From Publishers Weekly
This well-illustrated version of the Bhagavad Gita, the central ancient text of devotional Hinduism, is distinguished by its easy accessibility. Prime's translations from the Sanskrit are not poetic, but they get the job done, and his section-by-section commentary opens the text to the spiritual seeker. Offered in the first person plural ("When we are overwhelmed by life's complexities..."), these comments show that Prime never loses sight of the audience for his book, and that he wants readers to understand the Gita in a personal way. In fact, Prime began this translation as a way of sharing the Gita with his own children, and his commentary exudes a fatherly and caring spirit. The book's photographs and illustrations are often breathtaking, showing Hindus at prayer or engaged in simple acts of daily life.
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From the Back Cover
[back cover]
THE ILLUSTRATED
BHAGAVAD GITA In the history of India, the
Bhagavad Gita occupies a unique place as the one scripture common to all Hindus. It is short, simple, and to the point, and draws the diverse tenets of Indian philosophy into a unified whole. The text was Gandhi's greatest inspiration: When doubts haunt me and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to the
Bhagavad Gita and find a verse to comfort me.
The
Gita, composed on a battlefield, is arranged as a conversation of questions and answers between God and the soul, represented by Krishna and Arjuna. It addresses life's basic dilemmas, such as how to deal with adversity, the search for peace of mind, and how to be active in the world without getting entangled by karma. The most difficult battle we all have to face, says the
Gita, is the one we must fight with our own minds and senses. It offers encouragement and advice to all who aspire to a better life.
The
Bhagavad Gita was first translated into English in 1785, yet curiously has remained little known and still less understood. Now as Hinduism is a growing part of society in the West, this accessible translation and commentary aims to speak to the general reader as well as to the spiritual seeker.
Ranchor Prime was born in England in 1950 and studied architecture and art before devoting fifteen years to the study and teaching of Vedic philosophy in Britain, India, and the United States. He is director of Friends of Vrindavan, an environmental charity dedicated to conserving sacred forests in India, and he lives in London.