2nd Edition, The Bhagavad Gita

I have never read any works of Hindu philosophy or religion, but I found this work to be presented clearly and explained well. There were a few places where I got tripped up by terminology, but 95% of the time the terms were clearly explained and the text behind it was made clear, even to a novice like me. I can't speak about the other versions of this text, but I can say that this version was accessible and understandable. If you're looking to enhance your knowledge of the world, its people, and its religions, this is a great book to read.

This book is wonderful so far!A definate learning experience! It's easy to read although some parts are a" little deep."
The size of print is perfect & the author gets to the point quickly.It's written so that the reader does quite a bit of pondering, thinking of things you had not thought of before re: religion, meditation, & yoga.
I would definately recommend this book!!!

The Bhagavad Gita is a beautifully written Hindu text that discusses man and his place in this world. Beginning during a battle between family and friends, Arjuna realizes that he does not want to fight anymore because if he is killing friends/family he loses regardless if he wins/loses. He asks Sri Krishna for help, and that begins the reader’s journey through karma, reincarnation, and other aspects of Hindu faith. It is not a long read, and to me the overall message is much like Voltaire’s message in Candide (obviously The Gita is much older), but the focus seems to be much more on “Cultivating one’s garden,” while also focusing on Krishna. Focus on helping the world around you, not the rewards/punishment one can possibly get, and try to be a better overall person, and much like Buddhism (which roots are within Hinduism), don’t spend all your time focusing on the past and future, and live in the now. When one’s focus is on objects, wealth, lust, etc. they get lost and greed and such takes over. Anyway, for me, this was a beautiful and quick read, but it is not something I will probably ever come back to, which is why I give it a three out of five stars. I would recommend a one time read for pretty much everyone because learning other’s cultures is an amazing thing all in its own, but unless the reader becomes a follower of Krishna, I do not see this as something that would be read over and over for the simple fact that there is not a whole lot there for entertainment purposes. This passage sums up the work I believe, and if it this quote intrigues you, I say read the rest, if not, you probably want to pass this one up. This passage comes from the version I read of The Gita:
“Krisnha sums up his teaching that in work, in life, one must not be driven by a selfish desire for any kind of reward, for compulsive work can only stunt full spiritual development. In addition, Krishna points out, when we act out of selfish attachment, we must fully partake of the result, the karma, of every thought, word, and deed; and although these results may be what was desired, they may also be something not desired at all, or a little of both (18:12). In this life we can never be sure that things will turn out as planned” (Easwaran 252).

Eknath Easwaran gives us a brilliant gem--a version of the Gita that is poetic, accurate, readable, and meaningful.

Like the Sermon on the Mount, the Gita summarizes deep and timeless religious thought in a small amount of space. It gives us truths that transcend creed and denomination. If the reader reads with an open heart and mind, the Gita is truly transformative, no matter what the reader's religious beliefs.

I have read several English translations of the Gita--Stephen Mitchell's, Prabhupada's "Bhagavad Gita as It Is" , etc--and while each has its merits, for my money this version speaks most directly to the heart and emotions. A thoughtful reading can truly be life-altering.

Easwaran's opening chapter, and Diana Morrison's chapter headings, help with understanding basic concepts that may not be familiar to the western reader without burdening the reader with dogma.

A beautiful book.

Best book on Gita. Written in a manner that anyone can understand. Lots of books on Gita or spirituality are generally to exhibit how profound they are and so use bombastic terms from thesaurus. This book is easy to read.

My favorite version of the Bhagavad Gita I have read so far. I feel as though it has enough information to make the epic understandable for a Westerner, without being overwhelming. Delightfully clear.

If you never read another book on Eastern religion this is a must read. Easwaran's translations are easy reads and the book itself is just beautiful. The conversations between Krishna and Arjuna are questions we ask ourselves everyday and reminds us through all time, all people stuggle to understand the true meaning of life and our place in it. Don't pass this one up.

This book was very insightful....It really made me look at life and also at religion itself in a different way. It kind of made me wonder if all religions are related in some way?? Who really knows...anyway it changed my perspective on the things that I hold important in my life. It's definitely a book worth reading.

Probably one of the best English version of Bhagwan Gita there is currently which is nicely structured with a pre-chapter discussion of the topic followed by the verses. It is a great read whenever one feels lonely and despondent. Just read one chapter and you will find contentment. My favorite chapters are 2 and 3. The Gita provide solace and peace as it refocuses the mind to what is important....away from hankering for titles and honor from imperfect humans and concentrate on one duties without thought of the reward (karma phal tyag). We have no control over the outcomes of our karma so how can we have any right to the rewards. This lifestyle approach has the unique advantage of liberating us from mundane desires and provides inner strength. At work just do your duty for the good of fellow human beings with compassion and you no longer will need to worry what your superiors (CEOs, Chair, manager...) are thinking. This is empowerment! You will not need to read any books on leadership. Reads the Gita and you will note that the concept of Emotional Intelligence starts sounding unsophisticated.

What a great translation this is! Before every short chapter, there is a breakdown of the following verses "in plain english". This is a major help in understanding the depth of each passage and page. Im very glad i went with this copy of the sacred Bhagavad Gita...

I have not read such a deep spiritual teaching in such a great easy language !
One must read and reread over and over again this book for getting the best from his life !
Thanks to Author and Publishers !

This book probably gets overlooked by a lot of people even if they are interested in religion. The introduction and commentaries make up about half the book, but are very readable and interesting. The translation seems to be a sort of no frills type of translation, the type I like personally. The text itself is riveting and not easily given to review, like most religious books.

This is an amazing translation. It arrived very quickly, and it is a very easy and inspiring read. I would strongly suggest this book to anyone looking to expand their own spirituality and enlightenment. I purchased a second copy for my mom.

