Customer Reviews

The Bhagavad Gita

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I found this originally in a used bookstore in 1970. It has been my constant companion ever since. Written in the 50's prior to the commercialization of Indian Gurus by the West, Sivananda's commentary and translation of the Gita is very pure and traditional. His is not catering to the west but writing the commentary for serious seekers who are Indians. So many modern Gita commentaries are watered down for Americans and sort of new-ageish or they push a very narrow sectarian agenda ("Bhagavad Gita As It IS" ie.,the Hare Krishna movement's version -- or Paramahansananda Yogananda's three volume version in particular apply here)
Sivanana's commentary is filled with deep insights into the various spiuritual paths delivered by a man who was widely acknowledged as being one of India's great spiritual teachers of the early to mid 20th century. (He died in 1963). He understands that the Gita teaches a variety of spititual paths and each is equally valid if followed with commitment. He delivers deep insights without watering the Gita down for the "masses."
This particular version is all one needs. The single desert island book.

The Bhagavad Gita - Text, Word-to word meaning, Translation and Commentary by Sr Swami Sivananda. Shivanandanagar, Himalayas: Twelfth Edition, 2008. Hardback, xl + 576 Pages. ISBN 8170520002.

There was something very special about Swami Sivananda. You don't have to read much of him before realizing this and developing a powerful liking for him. His earlier edition of the Bhagavad Gita has been a constant companion of mine for many years. Since it is a pocket edition, however, it is only lightly annotated and without the very full and excellent commentary that we find in the present edition.

An earlier reviewer pointed out that "Sivananda's commentary and translation of the Gita is very pure and traditional. His is not catering to the west but writing the commentary for serious seekers who are Indians." I would agree with this. The commentary does have more of a 'devotional' flavor than the 'philosophic' flavor we find in other editions of the Gita such as that of Swami Gambhirananda's Bhagavad-Gita or, and especially, that of Dr. A.G. Krishna Warrier's Srimad Bhagavad Gita Bhasya of Sri Samkaracarya.

Readers should also note that the present edition gives the text of the Gita ONLY in Devanagari script and lacks (with the exception of a few words) the transliteration that we find, for example, in Swami Sivananda's pocket edition and in many other current editions of the Gita. What this means is that, although you can still enjoy the translation and most of the commentary, in order to make full use of this book you will need to be able to read Devanagari. This is made less problematic since the book is well-printed on quality paper with the Sanskrit in large clear easy-to-read fonts.

All in all then, I would pronounce the book an exceptional edition for exceptional readers. For descriptions of other editions of The Bhagavad Gita see my Listmania list. Anyone wishing to learn Devanagari should download Charles Wikner's 'A Practical Sanskrit Introductory' (1996). This is an extremely useful 146-page Sanskrit tutorial in 15 lessons which the author has generously made freely available. It can be downloaded from: http://sanskritdocuments.org/learning_tutorial_wikner/index.html

I wholeheartedly agree with previous reviews and, if I had anything in particular to add, it would be this: this book doubles as a fantastic Sanskrit reader! As noted, the print is incredibly clear (and in devanagari much more legible than that in Lanman's venerable reader), and Sivananda offers fine word-by-word glosses of the Sanskrit text. Additionally, the language of the Gita is so elegant and simple that it serves as a fine first text for those wishing to apply their Sanskrit and learn a great deal more along the way. Sivananda's commentary itself is clear but lyrical, and, though it elucidates the text tremendously, it often offers analogies and aphorisms as insightful as those of the Gita proper. Truly, this edition is the work of a great thinker and spiritual leader in his own right, as Sivananda's biography would attest. Additionally, he offers great commentary on the meaning of particular terms of importance, pausing to reflect on them in a way that allows even non-initiates in Indian thought to grasp the meaning of concepts central to its history. The Gita itself is a work born out of a profound understanding of the human condition, and Sivananda's edition proves a worthy vessel for transmitting it to those not steeped in its traditions. Through the course of reading it, I found myself appreciating the work on literary, linguistic, and philosophical levels all at the same time. Really, I can't praise this work enough! Buy it now!