Author: Swami Ranganathananda
Publisher: Advaita Ashram
Year: 2000-2
Language: multilingual
Pages: 1474
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8175052139/2147/2198
Description
Packed with many stimulating and delightfully refreshing ideas, and drawing upon the works of eminent national and international poets, scientists, authors, and historians, this commentary explains the universal and humanistic teachings of The Song Celestial, as Edwin Arnold called the Gita, in the context of modern thought and modern needs.
VOLUME 1
This book is the first volume of a three-volume series titled Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita - a verse by verse exposition of the Gita by Swami Ranganathanandaji, President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. This commentary was originally given as a series of Sunday discourses, from 1988 to 1990, at the 1200-capacity Vivekananda Hall of the Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad, and it regularly drew an overflow audience consisting of a cross-section of the city population, including many youths.
These lectures, delivered extempore, were recorded, and the audio and video cassettes have reached many homes in various parts of India and abroad. The nature of the subject as well as its treatment by the speaker and his method of delivery, invariably held the attention and sustained the interest and enthusiasm of a large and varied audience. Packed with many stimulating and delightfully refreshing ideas, and drawing upon the works of eminent national and international poets, scientists, authors, and historians, this commentary explains the universal and humanistic teachings of The Song Celestial, as Edwin Arnold called the Gita, in the context of modern thought and modern needs.
REVIEW
As the unenlightened, attached to work, acts, so should the enlightened act, O descendent of Bharata, but without attachment, desirous of the well-being of the world.
VOLUME 2
One who does work for Me alone and has Me for his or her goal, is devoted to Me, is free from sensory attachment, and bears no enmity towards any being-he or she attains to Me, O Pandava.
REVIEW
I felt exceedingly blessed to receive an autographed copy of your brilliant exposition of the Gita. I could not put it down until I had finished reading every world of it. In fact, I read the Introduction twice. I felt greatly elevated. While Shankara's Introduction gives in a nutshell the comprehensive spirituality of the Gita, your introduction not only elaborates on the interpretation of Swami Vivekananda but also generate a sense of modernity with its refreshing approach to the latest discoveries in science. At the same time, it focuses on the teachings of the Gita as the true source and strength of value-based politics and democratic administration. Your forceful emphasis on Pravritti/Nivritti in the context of Abhyudaya and Nishreyasa, and your exposition of the conundrum contained in inaction in action and action in inaction in chapter 4, both provide a rational, holistic basis for an integrated growth of the Self and the State. If I had been at the Academy, I would have made the Introduction compulsory reading for the boys…The boys cannot find a better raison d'etre to define their ends in administration-their goals. I only hope that our political masters will find the time to profit from your profound teachings.
-R K Trivedi
formerly Governor of Gujarat
VOLUME 3
And they who follow this Immortal Dharma (socially stabilizing and Atman-revealing), as describe above, endued with sraddha and regarding Me as the Supreme Goal, and devoted-they are exceedingly dear to Me.
REVIEW
I wish to convey to Swamiji the deep indebtedness in which he has placed his readers by explaining the Gita in practical terms and in a simple manner that can be understood by ordinary people. The subtitle of the book An Exposition of the Gita in the Light of Modern Thought and Modern Needs is indeed apt and fully justified. Will Durant, the great American philosopher and ardent admirer of Indian civilization has given eloquent tributes to India's ability to teach the west the tolerance and gentleness of the mature mind, the quiet contest of the unacquisitive soul, the clam of the understanding spirit and a unifying pacifying love for all beings…if I am to give a good example of a spiritual guide and teacher living in our times who really embodies the great virtues mentioned by Will Durant, I will unhesitatingly point out to the great sage of the Belur Math, Revered Swami Ranganathananda.
-Dr P C Alexander
Governor of Maharashtra Releasing the book on 10 February 2001 at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai
I have read several translations of the Gita in English-from Sir Edwin Arnold's, to Annie Beasant's , to Gandhiji's, Vinobaji's and Radhakrishnan's and some others also…I find the exposition of Swami Ranganathananda in many respect unique; it is both down to earth and fascinatingly erudite. In explaining every shloka Swamiji reltes its real connotation and significance to not only what Adi Shankara said in his introduction to the Gita or how Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda interpreted it in terms of Practical Vedanta but also how it conforms to the thinking of some of the greatest Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Swamiji takes you, while explaining the depth and intricacies of Sri Krishna's teachings, on an enlightening voyage of discovery, where you meet Buddha, Mahavira, Tao, Christ and most of the thinkers in the West and relates their thoughts by an ingenious interaction wit the message of Sri Krishna. Even the greatest scientists like Einstein or famous neurologists like Sir Charles Sherrington and poets like Worldsworth and Shelley and philosophers like Julian Huxley and Bertrand Russell are brought in by Swamiji to give us an indepth understanding of the real meaning of these shlokas. Swamiji weaves every shloka into the requirements of modern life and throws light on how man should lead his life while involved in his daily chores or business deals or academic pursuits and fulfill his duties in accordance with the philosophy of action as taught by Sri Krishna, which is a marvel of the elevation of self.
-Dr Rafiq Zakaria
Muslim Scholar of Mumbai
Introducing the book on 10 February 2001 at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai
Contents
VOLUME 1
Publisher's Preface
Hints on Transliteration and Pronunciation
Introduction
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Index
VOLUME 2
Hints on Transliteration and Pronunciation
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Index
VOLUME 3
Hints on Transliteration and Pronunciation
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Index