The Bhagwadgita comprises seven hundred verses and has guided us over generations. This book focuses on seventy verses, which, the author believes, form the core of what Shri Krishna told Arjun at the Kurukshetra battlefield. Each chapter begins with a Sanskrit verse, which is followed by its literal translation. The wisdom of each of those is then eloquently expounded. This book doesn’t confine itself to explaining the verses and the philosophy of the Bhagwadgita alone; it shows us how to apply these tenets in everyday life through lucid examples. Effectively, it teaches us how to resolve our problems, improve social relations, enrich our souls and make our journey worthwhile.

In My Gita, acclaimed mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik demystifies The Bhagavad Gita for the contemporary reader. His unique approach—thematic rather than verse-by-verse—makes the ancient treatise eminently accessible, combined as it is with his trademark illustrations and simple diagrams.
In a world that seems spellbound by argument over dialogue, vi-vaad over sam-vaad, Devdutt highlights how Krishna nudges Arjuna to understand rather than judge his relationships. This becomes relevant today when we are increasingly indulging and isolating the self (self-improvement, self-actualization, self-realization—even selfies!).We forget that we live in an ecosystem of others, where we can nourish each other with food, love and meaning, even when we fight.
So let My Gita inform your Gita.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Devdutt Pattanaik writes and lectures on the relevance of mythology in modern times. He has written over 500 articles in newspapers, and thirty books, which include Jaya : An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata, Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana, 7 Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art, 7 Secrets of Shiva, 7 Secrets of Vishnu, 7 Secrets of the Goddess, The Book of Ram, 99 Thoughts on Ganesha, Shikhandi and Other Tales They Don’t Tell You and Myth=Mithya: Decoding Hindu Mythology. He lives in Mumbai. For more information on Devdutt and his books, visit devdutt.com

Srimad Bhagavad Gita presents "The Sermons from the Illustrious Lord Krsna to Arjuna," compiled by the great ancient seer, Vyasa. Here is a rendering of Srimad Bhagavad Gita into English. While translating from Sanskrit into English, the author has spent about ten years in first realizing and then choosing the exact equivalent English words for translation so that the beauty, substance, meanings, dignity and grace of the original is not disturbed. Though the melody and magic of the verses is difficult to recapture in another medium, yet the author has tried his utmost to bring it in its best. To feel the dignity of phrase and the intensity of utterance, the author has given the text in Roman script so that those who know Sanskrit can enjoy its fullness while pondering over in its original, whereas others who do not know Sanskrit also get a fairly correct idea of the spirit of the poem. After putting up the text in Roman, it has been rearranged to facilitate the meaning of the verse. Then appear the word-for-word meaning and lastly the verse has been translated into English as exactly as possible so as not to deviate at all from its original.

"Although the Bhagavad-gita has traditionally been regarded as a poem of primarily religious significance, Dr. Agarwal shows that with the proper interpretation its message may be ransformed into a set of practical ethical guidelines. This practical aspect of the Gita’s teaching, its insistence that involvement with the world is an ethically correct function of human behaviour, is the focus of this book. That involvement with the world’s is expressed by the term 'Lokasamgraha'. The term covers a multitude of social and political forms of behaviour and attitudes of mind and is perhaps more central to the meaning the Gita should have for modern man than its traditional other-worldly interpretation.

Dr. Agarwal has examined the various ways in which India has reacted to the impact of many powerful foreign influences over the past two centuries. He has done so by studying the lives and the activities of select Hindu thinkers who through their writings and their ways of life showed their awareness of a need to preserve an Indian identity. All of them undertook to define these differences and thus established their views on what might be acceptable alternatives for India and the Indian genius vis-a-vis those principles and customs that run counter to the Indian tradition. But they were not unanimous in either their conclusions or the strategies they devised for attaining their common goal. The author has concentrated on the role the Bhagavad-gita has played in the lives and works of these thinkers."

"We live in a world that functions by seeming 'dualism', a perspective that keeps us in bondage. In this book, dualism is addressed and shown to be illusionary, since every pair of opposites implies a third element: the notion of a difference implied by both opposites.

The Original Gita, which predates the Bhagavad Gita, focuses on the basic philosophical and practical essentials of life and living. Here dualism is addressed and shown to be illusionary, since every pair of opposites implies a third element: the notion of a different implied by both opposites. The discussion of what is an ever-present 'difference' in such a triunity and how it impacts everything we perceive is pivotal to awakening to a new dimension of observation. It is in the unseen difference that we become aware of opposites, such as long-short, day-night, true-false.

