Customer Reviews

The Dhammapada: With Introductory Essays, Pali Text, English Translation and Notes (Oxford India Collection)

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Mr. Radhakrishan's intepretation of Dhammapada and Buddhism in general is twisted. He insist against basic Buddhist teachings many things for instance that there are permanent self and that
there are universal spirit. Radhakrisnan's view of Buddhism is colored by his own religion- Hinduism. Although some comments of verses are insightful the book confuses Buddhist reader more than makes him more understading about Buddha's teachings. I can not recommend this version of Dhammapada.

Although difficult to find, S. Radhakrishnan's edition of the DHAMMAPADA is in my opinion the best version in print in English.

Out of several thousand Buddhist scriptures, the DHAMMAPADA is perhaps the only one which contains the actual words of the Buddha. Divided into twenty six chapters, the DHAMMAPADA is a collection of 423 verses. These verses are succinct doses of the Buddha's wisdom and moral philosopy.

Here the original Pali of each verse is given, followed by the English translation and S. Radhakrisnan's commentary.

Radhakrishnan is a masterful commentator. He cross-references many of the verses with other Buddhist scriptures and compares and contrasts with other religions of the world, leading to some surprising insights. His translation is scholarly but readable.

Although not as handy as the pocket rendering by Thomas Byrom, S. Radhakrishnan's combination of accurate translation, original-language text, and thought-provoking commentary makes this *the* Dhammapada in English.

This is the best edition of the "Dhammapada" (Pali; literally: The Words [Pali: pada] of the Law [Pali: Dhamma]; effectively, the Basis or Feet [Sanskrit: pada] of the True Doctrine of the Buddha [Sanskrit: Buddha-saddharma, i.e., the Buddha-saddharma-pada] that you can buy. Why? Not because the translation is the very finest; in my experience, that plaque goes to Thomas Byrom for his translation of the "Dhammapada". The reason why this is the best edition of the "Dhammapada" that you can buy is because it includes the Pali text alongside the English translation. The Pali text consists of the exact words spoken by the Blessed Lord (Bhagavan) Buddha-Tathagata, Shakyamuni-Vairocana, the Saint, the Right, Completely Enlighted one (Arhat-samyaksambuddha), known in the Hinayana context as the Mahashramana, the Great Ascetic, Gotama, the Buddha.
The other reason is that it includes a sapient, erudite, wise, informed, balanced, and enlightened introduction by the "Dhammapada's" translator, S. Radhakrishnan - which ought to be mandatory reading for all intelligent men (intelligent men of the world, you are on notice).
If you are going to buy the "Dhammapada", the Word of the [True] Law, the Basis of the [Buddhist] Doctrine, you should purchase this one and the translation by Thomas Byrom. The former is the finest edition avaibable, while the latter, in my experience, contains the most felicitous, moving, uplifting and inspiring translation.

Ignore the first review. S. Radakrishnan is one of the shinning stars of the modern world: a great writer and intellectual. He is the man to listen to on eastern (and western for that matter) thought. His book on Eastern Religions and Western Thought is a powerful synthesis of mysticicsm from a global point of view, on a par with Evelyn Underhill's great book, Mysticism, which focuses on the west only. He was a genious and great man, and one of the first I hope to meet when I go to heaven.