power to release one from the bonds of nature. It is simple neutrality between the dual aspects of the Absolute itself which helps in the release of the person seeking liberation through wisdom.
Chapter 15:
This chapters deals with very objective values in life in the ethical, religious and other fields. The whole of chapter is devoted to what comes as revised way of life, which can be said to be neither orthodox nor heterodox, but in conformity with the recognition of the main subject, where the Spirit is lifted high above both relativist and non-relativist levels.
Chapter 16:
As a guide to conduct, it is necessary for each person to be able to recognize what is good from what is bad, in other words, to discriminate between the values belonging to life. In this chapter there is an enunciation and description of values which have been divided and distinguished as belonging to the world of divinities and demons, from which we should understand references to higher and lower values.
Chapter 17:
On highlighting “faith”, it is divided into 3 levels: purest, mediocre and lowest. This chapter explains how they relate to the type of foods, sacrifices, austerities and charity. The nature of these practices helps determine the quality of faith. A seeker uses them as disciplines to reach the ultimate reality.
Chapter 18:
Action has to be understood in the context of wisdom. Actions may thus help to lead Man in his spiritual progress from the lowest of levels in which he is caught in confusion and necessity up to the clear heights of a wisdom, which is both pure and practical. Thought itself could be included in the highest values belonging to the context of action and inseparable from the being.
However, to summarize the Gita will probably take me whole another book and hence, here I write only the most constructive messages I take away from each chapter.
Chapter 1:
It is important to break the entitled mindset. Man, by nature, believes that he deserves everything he wants. Because of this ego, the man often practices to live in his delusional world. He starts walking over people’s life only to get what he thinks he deserves. However, if you are truly dedicated to your work and acknowledge the objective of your existence, put your ego aside and carry on with each day with an open mind of a child. (Remember! no one owes you anything in this world).
Chapter 2:
Man is made omnipotent. We already have within us what we seek outside of us. For example, if I want to seek knowledge, my medium would be a good education, good books and knowledgeable partnerships. I draw strength from these infinite sources. However, it is important to realize that the strength is already within me. (Remember! We have problems in our lives only because we have inner strength to face them boldly).
Chapter 3:
If man can follow the path balanced by right knowledge and action, he/ she can be a leader for many. Man, by nature is reactive to situations and people around. However, if we seek knowledge constantly, it leads us to non-reactive behaviour towards another man’s actions. Knowledge helps us to mind our own business and honestly do our actions. (Remember! You are answerable for your actions only).
Chapter 4:
Furthering on knowledge, thriving for self – advancement through right action leads to wisdom. Hence, this chapter stresses on never to stop doing right actions and never to stop seeking knowledge.
Chapter 5:
One of my favourite chapters because it talks about meditation. Meditation does not always mean yoga; man’s dedication to its work, actions, duties and responsibilities is a path to meditation. This chapter makes us realize the importance of focus in our daily activities. For example, even if you are doing a thoughtless job like sweeping the floor, if done with focus – is your meditation and hence, worship. (Remember! Work is worship).
Chapter 6:
“….mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and the soul is even higher than the intelligence”, says it all.
Chapter 7:
This chapter talks about practicing non attachment or absolute freedom. The destination of peace and self-realization which we are all set out to achieve, is a rather longer path – called life. It is necessary to understand absolute freedom, self and nature of action to go through this journey.
Chapter 8:
The concept of death and rebirth are highlighted in this chapter. Man needs to acknowledge this cycle and the nature of its functioning. Man cannot avoid his prominent presence in this cycle, but meditation, yoga and right actions can definitely prepare him for a peaceful endless future.
Chapter 9:
This chapter reveals the secret of how to attain wisdom and overcome suffering. Man needs to have trust and faith in their beliefs. Remember! You are limited to your faith but your faith is not limited to only you. This understanding is much larger than the belief itself. And hence, man should never give up on faith and belief.
Chapter 10:
Continuing of the previous chapter further, “The wise seek the self. The ignorant disregard the Self and pursue the world with vain hopes and aspirations. And go through the cycle of birth and death. Thus humanity strives for material or spiritual goals. The ignorant fulfil their mundane desires but never gain fulfilment in life. Whereas, the wise pursuing the Self attain the state of absolute peace and bliss in Self-realization.”
Chapter 11:
Man must visualize the entire universe in a colossal, immeasurable form and yet realize the philosophical aspect of those theologies and cosmologies.
Chapter 12:
This chapter is apologetic in favour of those who are unable to rise to a philosophical state (as explained in the other chapters).
Chapter 13:
This chapter talks about the vision, which is not a static one. There is no fixed mould into which the vision is supposed to fit. The man who has the vision can see whatever he desires to see, according to his own conditionings. Without conditioning, that is to say in the case of a man without religious or other prejudices, it is to be inferred that there is no vision, or that the vision is of no importance.
Chapter 14:
This chapter informs that it is the domain of necessity or action which forms the subject. Necessity has an irreducible minimum implicit in it which is itself eternal, and therefore has to be given due recognition in the context of the Absolute. The Absolute which is merely conceived in terms of an idea has no power to release one from the bonds of nature. It is simple neutrality between the dual aspects of the Absolute itself which helps in the release of the person seeking liberation through wisdom.
Chapter 15:
This chapters deals with very objective values in life in the ethical, religious and other fields. The whole of chapter is devoted to what comes as revised way of life, which can be said to be neither orthodox nor heterodox, but in conformity with the recognition of the main subject, where the Spirit is lifted high above both relativist and non-relativist levels.
Chapter 16:
As a guide to conduct, it is necessary for each person to be able to recognize what is good from what is bad, in other words, to discriminate between the values belonging to life. In this chapter there is an enunciation and description of values which have been divided and distinguished as belonging to the world of divinities and demons, from which we should understand references to higher and lower values.
Chapter 17:
On highlighting “faith”, it is divided into 3 levels: purest, mediocre and lowest. This chapter explains how they relate to the type of foods, sacrifices, austerities and charity. The nature of these practices helps determine the quality of faith. A seeker uses them as disciplines to reach the ultimate reality.
Chapter 18:
Action has to be understood in the context of wisdom. Actions may thus help to lead Man in his spiritual progress from the lowest of levels in which he is caught in confusion and necessity up to the clear heights of a wisdom, which is both pure and practical. Thought itself could be included in the highest values belonging to the context of action and inseparable from the being.
April 24, 2019
Glad I read it last year, though I was too late to do so... This will definitely open your mind and heart and will help you understand the true meaning of life and be a guiding light during tough times, re-igniting your faith 🕉️ The right age to introduce Bhagvad Gita to your kids would be 24 - a time when they get atleast some experience of life and karma and its nuances...
December 16, 2022
Read it long time back. I keep on reading Srimad Bhagvad Gita.
June 30, 2020
Bhagavad Gita is the core of Hindu religion which aims to help with inner peace, living, decisions, etc. Gita itself concerns with God and his disciple only; there is no/negligible speaks on religion. Gita roughly translates to "The song of God" which is a composition of about 700 verses expanding over 18 chapters and happens to be a subset of the Mahabharat epic.
The dialogue exchanges are primarily between Sri Krishna and Arjuna on a battlefield, and secondarily between Dhritarastra and Sanjaya.
It was difficult to read simply due to the fact that it holds enormous inaccuracies. Had it been any other book I'd have dropped it, but I want to reply, if a situation presents itself in future, that "Yes, I've read Gita".
I started reading the book with the idea of gaining some wisdom and insights. Finishing the first chapter I realized that while believing in Krishna is the greatest good there is (according to the book), it is quite baseless. Going to religious establishment, reciting prayers, reading holy scriptures do give a sense of unity and tranquillity sprinkled with some wise lessons. But it is very dilute and one would be better of by reading Stoics or Cynics or other branch of philosophy. Most of the book was me nodding my head in disagreement.
Speaking on some constructive takes. There are warnings on our current obsession of material and money. It seems that this is not a new phenomenon. Another solid piece of advice was to ponder over the three Gunas (chapter-14) and the balance between them.
Overstating, as with all beliefs and religions, this lacks Truth and Justification. It is only a collection of stringent Beliefs.
If anyone has a different insight or interpretation then I'd love to know that. I could be wrong.
___________________________________________________
Some verses of interest:
Ch-2: 11, 12, 14, 15, 43, 47, 62, 63, 67
Ch-3: 1, 8, 20, 21, 33, 34, 35
Ch-4: 29, 30, 36
Ch-5: 8, 9, 27, 28
Ch-6: 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 19, 32, 35
Ch-14: 9, 24, 25
Ch-16: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12
Ch-18: 36, 37, 47, 52, 53
The dialogue exchanges are primarily between Sri Krishna and Arjuna on a battlefield, and secondarily between Dhritarastra and Sanjaya.
It was difficult to read simply due to the fact that it holds enormous inaccuracies. Had it been any other book I'd have dropped it, but I want to reply, if a situation presents itself in future, that "Yes, I've read Gita".
I started reading the book with the idea of gaining some wisdom and insights. Finishing the first chapter I realized that while believing in Krishna is the greatest good there is (according to the book), it is quite baseless. Going to religious establishment, reciting prayers, reading holy scriptures do give a sense of unity and tranquillity sprinkled with some wise lessons. But it is very dilute and one would be better of by reading Stoics or Cynics or other branch of philosophy. Most of the book was me nodding my head in disagreement.
Speaking on some constructive takes. There are warnings on our current obsession of material and money. It seems that this is not a new phenomenon. Another solid piece of advice was to ponder over the three Gunas (chapter-14) and the balance between them.
Overstating, as with all beliefs and religions, this lacks Truth and Justification. It is only a collection of stringent Beliefs.
If anyone has a different insight or interpretation then I'd love to know that. I could be wrong.
___________________________________________________
Some verses of interest:
Ch-2: 11, 12, 14, 15, 43, 47, 62, 63, 67
Ch-3: 1, 8, 20, 21, 33, 34, 35
Ch-4: 29, 30, 36
Ch-5: 8, 9, 27, 28
Ch-6: 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 19, 32, 35
Ch-14: 9, 24, 25
Ch-16: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12
Ch-18: 36, 37, 47, 52, 53
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