In the first part of the book, the questions-What is thought? What is space-time? What is life-death? - are examined in concise form to give a foundation for the understanding of the philosophy of the Gita. Using this basis of Eastern wisdom, the author comments on the 209 verses of The Original Gita, and a Sanskrit-to-English translation is given of the related 319 verses in the classic Bhagavad Gita that correspond to these verses; these 319 verses can therefore be considered as the core of the Bhagavad Gita. There is no reference in The Original Gita to the battle fought by the Bharatas, nor is there support for the caste system, which were interpolations added later to the Bhagavad Gita. The book includes a glossary for clarification of a number of germane Sanskrit terms, a bibliography, and an index."

"an interesting and thought-provoking commentary on the Gita' - Karan Singh, eminent Indologist, author, champion of interfaith dialogue, Padma Vibhushan.

'Lucid & Contemplative' - Namita Gokhale, author of Paro: Dreams of Passion
"

"The message of the holy dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna in the Bhishma Parvan episode of Mahabharata has been held in deep reverence by the sages, philosophers and the learned scholars all over the world. The teachings of Geeta are universal and meant for the welfare of
entire creation. There are hundreds of commentaries on Bhagawad Geeta both in Indian and in many foreign languages.

In the words of Dr. Radhakrishnan, 'for centuries people have found comfort in this great book which sets forth in precise and penetrating words the essential principles of a spiritual religion which are not contingent on ill-founded facts, unscientific dogmas or arbitrary fancies.'

The present translation is only a humble addition to the work which has been accomplished
earlier by the Geeta scholars. This translation with Romanized Sanskrit verses has been brought
forward in order to encourage the modern generation into the study of this ancient scripture.
This work is also meant to help the Indians living in foreign countries and to arouse the interest of foreigners into the recitation of Sanskrit verses and to understand the meaning of Geeta in a simple flexible and comprehensible language.

Review:

""The Bhagawad Geeta is a first-hand guide to the ancient roots of Vedic religion."" - Dr. R.C. Zeahner

""When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I don't see any ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to The Bhagawad Geeta and find a verse to comfort me."" - Mahatma Gandhi

""The Bhagawad Geeta is perhaps the most systematic spiritual statement of the Perennial Philosophy.""-Aldous Huxley"

"In the Bhagavadgita, Krsna exploys various teaching methods to aid Arjuna`s comprehension and to remove his misunderstandings. He often explains a difficult statement with the aid of a simile drawn from everyday human experience and the Bhagavadgita contains some of the most suggestive and beautiful similes in the entire sacred literature of Hinduism. The similes of Krsna add a beautiful visual dimension to words and invite reflection and exploration.

In this text, Prof. Rambachan has chosen twelve similes for reflection. They deal with diverse but interrelated matters such as the nature of the self, death, scriptures, self-control, peace, wisdom and the nature of God. These similes offer an exciting entrance into the Hindu world-view and the author invites us to explore the inexhaustible richness of each image.

Review:

""...Each of the similes contains inexhaustible richness of meaning to which the author adds significant classification. The similes open up an easy entrance to the basic Hindu thought which other wise could be elusive for easy comprehension. An inte"

"Gitamrtam is a concise and insightful discussion of the central themes of the Bhagavadgita. Beginning with the Gita's teaching about the nature and role of the incarnation, Dr. Rambachan identifies kama, a state of desiring and wanting, as life's fundamental problem. The proper resolution of this human dissatisfaction is to be found in the understanding of oneself to be the full and complete self (atman). Such knowledge, Dr. Rambachan vigorously argues, enables one to act in the world from a deep sense of inward peace and fulfilment. Self-knowledge transforms human motivation and liberates us from the narrow confines of selfish action to the freedom of serving others. Dr. Rambachan establishes that the Bhagavadgita ideal is not indifference to the world and the severing of human relationships, but love and compassion born out of the identity of oneself with all beings. In a lucid and accessible style, Dr. Rambachan shows how the Gita's teaching makes possible a love which embraces all and infuses each act with compassion."

"This book underscores that the Gita is not for abandoning active life but for reconstructing.
The book focuses particularly on the modern man. It does not deal with an imaginary or an ideal situation but with man`s real life. It recognizes that man is caught up in a whirlpool of conflicting values and tries to resolve and reconcile them. The book explores various dimensions of man`s life - as an individual, as a family member, as a social being and as a businessman, as well.

