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The Bhagavad Gita

Name: The Bhagavad Gita
Price: 21.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781586381301

✍️ Easwaran, Eknath

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$21.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This foundational Indian scripture, expertly translated by Eknath Easwaran, invites readers to explore profound universal truths. Set against the dramatic backdrop of a warrior's moral crisis, it transcends its ancient origins to address the timeless human struggle for self-mastery. Easwaran's accessible yet deeply insightful rendition illuminates the core teachings on duty, devotion, and liberation, offering guidance for navigating life's deepest dilemmas. Rooted in traditional understanding, this edition serves as a reliable guide to the Gita's enduring spiritual wisdom.

Easwaran, Eknath

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Sacred Texts

Praise for this book

“The translation...is smooth, eloquent, and reliable...[I] would unhesitatingly recommend Easwaran to someone searching for the spirituality of the Gita.”

— Choice [1st edition]

🏛 Nilgiri Press 📅 2019 📖 296 pages 🌐 en 📐 Hardcover ISBN: 9781586381301

Fun Fact

Easwaran’s rendition of the Bhagavad Gita stands as a beacon for modern seekers, rendering this ancient wisdom both accessible and deeply resonant. It excels in clarifying complex spiritual concepts and guiding readers through the text’s profound implications for everyday life. While it may not satisfy those seeking a purely academic or dispassionate textual analysis, it is an indispensable edition for anyone desiring a profound, experiential engagement with Hindu philosophy and universal spiritual truths.

📝 Description: The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is the best known of all the Indian scriptures, and Eknath Easwaran's best-selling translation is reliable, readable, and profound. Easwaran's 55-page introduction places the Bhagavad Gita in its historical setting, and brings out the universality and timelessness of its teachings. Chapter introductions clarify key concepts, and notes and a glossary explain Sanskrit terms. Easwaran grew up in the Hindu tradition in India, and learned Sanskrit from a young age. He was a professor of English literature before coming to the West on a Fulbright scholarship. A gifted teacher, he is recognized as an authority on the Indian classics and world mysticism. The Bhagavad Gita opens, dramatically, on a battlefield, as the warrior Arjuna turns in anguish to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, for answers to the fundamental questions of life. Yet, as Easwaran points out, the Gita is not what it seems - it's not a dialogue between two mythical figures at the dawn of Indian history. "The battlefield is a perfect backdrop, but the Gita's subject is the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage if he or she is to emerge from life victorious." Arjuna's struggle in the Bhagavad Gita is acutely modern. He has lost his way on the battlefield of life and turns to find the path again by asking direct, uncompromising questions of his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, the Lord himself. Krishna replies in 700 verses of sublime instruction on living and dying, loving and working, and the nature of the soul. Easwaran shows the Gita's relevance to us today as we strive, like Arjuna, to do what is right. "No one in modern times is more qualified - no, make that 'as qualified' - to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless." - Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Easwaran’s edition serves as a highly recommended entry point into the Bhagavad Gita, balancing traditional understanding with modern accessibility. Its warm tone and clear explanations make complex philosophical concepts digestible for contemporary seekers. However, scholars or readers preferring dense, literal Sanskrit translations may find this version too simplified or interpretive. It is not suited for those seeking rigorous academic critique rather than spiritual guidance. For general audiences wanting a dependable companion for navigating life’s struggles, it stands as an insightful and practical tool for inner growth.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking clarity amidst life's deepest dilemmas will find immense value in this accessible yet profound rendition. Eknath Easwaran’s expert translation invites you to explore universal truths through the dramatic backdrop of a warrior's moral crisis. It is ideal for those navigating their own inner battlefield, offering guidance on duty, devotion, and liberation. If you desire a reliable guide to enduring spiritual wisdom that transcends ancient origins, this book illuminates the path to self-mastery. It provides essential insights for confronting destiny and finding peace within the clash of daily responsibilities.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you grapple with life's profound questions, seek a deeper understanding of self, or are drawn to the wisdom of ancient traditions, this classic scripture offers unparalleled insights. It's an essential text for anyone exploring spiritual paths or the philosophy of action and mindfulness.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Easwaran’s edition serves as a highly recommended entry point into the Bhagavad Gita, balancing traditional understanding with modern accessibility. Its warm tone and clear explanations make complex philosophical concepts digestible for contemporary seekers. However, scholars or readers preferring dense, literal Sanskrit translations may find this version too simplified or interpretive. It is not suited for those seeking rigorous academic critique rather than spiritual guidance. For general audiences wanting a dependable companion for navigating life’s struggles, it stands as an insightful and practical tool for inner growth.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, the Gita's core messages on duty, devotion, and self-realization are universally applicable, transcending religious boundaries. Easwaran's translation highlights these timeless spiritual truths for all seekers.

Easwaran, deeply rooted in the Hindu tradition and a Sanskrit scholar, offers a highly readable yet profoundly accurate rendition. His extensive introduction and notes illuminate complex concepts, making the ancient text accessible without sacrificing its depth.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Navigating Inner Turmoil

Explores the profound ethical and spiritual dilemma faced by the warrior Arjuna, torn between familial bonds and righteous duty. It delves into the internal battle each individual wages, illustrating how the path to self-mastery often requires confronting one's deepest attachments and fears to align with a higher purpose.

Path to Self-Realization

This sacred text offers guidance on transcending the ego and achieving spiritual freedom. Through Krishna's timeless wisdom, readers are shown how disciplined action, selfless devotion, and meditative insight can lead to liberation from the cycle of suffering and a deeper understanding of one's true divine nature.

Timeless Spiritual Truths

Despite its ancient Indian origins, the Gita's teachings resonate across cultures and eras. It articulates universal principles of spirituality, ethics, and the human condition, making it a profound source of guidance for anyone seeking meaning, purpose, and inner peace, irrespective of their specific faith tradition.

📜 Historical context

Emerging from the epic tapestry of the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita stands as a pivotal text within Hindu philosophy, dating back millennia. Its profound dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna has shaped centuries of spiritual thought, influencing countless sages and becoming a cornerstone of Indian spirituality, mysticism, and ethical discourse.

📚 Glossary

Dharma
Karma Yoga
Moksha

📔 Questions to reflect on

Consider a current dilemma in your life. How might the principle of acting without attachment to outcomes guide your response?
The Gita speaks of the 'war within.' What inner conflicts are you currently facing, and what steps could you take toward self-mastery in those areas?
Reflect on your concept of 'duty' (dharma). How does it align with or diverge from your personal desires, and what does the text suggest about resolving this tension?