Customer Reviews

The Bhagavad Gita

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This an especially natural and graceful translation somewhere between poetry and prose by a man who really understands the message of the Gita. This can be seen from reading Eknath Easwaran's wise and penetrating Preface written especially for this, the Vintage Spiritual Classics Edition, edited by John F. Thornton and Susan B. Varenne for Vintage Books.

Easwaran shows that the differing paths to self-realization and liberation that the Gita presents are a comprehensive whole. "The thread through Krishna's teaching, the essence of the Gita, can be given in one word: renunciation. This is the common factor in the four yogas" (p. xxxviii). Easwaran goes on to explain that what is being renounced is not material, although on first blush it seems that way. What is renounced are the fruits of action. Renunciation is not only the essence of karma yoga, but the essence of the bhakti, jnana and raja yogas that Krishna presents as well. The key is an amazing spiritual and psychological insight into human nature: we are miserable when we are concerned with the results of what we do, but we are freed when we devote the fruits of our work to God. What is renounced is also the delusion of a material self that acts, the famous slayer and the slain. Unlike some other, rather foolish, translations that try to find some artificial substitute for the word "yoga," an endeavor entirely alien to the Gita, Easwaran embraces the understanding. He writes, "the Gita is Brahmavidyayam yogashastra, a textbook on the supreme science of yoga" (p. xxxvi)

It is also clear from what Easwaran writes in the Preface that he understands meditation and the path of moksha gained when one is beyond the pair of opposites that dominate our material existence. Easwaran knows because he himself is a long time practitioner of meditation, which is one of the ways of liberation (raja yoga). So many writers on spirituality and on the practice of yoga really do not know meditation, but Easwaran clearly does. Easwaran also understands that the insights of the Gita can be found in other mystical traditions, including those of Meister Eckhart, St. Catherine of Genoa, Ruysbroeck, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, and others.

Easwaran also makes the important point that the Gita is not the sole property of any one point of view. "The Gita does not present a system of philosophy. It offers something to every seeker after God, of whatever temperament, by whatever path" (p. xxxv).

Easwaran writes, "to understand the Gita, it is important to look beneath the surface of its injunctions and see the mental state involved. Philanthropic activity can benefit others and still carry a large measure of ego involvement. Such work is good, but it is not yoga. It may benefit others, but it will not necessarily benefit the doer" (p. xxxix). This represents a profound insight into the nature of karma yoga, an understanding that comes only after years of study and practice.

Finally Easwaran knows something others don't know (even though this is central to Krishna's teaching), that the Gita, through the practice of yoga, frees one from the fear of death. When one "realizes that he is not a physical creature but the Atman, the Self, and thus not separate from God...he knows that, although his body will die, he will not die...To such a person, the Gita says, death is no more traumatic than taking off an old coat." (pp. xxiv-xxv).

There are ten pages of notes that follow the translation in which the shades of meaning of various concepts like dharma, karma, yoga, sannyasa, etc., and some other ideas are discussed. There is a guide to pronunciation and a glossary of Sanskrit words. This quality paperback is handsomely designed from cover to font, and the translation is one of my favorites.

Eknath Easwaran's translation is poetic and beautiful making it readable and inspiring and managing at the same time to clearly state Krishna' spiritual message. Easwaran's translation manages to prove its merit for both spiritual and scholarly study. Many of the other translations are very dry coming from scholars who just know how to translate Sanskrit to English mechanically.Whereas Easwaran was a professor of English and now a spiritual guru; so he has a grasp on both worlds. They do not properly help explain the various yogas Krishna tells Arjuna; reading this translation has been the best explanation of yoga I have ever read before. Each chapter has an introduction to it and there is a glossary of terms in the back. The other translations I think fail also to understand and clearly explain the heart of Krishnia's message which is essentially that one's atman, soul, higher self etc. is one with brahman, the divine, the universe, the source of everything etc and that this liberation can be discovered through the path of yoga. There is not just one path of yoga but many like Karma Yoga(path of selfless service) and Raja Yoga(path of meditation.) The beauty of the Bhagavad Gita is that it explains a way to enter the path to liberation, no matter what stage of spiritual awareness you are it. The Bhagavad Gita manages to explain and apply esoteric and mystical practices to ones everyday life.This is why I think The Bhagavad Gita is the most popular text from India's spiritual texts. Also according to our karma and dharma, we will die and be born again and again until he are liberated. The Bhagavad Gita is a text that I believe should be read by anyone on the "spiritual" path. It is by far one of the greatest "spiritual" text ever written and we are fortunate to share this gift because of Easwaran's brilliant translation.

This is an excellent treatment of millenia-old Hindu religious thought for the modern day thinking man. Easwaran begins his discussion with explanations of several terms (such as Karma and Atman)from Vedic literature in easy to understand terms that capture the reader's attention.

The main body of the book is of course Lord Krishna's explanation to his life-long friend and champion archer Arjun of life's purpose i.e. Self-Realization (realization that the individual spirit is part of the Universal spirit). However unlike several other books on the same subject, Easwaran has employed an unimitable style and simplicity of presentation that make the book impossible to put down.

The book does not have any Sanskrit script nor any transliterations of the original poetry of the Bhagavad Gita (literally "The Lord's Song"). But I heartily recommend it to any reader interested in obtaining an overview of one of India's greatest philosophical works!

The Vintage edition is the same translation as the Niligri Press, except they don't give you the individual chapter introductions by Diana Morrison. These introductions--as well as Easwaran's general introduction--were the primary reason to buy Easwaran's translation. Buy the Niligri Press version, or for beautiful language with no chapter introductions find another version. A sad case of dumbing down/cost savings by Vintage.

I purchased this copy of the gita because I wanted a simple, accurate translation of the gita. This slim volume gives me precisely that, with an excellent explanatory introduction, and brief chapter introductions.

What I like most is his sensible perspective - there is little bias and what is said is just enough to allow the reader to grasp the deeper significance of the words in the gita, making the reading an active and exciting process. I believe this is how the Gita is to be read, no matter how much accurate and helpful analysis is available, because the value gained from the words is in discovering these insights for yourself.

There is a little bias in his interpretation. While he elaborates on Sankhya and Jnana, his views on the exalted status of Karma and Bhakti show clearly. I also feel some principles have been toned down. The ultimate goal of the Gita is a state beyond likes and dislikes, and external enjoyments. Were the whole world to collapse or attain some form of utopia, the realized soul would be undisturbed. Easwaran's suggestions fall far short of that state, for though caring for the world is noble, it too is a source of attachment and misery. Therefore, Easwaran's guide is best for beginners, and that too only those who are instinctively attracted to karma yoga and bhakti yoga.

I encourage you to start or supplement your study of the gita. I give it four starts purely because I feel the devanagiri script is essential. Hardly a problem for those who are interested only in the english translation.

The Bhagavad Gita must be the greatest spiritual book humanity possesses. Unlike other texts that purport to be the word of God, the Gita doesn't need to just be taken as authority because it's own merits are so strong. It completely condenses all of the important spiritual wisdom into a small, very readable book. No paragraph is wasted or repetitive.

I think that it is intended to be symbolic in setting. Whether there actually was a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna (or even a historical Arjuna and Krishna) is neither provable, disprovable, nor important beyond historical curiosity. Arjuna represents man in his present state while Krishna is a representation of the Divine, or your True Self. It doesn't matter whether you literally accept Krishna or any other image of the Godhead, the knowledge still is real.

Though the authorship is unknown we cannot wonder much about the author's character. He must have been fully enlightened, if not an incarnation of Vishnu. He knew he was writing something eternal and transcendant. It is likely he realized that the Vedic scriptures were too copious and impenetrable to be popular, so he summarized them in a book for all mankind. He then placed it in the epic Mahabharata to ensure that it could be seen as a revelation in the midst of great struggle - whether that vast battle or every life.

Eknath Easwaran's translation is excellent. I have read quite a few versions and his is the best. There is an interesting introduction and chapter introductions, but no unnecessary Sanskrit or footnotes.

The Gita can always be read. Whatever your emotional condition it is amazing. This can be contemplated every day and still be inspiring. It is certainly the greatest sacred book. What Ben Jonson said of Shakespeare (the best of secular authors, an interesting comparison between East and West there) is true of this: "not of an age, but for all time".

This book is also available in a Boxed Set "The Classics of Indian Spirituality" Classics of Indian Spirituality together with Easwaran's Dhammapada and Upanishads.

No wonder this is the best-selling translation of this Indian classic work! Easwaran gives a full introduction, putting the Gita into the context of the literature and traditions of the time, and showing how it relates to modern philosophy. Sanskrit concepts that are quite difficult to translate into English are explained carefully, as is the relationship with Yoga. The translation itself is vivid and convincing, and the book is cleverly divided, with each chapter preceded by a clear explanation of the difficult concepts to come in that chapter.

For a Westerner who has had little training in the Hindu culture this is the version of the BG to read. Eknath Easwaran provides clear previews of each chapter summarizing the major concepts in advance, giving the uninitiated reader a pathway through the text. The extensive introduction helps prepare the reader to understand some of the more esoteric issues. This book will stay in my library for many readings.

"A great book to live by" could be applied to 90% of Easwaran's work, but this was the first work of his that I was exposed to.. and it was one that had a profound effect.

Easwaran has taken an ancient tale and translated it into more than just English; Rather, he's translated into our daily lives. For those who find religious traditions other than their own to be too foreign, this edition of the Gita, with commentary, opens up the tradition of Krishna to the West.

This particular translation, however, doesn't focus heavily on Krishna, Arjuna, or the traditions of Hinduism. Instead, it paints a picture of a human being, like any of us, in a moral dilemna. Few of us have an advisor like Krishna to call upon, but we do have Easwaran.

Sri Eknath Eswaran's book has beautifully described the core meaning and essence of the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. He has made it possible even for non-hindus and non-religious people to understand and answer the philosophical questions that haunt us, like why are we born on earth? what is each man's mission in life? how does the whole political and social system of the universe work? To me it has reinforced the faith and belief in the Supreme spirit that govers and rules this world and courage to stand for what I believe is Truth.