The book selects only a few chapters and shlokas and brings out the principal teachings of the Gita which are of direct relevance in the context of contemporary modern life.

Review:

""Parables and metaphors in the Gita have been used as in other ancient scritures and literature to explain the subtle meanings in a simple manner to the reader......Separate chapters have been devoted to different ingredients of Karma Yoga......A Pe"

"Bhagavad Gita in 365 days is a brief and simplified account of the dialogue betwwen a despondent Arjuna and the clear headed sagacious lord Krishna. It extracts the essence of the Gita in an undauting and user friendly format. With skill Lata Jagtiani has condensed the verses while retaining the philosophical essence of the Gita.
A pocket size book handy for travellers it requires a read of only a minute a day time that even the busiest amongst us can spare for a life of peace. A symbolic dip in the Ganges of wisdom it is sure to be an invaluable friend for readers of bothe sexes across all faiths for anybody given to asking philosophical questions.

Review:

For city dwellers busy with their daily routines, work qualms and household chores commuting and always on the move; spending some time on religion and mental relaxation is a distant thought. `Bhagavad Gita in 365 Days is just the book for such individual"

The Gita offers a succinct summary of ancient Indian philosophy, with particular emphasis on the Supreme Spirit as both immanent and transcendent. Since its introduction into the Western world some two hundred years ago, the poem has been translated into practically every modern tongue, and is today the most widely read and discussed of all Eastern scriptures. Its emphasis is on two aspects selflessness. Recension of the Gita, combined with illuminating Essays on the poem make the present work unique. It works as a bridge between the Gita`s oriental approach and modern occidental thought.

"Mahatma Gandhi The Bhagavadgita
A commentary by Mahatma Gandhi A book of Ethics for all religions A commentary for the common man"

A masterful translation of the Bhagavad Gita, along with the Sanskrit original. A faithful rendition of the 2000 year old Song Celestial, Bibek Debroys translation resonates with the spirit of the original while using modern idiom and language. He captures, verse by verse, the essence of this ancient philosophical poem which debates eternal questions of right and wrong, action and consequence, and the conflicting nature of duty and love. The text stands by itself, complete and without interpolation, juxtaposed with the Sanskrit for easy reference, interpretation and explanation are tucked away as notes at the end. Authentic and readily accessible to the scholar and the non initiate, this edition of the Gita is essential reading for anybody who wishes to grasp the core of Indian philosophy and religion.

Author
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularly known as "Rajaji" or "C.R" was a great patriot, astute politician, incisive thinker, great visionary and one of the greatest statesmen of all time. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, hailed as conscious- keeper of the Mahatma. As an ardent freedom-fighter, as Chief Minister of Madras, as Governor of West Bengal, as Home Minister of India and as the first Indian Governor-General of India he rendered yeoman service to the nation and left an indelible impress on our contemporary life.

Rajaji was closely associated with Kulapati Munshiji and he was among the distinguished founder-members of the Bhavan. The Bhavan had the privilege of publishing 18 books (see page ii) by him so far, the copyright of which he gifted to the Bhavan.

All of Rajaji's works, especially of Marcus Aurelius, the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads are popular. In Ramayana and Mahabharata, he has displayed his inimitable flair for story-telling and applying the moral of stories to the needs of modern times.

Rajaji wrote not only in English but also in chaste Tamil, his mother-tongue. He was at his best as a short-story writer.

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the greatest scriptures expounding the creed, discipline and ideals of Hinduism. And no better exponent of the ideas contained in it can be found than Rajaji who was indisputably one of the greatest of Indian and who has dared to live strictly according to the precepts of that manual of correct living in the face of the challenges of a rife-torn political and public life.

Rajaji passed away in 1972 at the age of 94.

PREFACE
IT is a matter for great regret that the young men and women of our Universities know very much less about the Gita and the principles of Hindu religion than the undergraduates of European Universities know about the Bible and the principles of the Christian faith. We inherit in Hindu religion a body of thought which, in the opinion of those best fitted to judge, is the product of the highest efforts of intellect and imagination that ever were turned in that direction. Young men and women of any Western nation, had they inherited our philosophy, would have been as proud of it as of an empire.

This book has been written mainly to serve as a handbook for students. Reading these pages, if they find any thought in the text or in the explanation not satisfying, or wanting in clarity, or such as evokes disagreement, they should pursue the matter discussing it with fellow-students or consulting scholars. No Indian can consider himself as having attained a liberal education if he has not a sound knowledge of the principles of the great religious philosophy for which India is famous throughout the civilized world.

