Bhagavad-Gita As It Is [Hardcover]

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0318371553 | ISBN-13: 978-0318371559 | Publication Date: June 1988 | Edition: 2

the is the main source-book on yoga and a concise summary of India's Vedic wisdom. yet remarkably the setting for this best-known classic of spiritual literature is an ancient Indian battlefield. At the last moment before entering battle the great warrior Arjuna begins to wonder about the real meaning of his life. Why should he fight against his friends and relatives? Why does he exist? Where is he going after death? In the knowledge of the Absolute; devotional service; the three modes of material nature; the divine and demoniac natures; and much more. in the world.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

with such an important voice and style. It is a work of undoubted integrity. It will occupy a significant place in the intellectual and ethical life of modern man for a long time to come --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Asia Book Corp of Amer; 2 edition (June 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0318371553
• ISBN-13: 978-0318371559
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (129 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,202,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, but cautiously recommended, October 4, 2006

By 

S. Srinivasan (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bhagavad-Gita As It Is (Paperback) (Mass Market Paperback)

Several years back, this was one of the first few translations of the Bhagavad Gita that I read. Compared to other books I found the language of translation very simple to comprehend and I also loved the layout of the book. This book was certainly inspiring as any translation of Gita would be. However a word of caution!

People following the path of devotion or bhakti would find this book helpful. The Author beleives that Krishna is supreme god-head and in Kali yuga or dark age, worshipping krishna's form is the best and only path. However one is repeatedly distracted by the author's negative comments and attacks on those who meditate on the formless Brahman.

Not stopping with that the author would sometimes go to the extent of mis-translating the verses of the Gita if Krishna himself said anything positive about the absolute and formless conciousness i.e. Brahman.

For example for the verse 24, in chapter 4

The sanskrit verse is:

brahmarpanam brahma havir
brahmagnau brahmana hutam
brahmaiva tena gantavyam
brahma-karma-samadhina

The acceptable translation in most books is

"Brahman is the oblation,
Brahman is the clarified buttter,
The oblation is poured by Brahman into the fire of Brahman.
Brahman shall be realized by the one who considers everything
As an act of Brahman. "
(Meaning the actor, action, acted and act are all brahman, one who realizes this realizes brahman)


Whereas Prabhupada's Translation is
"A person who is fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness is sure to attain the spiritual kingdom because of his full contribution to spiritual activities, in which the consummation is absolute and that which is offered is of the same spiritual nature."

However the word-by-word translation by srila prabupada is closer to truth
"brahma--spiritual in nature; arpanam--contribution; brahma--the Supreme; havih--butter; brahma--spiritual; agnau--in the fire of consummation; brahmana--by the spirit soul; hutam--offered; brahma--spiritual kingdom; eva--certainly; tena--by him; gantavyam--to be reached; brahma--spiritual; karma--activities; samadhina--by complete absorption. "

Notwithstanding all of these shortcomings,a beginner might still benefit from reading of "Bhagavad-Gita as it is", as I myself did considering the very reasonable price, word-by-word meaning and simple language. So this is "cautiously recommended" for beginners.

Edit: Please note, that not all editions of 'Bhagavad-gita as it is' have word by word English translations and Sanskrit transliteration. I understand the hard cover edition does have the word-by-word translation, but some paperbacks editions don't.

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Representation of the Tradition, September 3, 2006

By 

M. Wright "Miguel/Michael" (San Miguel de Allende) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bhagavad-Gita As It Is (Hardcover)

In 1967 I was honored to type the second chapter of the Swami's Gita manuscript just as it was being edited by Prof. Howard Wheeler (Hayagriva). Since then I've been a student of the Gita, particularly Prabhupada's. For someone new to the Gita, his translation is excellent. Prabhupada communicates the passion, philosophy, enjoyment, and enlightenment available in the Vishnu (Vaishnava) culture. Although wise, elderly, and saintly, Prabhupada humbly consults centuries old commentaries to offer his readers the proper perspectives. For someone who knows the tradition, it is a joy to read Prabhupada's translation, because he communicates the millenia old principles with clarity. To understand the ancient, classical, and modern Vedantic (Hindu) culture one should investigate it from within the tradition. For example, one of the Upanisads says, "A great soul is enlightened by the Gita discussions through expressing affection for the Lord and the guru (not by external, detached study and research)." Prabhupada is most definitely a guru who can enlighten the reader; it is also easy to have affection for him. An advanced reader may be happy that Prabhupada's comments clarify the many themes or threads in the Gita. Some scholars find the various threads difficult to follow and reconcile. Many people will appreciate that in a world where industrial and modern cultures have created a violent rift between humanity and nature, Krishna's exposition provides a breath of fresh air. The Vedantic perspective is wonderfully communicated by Satish Kumar (in Ranchor Prime's Vedic Ecology): "Hindus say 'Om shanti, shanti, shanti' ('peace, peace, peace') before every prayer. The first 'shanti' means peace with nature, ecological peace; the second means peace in society, between human beings, communities, nations and peoples; the third means shanti within oneself, spiritual peace." Therefore, Christians, scientists, and politicians should apply the Gita's principles in order to regain active respect for nature. Krishna's teachings are down to earth and practical. Along with principles and philosophy, Krishna emphasizes action as one of His central themes. He urges resistance to materialism by using the sword of active knowledge (jnana-asin), rather than weapons of steel. He describes a yati (spiritual struggler), who is similar to an Islamic mujahid (jihadist). Yet the yati is a college professor to the elementary school mujahid. Moslems should study Prabhupada's Gita to understand how to use the sword of knowledge instead of steel. Above all, every reader may benefit from the spiritual enjoyment that Krishna teaches in His yoga treatise, the Gita.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest commentary on Gita, May 3, 2005

By 

Vaishnava Dasa (Omaha NE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bhagavad-Gita As It Is (Hardcover)

I read so many commentaries on Gita. But this is the best!

This teaches the actual spirit of Gita, without compromising on principles. There are so many commentaries which mislead the readers. Like people with some basic knowledge of Sanskrit publish Gita Commentary, which is very bad. Since one can't understand Gita without being a devotee, similar to -one can't understand mathematics from a person who never liked mathematics. A devotee can understand Krishna better and his teachings than the people who understand some parts of Gita and proclaim to be gurus. Beware of those cheaters! I have seen some professors commenting on Gita. Krishna could have spoken Gita to Sanskrit scholars. He didn't do so, because he is interested in devotion not money, Phd, or some external designations.

The author doesn't loose the spirit of Gita anywhere.
You will have no doubts about the principles and applications of Gita after reading this.

Ultimate book for understanding soul, nature, karma and God!