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Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God (Prabhavananda)

(9 reviews)
  • Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God
translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood

Our translation of the Bhagavad Gita uses the beauty of verse to express the highest truths of Vedanta, translated especially for the western world. The translation is a work of art. We offer a paperback edition, and a deluxe hardback version, but we're out of the small Indian pocket edition.

If you would like a version of our translation but with numbered verses, see follow this link.

  • 179 pages, US paperback 978-0-87481-043-1
  • 179 pages, US hardback 978-0-87481-008-0
    341 pages, Indian Pocket Edition 81-7120-160-1 (4.5'' x 3.5'')
    171 pages, U.S. mass market paperback 978-0-451-52844-5
    153 pages, Study Edition U.S. paperback 978-087481-345-6 (verses numbered - only this edition)
$12.95

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.The critics have singled out this translation:"The book is self-contained. A complete stranger to the Hindu gospel can pick it up and in one or two evenings follow the poem from its terrific beginnings to its sublime end." -- New York Times

 "A distinguished literary work." - Time Magazine, "A highly readable interpretive translation."- American Library Association, "The best from a literary point of view." -- Aldous Huxley.

We have recently published a special edition of the original text with verse numbers added. This new edition is perfect for group study of the Gita.

How Swami Prabhavananda's translation came about:
"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."

 

Excerpts from The Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God

Let him who would climb
In meditation
To heights of the highest
Union with Brahman
Take for his path
The yoga of action.

Then when he nears that path of oneness,
His acts will fall from him,
His path will be tranquil.
...
When goodness grows weak
When evil increases
I make myself a body.

In every age I come back
To deliver the holy,
To destroy the sin of the sinner,
To establish righteousness.
....

Whatever wish men bring me in worship
That wish I grant them.
Whatever path men travel
It is my path:
No matter where they walk
It leads to me.
It is my path:

For the complete set of all the Vedanta Spiritual Classics in hardback, please click here.

Global Rating: 5.00 from 9 reviews Add your review of this product
Review By manjulika chakrabarti

The Gita

The book is neatly/nicely composed for all, specifically children with Indian origin. It's easy to read and provides guidance to people to distinguish the importance of a living in good health and spirit.
Thank you for bring it to us!

Review By Devaleena Sen

Beautifully explained

Review By CBH

Life Changing

I’m speechless and moved reflecting on this book.

I come back to it often since reading it all within the first week of receiving the book.

Thank you vctalog@vedanta.com for disseminating this translation of the Bhagavad Gita.

Review By Kelly Phelps

Krishna speaks

This reads like Lord Sri Krishna would have written it. Beautiful, transformative. Hare Krishna

Review By Naomi Palenshus

Bhagavad Gita the song of God

I bought 10 copies to give out.

Courteous service.

Review By Ragavir

Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God

I enjoyed this translation by my guru very much. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a student of Vedanta.

Review By Peter Ruegner

Excellent

I loved reading this. I wish I had bought a copy of it fifteen years ago when I was a teenager. This is a book that is beyond all religions. By that I mean, a person of whatever faith will benefit from reading this. I will continue to reread this book. I highly recommend it.

Review By Kirti

It goes to the core of Hinduism - beautiful in its every word, tranquil, peaceful but not complacent, showing evil manifests in (Jealousy, Envy, Avarice - in their subtle differing meanings and , Vitr

It goes to the core of Hinduism - beautiful in its every word, tranquil, peaceful but not complacent, showing evil manifests in (VIOLENCE borne of Jealousy, Envy, Avarice - in their subtle differing meanings and the resulting Vitriol, Rave and Rant, Anger, Self Gratifying, Deceit, Inhumanity, ...) - and the Righteous Action AGAINST such EVIL! BUT not rejoicing in the fruits of even those actions, as they belong to the Lord Himself and He is the judge of how He rewards them.

It is FAR FAR deeper than what I have described above, Song of God succinctly goes to the core of all Good Faiths mankind follows ...

That is WHY great minds like Einstein, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, Oppenheimer, ... understood it with the fiber of their beings and in instances said why humanity is safe because of it!

Review By Shruti

Bhaghavad Gita: The Song of God

Recommend highly this concise version of Bhagavad Gita. Everyone should have this book - helps one in the journey of life.