This little book is an attempt like what the father in the old story did with his sons, who were told to dig for treasure in the family garden. The gold was indeed found; not as coined treasure hidden away in a pot but as the reward of toil, a plentiful crop which the garden yielded for the digging. There is nothing in what the writer has himself written, but if the readers are induced to dig, the Gita, our precious patrimony, will yield a rich harvest for the striving soul.

Many suggestions were made after the issue of the first edition, to make subsequent issues more useful, for example that parallel quotations and Upanishad sources may be given, and that a bibliography may be added. All these may be very useful, but I have not accepted these suggestions, as I intend that this book should continue to be a beginner’s handbook, and I do not wish to aim at making it anything like a book for scholars.

From the Jacket:

The Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, on the basis of its order, style and theme belongs to the genre of Mahapuranas, in spite of its exclusion from the original list of the Mahapuranas. It is to the Saktas what Srimad Devi Bhagavatam is to Vailavas. Opinions about the date of its composition vary; however it can be safely said that it attained its present shape sometime during the eleventh century AD. Its ideas trace source from all the major works of ancient India-the Vedas, the Epics and the Puranas. The translation of the voluminous text of the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam by Swami Vijnanananda is a landmark in the translation of ancient texts. This shall prove to be an invaluable boon to the students of ancient Indian history and to those interested in the study of Saktism and Tantrism in particular.

From the Jacket

This contemporary companion to the Bhagavad Gita addresses the heart of human yearning. T offers the possibility of transforming the battle of life into a path to Truth, a living process. Each chapter presents a road toward our inner, universal Self, bringing a deeper and wider perspective along the way. A psychological orientation invites the reader to move from abstract idea to individual insight. As the book proceeds, the relationship between the personal and the eternal gradually unfolds in an ever-expanding process of self-discovery.

Quotes from the great teachers are included in the text to inspire, uplift and help us cross over the sea of illusion.

Naina Lepes has been receiving inspiration and wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita since 1970, and studied Vedanta with Swami Chinmayananda. Her longtime guru is Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Other major influences in her life have been the work of G.I. Gurdjieff and C.G. Jung. Naina is the author of The Cat Guru, and for many years, she worked as a Jungian trained psychotherapist in New York.

Her formal education includes a degree in Music, an M.A. in Psychology, and a Ph. D. in Counseling. She was born in Fall River,

From the Jacket:

Vimala Thakar gave a series of inspired talks on the Bhagavad Gita in three separate seminars, during 1992 and 1993 in Italy. To her Bhagavad Gita is very sacred because it deals with the organic wholeness of life; and the inbuilt complexity of life, It affirms the interplay between the micrecosm and macrocosm and persuadesus to remain united with the ultimate reality, not only to intellectual understanding, but through everything that we do, at every moment.

About the Author:

Vimala Thakar began her spiritual search at the tender age of five. As a young woman, she travelled and lectured for the Land Gifted Movement of Vinoba Bhave, an associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Her meetings with Krishnamurti, from 1956 to 1961, had a profound impact on her life. From the 1960s to the 1980s, she taught meditation retreats in thirty-five countries. She stopped travelling outside India in 1991, and now resides in Mount Abu, in Rajasthan.

About the Book

Fraught with feelings of self-doubt and hopelessness, a great warrior collapses in self-defeat, posing questions for his charioteer, just before the immense battle begins on the plain of Kuruksetra. It is as if there was an interruption of the epic story of the Mahabharata, which pauses dramatically for the dialogue between teacher, Sri Krsna, and his disciple, Arjuna, which is known as the Bhagavadgita. This dialogue has been handed down as part of the oral Vedic tradition in an unbroken line of knowledge for more than 5000 years. And despite such antiquity, Arjuna's questions remain just as relevant today, because the human sense of insufficiency and desire for fulfilment are timeless. Fortunately for Arjuna – and for all of us – the solution is also timeless. Sri Krsa teaches him the knowledge about the ultimate truth of the Self, the essential nature of the human being covering the topics of dharma (appropriate action to fulfil what must be done) and yoga (to do so unmoved by the results of such action), while keeping a vision of Isvara (the Cause and the Order that is the Universe) in order to attain moksa, final liberation from the human sense of limitation. With an unwavering dedication to the original Sanskrit and to the tradition of Advaita Vedanta, Gloria Arieira unfolds the beauty and clarity of the message that is the Bhagavadgita, the very knowledge of the Self that removed Arjuna's confusion, allowing him to rise to his feet once again.

