The Bhagavad Gita (Classics of Indian Spirituality)
List Price:
Our Price: $6.69
You Save: $4.26 (39%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Translator: Eknath EaswaranIntroduction: Eknath Easwaran
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-05-17
ISBN: 1586380192
Number of pages: 296
Publisher: Nilgiri Press
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9781586380199
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Bhagavad Gita (Classics of Indian Spirituality)
Book Review: THE BATTLE WITHIN
Summary: 4 Stars
Although not the oldest of Hindu texts nor even the most authoritative, the BHAGAVAD GITA does deserve special recognition for its ease of readability. I say this as someone who has read the unabridged RIGVEDA SAMHITA, both RIGVEDA BRAHMANAS and a selection of 12 of the most significant UPANISHADS.
Where those earlier texts constantly beat one over the head with Soma, Sacrifice, Agni, Indra and cryptic passages that raised more questions than answers, the straight-forward dialogue of the BHAGAVAD GITA comes as a breath of refreshment. My red ink pen was constantly flowing as I was highlighting passages left and right. Most surprising to me was the volume of passages stating principles that could easily be applied to Christianity and possibly other religions. Some examples include:
Chapter 2.62-63 on the topic of the dangers of lust.
Chapter 7.24-26 on the nature of God, emphasizing that as Creator, He is not created--a concept that a lot of atheists fail to grasp.
Chapter 9.13-14 on the worship of God.
Chapter 16 on the topic of the demonic/sinners.
Finally, the idea of Arjuna's internal spiritual battle is also something I think that is common to many religions and that people can easily relate to.
Although this edition is translated by Eknath Easwaran, all the chapter introductions are done by Diana Morrison. My method was to read the chapters of the Gita first--to establish my personal first-impression--and then read the introductions and see if my understanding matched that of someone more versed in this text. Often I found that some of Morrison's observations and commentary were just as enlightening as the Gita itself.
Easwaran's translation itself is very easy to read. Probably a Junior High or High School reading-level, if you overlook the occasional Sanskrit words that pop up. On that note, I was glad to see a GLOSSARY at the end that explains some of the more difficult terms like manas, buddhi, and ahamkara, to name a few.
There is also a rather lengthy introduction by Easwaran, but I personally found it not as informative as it could have been. For one, I would have liked more commentary on HOW he translated the Gita.
On what text was his translation based?
What was his method for translating words with multiple meanings?
Was his approach to the translation strictly theological, or was he trying to squeeze in the social and cultural context of the timeframe the Gita was written?
Was content compromised for readability?
For anyone who has ever showed even a casual interest in Hinduism, this book does a great job of explaining the concepts of Karma, Reincarnation, Self-Realization, and the identity of Krishna. There are many great passages and analogies. However, there are some chapters that--understandably--will be harder for most English-speakers to grasp, due to the Sanskrit terminology. The Gita by being translated has certainly passed many borders, but there still remains the language barrier that plagues all the Hindu texts I've read.
Summary of The Bhagavad Gita (Classics of Indian Spirituality)
In the Bhagavad Gita, Prince Arjuna asks direct, uncompromising questions of his spiritual guide on the eve of a great battle.
In this best-selling and expanded edition of the most famous --and popular -- of Indian scriptures, Eknath Easwaran contextualizes the book culturally and historically and explains the key concepts of Hindu religious thought and the technical vocabulary of yoga.
Chapter introductions, notes, and a glossary help readers understand the book's message. Most importantly, this translation uses simple, clear language to impart the poetry, universality, and timelessness of the Gita's teachings.
Prince Arjuna faced a dilemma that many face sooner or later--whether to take action that is necessary yet morally ambiguous. The difference is that Arjuna's action was to wage war against his own family. With the armies arrayed, Arjuna loses his nerve. Krishna, his charioteer and incarnation of divine consciousness, begins to teach him the nature of God and of himself, that Arjuna can attain liberation through union with God, and that there are several available paths. And so the most famous and revered of all Hindu Scriptures goes on to teach the paths of knowledge, devotion, action, and meditation, becoming the seed for all the Hindu systems of philosophy and religion that followed. For all of its profundity, Eknath Easwaran manages to translate the Gita in easy prose that neither panders nor obscures. Coupled with his thorough introduction, Easwaran's version comes off on all the levels it should: as a guide to action, devotional Scripture, a philosophical text, and inspirational reading. So what does Arjuna finally do? He follows his dharma, of course, as we all must. --Brian Bruya
Yoga Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Yoga Books
The Textbook of Yoga Psychology - The Definitive Translation and Interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutrasby Rammurti S. Mishra
Julian Press; Published: 1987-01-28; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Pantanjaliby Swami Prabhavananda
Mentor New American Library; Published: 1969-12-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $125.46
Yoga for Americans (Signet)by Indra Devi
Signet; Published: 1960-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $149.50
Holy Yoga: Exercise. for the Christian Body and Soulby Brooke Boon
FaithWords; Published: 2007-08-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
White Lama: The Life of Tantric Yogi Theos Bernard, Tibet's Lost Emissary to the New Worldby Douglas Veenhof
Harmony; Published: 2011-05-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.39
Price in other shops:
Fundamentals of Yoga (A Doubleday Anchor Book)by Rammurti S. Mishra
Anchor Books; Published: 1974; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $338.80
Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practiceby Mark Singleton
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2010-02-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.19
Price in other shops:
Alpha Teach Yourself: Yoga in 24 Hoursby Linda Johnsen
Alpha; Published: 2002; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Sacred Architecture: Explore and Understand Sacred Spacesby Caroline Humphrey, Piers Vitebsky
Thorsons; Published: 2003-04-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $27.25
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Tai Chi: A Practical Approach to the Ancient Chinese Movement for Health and Well Beingby Angus Clark
Element Books Ltd.; Published: 2004-01-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $133.34
Similar Books and other products
The Essential Koran: The Heart of Islamby Thomas Cleary
HarperSanFrancisco; Published: 1994-03-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
Tao Te Chingby Lao Tsu
Vintage; Published: 1989-08-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
The Key Muscles of Yoga: Scientific Keys, Volume Iby Ray Long
BandhaYoga; Published: 2009-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.77
Price in other shops:
The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practiceby T. K. V. Desikachar
Inner Traditions; Published: 1999-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipikaby B. K. S. Iyengar
Schocken; Published: 1995-01-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.56
Price in other shops:
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjaliby B.K.S. Iyengar
APH Publishing Corp.; Published: 2005-10-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.74
Price in other shops:
The Dhammapada (Classics of Indian Spirituality)Nilgiri Press; Published: 2007-04-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.60
Price in other shops:
The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentaryby Edwin F. Bryant
North Point Press; Published: 2009-07-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.05
Price in other shops:
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidanandaby Sri S. Satchidananda
Integral Yoga Publications; Published: 1990-10-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.07
Price in other shops:
The Upanishads (Classic of Indian Spirituality)Nilgiri Press; Published: 2007-08-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.09
Price in other shops: