The Bhagavad-Gita (Galaxy Books) (Paperback)

~ Robert Charles Zaehner (Editor) "Dhritarashtra said: (1) On the field of justice, the Kuru-field, my men and the sons of Pandu too [stand] massed together ready for the fight..." (more)
Key Phrases: man from longing, roams around from longing, fooling the embodied, Buddhist Nirvana, Brahman Two, Mighty Lord (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"More scholarly than the Miller translation. Useful to have the Sanskrit."--Omid Safi, Duke University

"The Gita is perhaps India's most studied text, and its words are still a source of inspiration to the Indian population."--Diversion

Product Description

The most widely read and probably the most important of the Hindu Sacred Books for the understanding of religious mysticism.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 15, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195016661
• ISBN-13: 978-0195016666
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,215,073 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best., October 5, 2000

By	"be2have" (SLC, UT USA) - See all my reviews

I have read a couple other translations of this inspirational text, but I found R.C. Zaehner's to be a hidden treasure. A more literal and scholarly book than Barbara Stoler Miller's. He includes additional information from other classic Hindu writtings and transliteration of the sanskrit text. A very enjoyable read for those serious about philosophy and Hinduism.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true treasure that never stops yielding up gems of understanding, March 3, 2007

By	Donald M. Campbell (Moultonborough, NH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have greatly enjoyed, and benefitted from, the late Professor R.C. Zaehner's wonderful translation of, and extensive commentary upon, The Bhagavad-Gita. The book was originally published in 1969, but is still in print (which is quite a testimonial in itself).

I can't praise this book highly enough. The introduction alone is worth the price of the book, yet virtually every one of Dr. Zaehner's notes to his excellent translation brings a thrilling "Ah Ha!" of connection and understanding.

I especially appreciate that, instead of interpreting the Gita in such a way as to buttress his own spiritual/religious point of view, Zaehner explores the deeper meaning of each chapter and verse of the Gita in reference to the rest of the text, and to the totality of the Mahabharata, and to the great commentators on the Gita, including Ramanuja and Shankara. His intention is to tease out what the Gita itself is trying to say, rather than imposing his own views upon it; I greatly respect that. And his commentary also benefits from his broad and deep understansing of Sanskrit and of the great spiritual teachings of India and Persia--and so, of course, his readers benefit as well.

I am almost continually re-reading this book. Each time, I understand it a little more. It is a treasure.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Bhagavad-Gita Galaxy Books by Robert Charles Zaehner, March 22, 2006

By	Gail Robertiello - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Robert Charles Zaehner does a nice job of translating the Sanskrit text. It's an in depth English translation.