This book is very well written and an easy read . It explains the original text in way we can all understand and relate to. The book teaches some wonderful life lessons. I really liked the introduction. Book itself is made of good quality.

Doesn't have the sanskrit parts like most Bhagavad Gita versions do, but it makes the read go fast and straight to the dialogues. It's a wonderful introduction to hindu texts and I highly recommend to those new to yoga.

Doesn't have the sanskrit parts like most Bhagavad Gita versions do, but it makes the read go fast and straight to the dialogues. It's a wonderful introduction to hindu texts and I highly recommend to those new to yoga.

This is by far the best translation of the Bhagavad Gita that I have ever read. Whether you haven't read the Gita before or you consider yourself very knowledgeable, this book has a lot to offer at all stages. Broken down very nicely for beginners, but lots of insight and perspective for people familiar with the book. I read a chapter from this translation daily. It does a really nice job not pushing a particular school of thought either, leaving the Gita truly "As It Is". This is a must for read for all!

I first heard about the Bhagavad Gita a few years ago on a podcast that the comedian Duncan Trussell was on. For those who may not know, Duncan, in addition to being hilarious, is incredibly smart, and has spent many years studying various religions and philosophy. I still remember the first verse he quoted- It is better to be an honest street sweeper than a dishonest king. This and many others, all spoke to me, and for the longest time, I couldn’t figure out which version of the Gita to get. Obviously, I went with this one, translated by Eknath Easwaran, mostly because of all the positive reviews. While I was slightly disappointed that several verses I’d become so familiar with through Duncan (the one I just mentioned, and the infamous “I am become death” one), I actually liked how they were translated here just as much as those I originally heard. I don’t know what it was, but I read through the Bhagavad Gita very quickly, which is rare for me because when I read a book, my eyes will eventually jumble the words together, causing me to take a long time just to get through one short chapter. Here, I felt driven to read through the book. Maybe it’s because so much of it clicked with me.

Easwaran’s translation is very easy to understand. It tells the story of Arjuna, a prince stuck between two armies, not wanting to fight because he doesn’t understand what the good of killing others would be. This is a very honest question, and over the 18 chapters, he gets his answer from Krishna, (one form of Vishnu, one of the holy trinity), who happens to be serving as his charioteer in the war. Krishna is loving and gives Arjuna all the information he needs about life and death, and about his responsibilities as a warrior.

To be completely honest, I don’t know how to write a review for The Bhagavad Gita. My best advice would be to simply do a search for ‘Bhagavad Gita quotes’ and see if you like what you read. For anyone wondering if this book is only for “religious people”, I don’t think so. It’s explained several times in the introduction that the Gita can be seen as a book to help people through life, a kind of guide book. It never tells you what you’re supposed to be doing, or how you’re supposed to act. It simply tells you, in the same way a good friend might give you advice while trying to be nice about it, how to improve.

This version also has introductions before each chapter. At first, I would read a chapter, then the introduction, but after the fifth or sixth, I started with the introductions. Some have mentioned that the introductions are a little intrusive, or reiterate things you’re already going to be reading about. Personally, I found them to be very helpful. Some terms that just plain couldn’t be translated into English, are broken down in these introductions, making it a lot easier to read the chapter without going “wait, what does that mean?” and having to look it up or keep skipping to the glossary. There is also a lengthy introduction at the beginning of the book, further explaining certain Hindu ideas and terms, and even going over some very interesting history. Even some things I though I fully understood, like renunciation, are explained more here than they are in the individual chapter intros, and I appreciated it. Basically, this is as complete as you could probably get if you wanted a copy of the Bhagavad Gita with a little more than the Gita itself.

Again, it was hard to sit here and type up anything for this book. If I could, I’d just type up a couple of my favorite verses…but that may be several pages of material that you can easily find elsewhere. You know what’s funny? I’ve memorized many Indian words while reading the Gita, and even after just reading it once, I’ve memorized what chapters some of my favorite verses come from. I’d sit there and ask myself, “what chapter was [x verse] in again?”, then I’d flip right to it, almost always on the exact page the verse was on.

The Bhagavad Gita is one of those books that I can honestly say I got something out of while, and after, reading it. Look up some quotes, and if anything sticks, get the book. It’s very inexpensive and full of good advice.

This book is a treasure of knowledge. Mr. Easwaran's grasp of Eastern and Western religion is very deep and profound. He provides a the reader with a relatively easy understanding of the Gita and inspires you to read more! This book is an incredible bargain!

The commentary from the author, preceding each chapter, is a bit excessive at times and I'm enjoying the read much more by skipping the commentary. It may be something of interest on the next read through.

The reader, Paul Bazely, has the most pleasant voice for this text!
I listen while falling asleep and I feel peaceful.
In these trying times, this audio book has been a welcomed addition to my collection.

I purchased this book to complement the Upanishads and the Dhammapada in an effort to gain a better understanding of myself which in turn will help me to be more understanding and compassionate of others. It is a continuing work in progress.

The book does a good job of explaining difficult concepts for day-to-day living.
This is a manual on how to live our lives and will help individuals of any religion.
Good introduction to three branches of Yoga- Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga.

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the spiritual classics. This translated version by Eknath Easwaran is truly beautiful. Before each chapter Mr. Easwaran describes what the text is about. It is very easy to understand. Like any spiritual text one needs to read and re-read for at different times in your life you will find different meaning.

The other reviews have stated a clear consensus, what Eknath Easwaran has accomplished is poetic philosophy - a translation with carefully chosen words. The nuance of a word makes all the difference, especially in an allegorical work. This particular translation is by far the best I have encountered.

Easwaran states what Ghandi lived by, the lessons of this literary work are a code to live by each day. They will change your life!

J. Forrest Young
Zen and the Art of Psychology