About the Author

Gloria Arieira studied Vedanta. Sanskrit, Vedic chanting, and meditation in India between 1974 and 1978, under the guidance of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, at the Sansipani Sadhanalaya ashram in Mumbai, and Uttarkashi. Her pilgrimage has led her throughout the years to several temples and holy sites around India, including Gomukh, Gangotri, Badrinath – the cavern where Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata – and Jyoshimath, the center for study by none other than Sri Sankaa himself. For more than 30 years, she has taught Vedanta and Sanskrit regularly at her center for Vedic studies, Vidya Mandir, in Rio de Janeiro, as well as at other institutes throughout her native Brazil and in Portugal. She has translated and published many books on Vedanta into Portuguese.

The Bhagavad-Gita has the original Sanskrit text with Roman transliteration, and a lucid English rendition. Concise and to the point commentaries of two hundred twenty seven (227) selected key verses are provided. One hundred thirty three (133) verses are printed in red to enable the first-time readers to study these verses before delving deep into the vast ocean of transcendental knowledge. The teachings of saints and sages of major religious denominations as well as world leaders and scholars have been included. Quotations from the Vedas, Puranas, Upanisads, Smrtis, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhakti-sutras, Brahma-sutra, Yoga-surra, as well as other major scriptures of the world such as the Bible, Dhammapad and Koran have been incorporated to underline the basic unity of all religious thoughts and to promote the universal brotherhood of mankind. Epilogue, references, Sanskrit transliteration and pronunciation guide, glossary and index are provided. A guide to meditation, beautiful pictures and Gita Calisa are included for daily Sadhana.

Dr. Ramananda prasad, Engineering Graduate, IIT, Kharagur India; M.S., University of Toronto; Ph.D., University of Illinois, has published several papers in the Journals of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Dr. Prasad founded the American Gita Society, with an aim to serve the humanity through the teachings of the Bhagavad- Gita and other scriptures, and to establish harmony between all cultures, races, religions and faiths of the world through the immortal teachings of all great masters, and major scriptuees.

The Gita is a doctrine of universal truth, the Sanatana dharma, commonly knoum as Hinduism. It has the capacity to come down to the level of the reader and raise him to peace of mind.

The originality of the author/compiler lies in providing a suitable gloss all the important stanzas. While doing this, he has drawn upon authentic sources of Indian philosophy and history, and has juxtaposed quotes from the teachings of other religions.

The message of the Gita has an important and a practical bearing on the problems of the modern age. It shows a way out of the complexities of the mind to complete and unfettered freedom of the Super-Mind. This path is not meant only for the few, it can be trodden by all who seek freedom from life's entanglements. In an age where the individual is becoming more and more insignificant due to the impacts of political, economic and social forces, the Gita brings to man a message of hope and cheer, for it shows a way of life which leads to the regaining of his lost significance, and the spiritual regeneration of man is indeed the way to the creation of a happy society.

Introduction

The Great Scriptures of the world are beyond the limitations of time and space: they are Eternal and Universal. The Bhagavad Gita belongs to this category of scriptures and as such it is not a Book merely for the Hindus; its message has a universal application. It is as fresh today at it was when given to Arjuna many centuries ago. In fact modern man is in need of the message of the Bhagavad Gita if he is to find freedom from the tensions and anxieties brought into his life by the scientific and technological developments of today.

What indeed is the problem of the modern man ? The new advances in science and technology have brought about an utter confusion of values in the life of men and women living in the present-day civilization. There is increasing stress on quantitative rather than qualitative values. His inner life is poor and he is striving to free himself from the thralldom of this poverty by acquiring more and more of the material things that science and technology have made available. Man is seeking a physical solution to a problem which is fundamentally psychological. He thinks that science, being so powerful can solve the problem of speed, it can give no guidance as to the direction that one must follow. He has lost sight of the fact that while science can give comfort, it cannot give happiness; for happiness consists not in the possession of things, but in freeing the mind of all its inhibitions so that it is rendered pure and innocent. While the modern age has known the conquest over matter, it has yet to learn the secrets of conquering the mind – and without the latter the former is not only meaningless but positively dangerous. Man may have gained in knowledge, but he lacks wisdom. Unless he can transform knowledge into wisdom, his future and the future of the entire race is dark and dismal. In other words, man needs today, above everything else, a Right Philosophy of life.