Bhagavad-Gita (The Song of God) [Paperback]

Ramananda Prasad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1997

The Bhagavad-Gita has the original Sanskrit text with Roman transliteration, and a lucid English rendition. Concise and to the point commentaries on two hundred twenty-seven selected key verses are provided. One hundred thirtythree verses are printed in red to enable the first-time readers to study these verses before delving deep into the vast ocean of transcendental knowledge. The teachings of saints and sages of major religious denominations as well as world leaders and scholars have been included. Quotations from the Vedas, Puranas, Upanisads, Smrtis, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhakti-sutras, Brahma-sutra, Yoga-sutra, as well as other major scriptures of the world such as the Bible, Dhammapad and Koran have been incorporated to underline the basic unity of all religious thoughts and to promote the universal brotherhood of mankind. Epilogue, references, Sanskrit transliteration and pronuciation guide, glossary and index are provided. A guide to meditation, beautiful pictures and Gita Calisa are included for daily Sadhana.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"......Prasad’s deft renderings are elegantly simple, easy to understand, and unencumbered by commentary. An ambitious work..." -- Hinduism Today, USA

"....I personally find many translations tedious because of complex structure.This translation is simply beautiful because it is beautifully simple." -- Rev. Phil Buzard, New York

“ ....Judicious use of Sanskrit in the translation conveys its majestic beauty to the reader. --Vedanta Kesari, Madras, INDIA

Language Notes

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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Pub; 2nd edition (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8120813901
• ISBN-13: 978-8120813908
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,011,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Nonfiction > More Languages > Sanskrit

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Translation, September 1, 2000

By 

"gsibbery" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bhagavad-Gita (The Song of God) (Paperback)

It's about time that we get a new translation of the Bhagavad Gita. The most popular version nowadays seems to be Swami Prabhupada's version, but unfortunately, he seems to think he is god. Sri Prasadji takes a much more low-key approach, simply translating the Gita to the best of his ability and allowing the reader to make sense of it rather than forcing his own opinions on others. Any time there is the possibility of confusion, Prasadji defines his terms and goes to the extra effort to make sure that what Vyasa was trying to describe is clear to even ones not familiar with Indian philosophy. More accurate than most other translations and rendered into modern prose, this makes an excellent place to start with if you're new to Eastern thought. Few terms are left in Sanskrit other than those that are necessary (Dharma, Karma, etc.). A wonderful addition to any seeker's library.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Very Best Gita for the Serious Yogi and Student, January 4, 2012

By 

Carl Armstrong - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bhagavad-Gita (The Song of God) (Paperback)

When I first saw this magnificent little book at Barnes & Noble bookstore I was ecstatic.Translated by Dr. Ramananda Prasad, founder of the American Gita Society, he includes quotations from the Vedas, Puranas, Upanisads, Smrtis, Ramayana, Mahabarata, Bhakti-Sutras, as well as other major scriptures of the world such as the Dhammapad and Koran.227 selected key verses are provided with a concise and to the point commentary, and 133 verses are printed in red to enable the first time reader to study these verses before delving deep into the vast ocean of transcendental knowlege. Of the utmost importance however is the Roman transliteration of the original Sanskrit text. This is critical for the serious yoga student since with this Roman transliteration you now have at your fingertips hundreds of very powerful mantras to suit any occasion.While practising your daily asanas, chant or recite any of these verses as your intuition guides you, to recieve maximum benefit from your daily routine.(do each 3 times to resonate in your 1.physical body 2.astral body and 3.causal body, you may also need to look at a black dot, kept at eye level, to ensure one pointedness).This light weight compact version contains the very cream of the Gita which you can now carry with you for any occasion.Indispensible for every serious yogi and student.