The Bhagavad-Gita: The Song of God - Softcover

Prabhavananda, Swami

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0451621824 ISBN 13: 9780451621825

Publisher: Signet, 1954

Synopsis

Our translation of the Bhagavad Gita uses the beauty of verse to express the highest truths of Vedanta. Includes an introduction to the Gita, and a study of non-violence versus the need to fight a just war....How Swami Prabhavananda's translation came about in the swami's own words: Once I was away for a rest in Palm Springs I had a Gita translation with me. When I read the twelfth chapter, I felt that the meaning had not been brought out; I saw deeper meaning in it. So I started to translate, and then Chris helped me...I translated and Chris edited. When Peggy Kiskadden came, she read what we had done and could not understand it. Then we went to Aldous. Chris read aloud, and Aldous listened. Aldous said, No, that is not right yet. Forget that Krishna is speaking to the Hindus in Sanskrit. Forget that this is a translation. Think that Krishna is speaking to an American audience in English... Then Aldous told Chris which style to use for verse. Chris rewrote the whole eleventh chapter of the Gita following Tennyson, I think. He produced the book in a week He was inspired.

About this title

From the Publisher

The story concerns the plight of Arjuna, the commander of an army who must fight a war. After seeing his friends and kinsmen on the opposing side, Arjuna tells his friend Krishna that he won't fight, even though it is his duty.

Krishna's reply deals not only with Arjuna's problem of whether or not to fight a just war but with questions that concern all of us:

How should we deal with our problems in a hostile world? Why is there misery? Why do we exist?

Krishna goes to the heard of these matters to help solve our most difficult problems. There is no one answer.

About the Author

Swami Prabhavananda was the founder and head of the Vedanta Society of Southern California until his passing in 1976. He has written numerous books including his highly respected translation of the Yoga Sutras, How To Know God: the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali, and Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination, and Spiritual Heritage of India

Edition details

• Publisher: Signet
• Publication date: 1954
• ISBN 10: 0451621824
• ISBN 13: 9780451621825
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English