The present book contains text and translation of the Bhagavad Gita (or the Gita). One might wonder why a further translation is needed when hundreds of translations and even scholarly commentaries are already there. This suspicion of readers is quite genuine. No doubt, we have many translations and commentaries, but many of them suffer from defects like too voluminous or too scholarly. Quite often, we find that the Gita many times is explained, from beginning to end, with commentator's bias toward Bhakti (devotion) or Karma Yoga (yoga of action). Such translation becomes lopsided. My firm belief is that readers would be more interested in what His Highness Krishna himself said and meant. Such translation or commentary will do better justice to the job. Otherwise the Gita says or intends something else, the commentator says something else. After translating the Sama Veda and the Yajur Veda for lay readers, I felt excited to translate next the Bhagavad Gita, which acts as an invaluable link in the ancient Vedic tradition. The Gita embodies holistic vision which requires to be put before the readers in plain words, as far as it is possible. This book with only 200 pages, of course, avoids unnecessary details. After introductory sections on Samkhya, Dharma &c. there follows translation with text. In Appendices are provided: the story of Savitri-Satyavan from the Mahabharata (as an exemplar of practical Dharma); an excerpt on holy life from the Taittiriya Upanishad; and chapter 40 of the Yajur Veda (as precursor of the Bhagavad Gita). All this has been done to retain and demonstrate the holistic vision and comprehensive approach of the Gita. For some terms, a glossary is also provided at the end. I am very hopeful that the book should appeal to all readers in a meaningful way. Wish you happy reading!
Author (b.1957, India) underwent formal study of Sanskrit language and scriptures. After university years he kept his passion alive for the Vedas and Vedic philosophies. Currently he is settled in New Zealand and pursues the same. He follows strict routine of Yoga and recitation of the Vedas. Recently he decided to embark on translation of the Vedas-a task which he sees as daunting, especially when done singlehandedly and fitted into a job unrelated to his pursuit. The Vedas are the most ancient records available to mankind. He has already published two volumes (not really voluminous) on the Sama Veda and the Yajur Veda (both with text and translation) for lay readers. In that series called Holy Veda series, he then regarded inclusion of translation of the Bhagavad Gita as absolutely essential. According to him, the Gita had revived the ancient wisdom of the Vedas in difficult times of falling standards in faith and intuition.
