Product Description

The Bhagavad Gita is an early epic poem that recounts the conversation between Arjuna the warrior and his charioteer Krishna, the manifestation of God. In the moments before a great battle, the dialogue sets out the important lessons Arjuna must learn to change the outcome of the war he is to fight, and culminates in Krishna revealing to the warrior his true cosmic form, counselling him to search for the universal perfection of life. Ranging from instructions on yoga postures to dense moral discussion, the Gita is one of the most important Hindu texts, as well as serving as a practical guide to living well.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #135602 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-28
• Original language: Hindi
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Book Information
The 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita (c. 500 BC), the glory of Sanskrit literature, encompass the whole spiritual struggle of a human soul, and the three central themes of this immortal poem arise from the symphonic vision of God in all things and of all things in God.

About the Book
"The task of truly translating such a work is indeed formidable. To hope for success in it the translator must at least possess three qualities. He must be an artist in words as well as a Sanskrit scholar, and above all, perhaps, he must be deeply sympathetic with the spirit of the original. Mr Mascaró has succeeded so well because he possesses all these qualifications" The Times Literary Supplement

About the Author
Laurie L. Patton, is Winship Distinguished Research Professor and Chairperson (1996). She earned her B.A. from Harvard University and her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. For several years during the last two decades she has made her Indian home in Pune, Maharashtra. Her scholarly interests are in the interpretation of early Indian ritual and narrative, comparative mythology, literary theory in the study of religion, and women and Hinduism in contemporary India. Laurie L. Patton, Winship Distinguished Research Professor and Chairperson (1996). She earned her B.A. from Harvard University and her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. For several years during the last two decades she has made her Indian home in Pune, Maharashtra. Her scholarly interests are in the interpretation of early Indian ritual and narrative, comparative mythology, literary theory in the study of religion, and women and Hinduism in contemporary India.

Customer Reviews

Best version I have read.
And I have read quite a few! Juan Mascaro has managed to make the text a joy to read, which is exactly as it should be. The language that he translates into is, clear, unclutterd and very easy to read, yet at the same time he expresses the profundity of thought that is the Gita. Anyone the least interested in the Gita (and this should include anyone who practices yoga of any sort) would be well advised to read this wonderful book.

On the field of truth...
This is a beautiful translation. Juan Mascaro spent over twenty years on this work, and says that at times he translated a verse 20 times before he was satisfied. There is an enormous amount of symbolism in The Bhagavad Gita, and if you want to understand that you may want a version that includes an extensive commentary. Some run to two large volumes! But it wasn't the intention of this work to provide a detailed commentary.

Chapter 1 ends with the verse:
"Thus spoke Arjuna in the field of battle, and letting fall his bow and arrows he sank down in his chariot, his soul overcome by despair and grief."

By the time I'd read that far I was overwhelmed with the same emotions.

A good translation
This book should be of interest to you, if you want to study ancient Indian text, that forms part of the foundation for Hinduism. Wether or not, you consider this subject worthwhile of study is your own descision. If you couldn't care less about ancient Indian texts, then I doubt that this book will arouse an interest in you. If you do care about ancient Indian text, then this is the definitive translation. Dr. Paul R. Fleischmann dedicates an entire chapter of his brilliant book "Cultivating Inner Peace" to Juan Mascaros abilities as a translator. If you have previously given up on understanding, what's the big deal about the texts that founds the foundation of Hinduism, then this translation might change your mind. Juan Mascaro is a man, who has lived a simple life, and has experiental understanding of the values of this life. That shines through in this translation, and that is why it is worth reading.