Bhagavad-gita: The Song Divine--A New, Easy-to-Understand Edition of India's Timeless Masterpiece of Spiritual Wisdom [Hardcover]

Carl Woodham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2001

Woodham presents the timeless wisdom of the Gita in contemporary English Poetry, bringing to life its ancient yet perennially applicable message.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carl Woodham began a life-long fascination with Bhagavad-gita as a philosophy student in New Mexico in 1972. A disciple of the world's foremost Vedic scholar, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, he is the author of numerous poems and article, lectures frequently, and has appeared on nationally and internationally syndicated television programs. Carl Woodham has studied the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures for over 30 years. He lives near Gainesville, Florida.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Torchlight Publishing (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887089268
• ISBN-13: 978-1887089265
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,463,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, easy access to the Gita, June 21, 2001

By 

Susanne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bhagavad-gita: The Song Divine--A New, Easy-to-Understand Edition of India's Timeless Masterpiece of Spiritual Wisdom (Hardcover)

This book is a real treasure! Its rhyming verses make the Gita fun to read, especially out loud with friends or family. I've found my kids are very attracted to it, whereas the more philosophical versions seem boring to them. (Mitchell's version was a complete dud!) The verses tell the complete story of this important and instructive meeting between Krishna and Arjuna, condensing it without leaving out anything essential. The profound spiritual messages of the Gita come through loud and clear, yet Woodham's brilliant couplets make it palatable even to those whose interest in spirituality isn't very strong. This is just the kind of book I'll love to give as a gift to young people, old friends, relatives of all ages---even myself! The price is right, and it's very attractively put together. That combined with its entertainment factor makes this a highly recommended choice.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A portable, poetic Gita, July 3, 2001

By 

Kenneth Solomon (La Crosse, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bhagavad-gita: The Song Divine--A New, Easy-to-Understand Edition of India's Timeless Masterpiece of Spiritual Wisdom (Hardcover)

This is an edition of the Gita unlike any I've seen. At first the poetic approach caught me off guard, but when I read a bit I found it very entertaining. The discipline of the meter and rhyme brings the verses into a 'sutra' (nutshell) form, and considering the involved subject matter, the writer does it very well.

The interpretation strongly favors the personal God, clearly the proper and most illuminating view of the Bhagavad-gita.

For me this compact, enjoyable, and uplifting book is a perfect companion on long trips.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, November 10, 2005

By 

Darryl Eschete "darryl_x" (Wisconsin, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bhagavad-gita: The Song Divine--A New, Easy-to-Understand Edition of India's Timeless Masterpiece of Spiritual Wisdom (Hardcover)

One reviewer here seems to have forgotten that the original Sanskrit text rhymed, so to render it into rhyme in English is, in my opinion, clever.

As one who owns many translations of the Gita myself, I must say that this is the most readable. Past efforts to translate the Sanskrit into English have given us stilted, stiff and confusing text. Though I love Prabupada and consider myself a fringe devotee, even HIS translation can be, well, tedious to read, especially some of the overlong purports.

This Gita just grooves along, painting a much clearer picture of the conversation between Sri Krishna and Arjuna and the situation in which it is framed. Recommended, especially if you want to read to kids.