The Bhagavad Gita

It's a good book to get a basic idea about the vast world of Eastern and Vedic Philosophy, you should definitely get your hands on this one.

One of the most useful translations I know

Eknath Easwaran, the translator of that ancient Hindu classic called"Bhagavad Gita", informs us early on of his opinion that the epic hehas translated, and apparently made it his life's work to commentupon and to propagate, is India's main gift to the world.This brilliant, disciplined, and witty academic scholar of literature,might be characterized as the Guru of Anti-hippiedom. His modernhero is M.K. Gandhi, "the Mahatma", who late in life was inspired bythe Gita to transform himself into the saint who freed India of Britishcolonial rule, and did so without violence.It seems to be Easwaran's mission to create a quiet and peacefulaltruistic army of Gandhis who will save the world. The writing issupremely clear and compelling. I am amazed that Eknath Easwaran,who died very old in 1999, is not widely known. He writes from thevantage point of a thoughtful Indian mystic, but brings together andunifies the finest in the views of the main religions of the world today:Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, atheistic/agnostichumanism.The ultimate injunction Easwaran offers is that meditation, rightlyunderstood and practiced, can connect humans with the Self, whichis the unifying deity at the heart of all creation, and in this way it cantransform its practitioners into effective saviors of our planet and thesacred life which inhabits it. Easwaran is eloquently colloquial, witty,and convincing. He has inspired me to read other works of his, furtherelaborating on his message in this one.

As an ERYT 500 hour teacher and RYS owner I use this copy of the Gita for my trainees. Best translation without any crap commentary. Just the text plain and simple. I leave the personal reflection and interpretation up to my students. The Gita is going to talk to each Yogi exactly as they need to be instructed by God.

By far the best translation of Gita I have ever read. Free flowing English.The Introduction running into 54-55 pages deals with Historical background;The Upnishadic Background;Atman and Brahman; Maya;Dharma,Karma,Rebirth and Liberation;Yoga Psychology; Matter and Mind;The Forces of Evolution:The Essence of the Gita;A higher Image;Faith and Spiritual Evolution.This introduction is a little bit heavy stuff for an ordinary person like me but still worth reading.Then starts the free flowing English translation of each verse. There is no Sanskrit verse and its transliteration or word meaning. Instead there is direct translation into English verse by verse. Here is the uniqueness. Translation is really flowing like a majestic river. Mind it,no commentaries of verses are given in this book.Rather introduction of five-six pages to each chapter is given by Diana Morrison which provides insight into each coming chapter.Worth reading.Then at the end of 18 chapters, there are some notes clarifying some verses(1to 3-4)of each chapter.And then Glossary as a guide and explanation of Sanskrit words used in this volume.Very educative portion.Deserves 5 stars.