The Bhagavad Gita - With an English Translation - Explanatory Notes and Examination of its Doctrines

Sep 2, 2026

This volume presents The Bhagavad Gita, “The Divine Song,” as a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna, aiming to harmonize Yoga, Sánkhya, and Vedánta with bhakti in Krishna and devotion to casted duties. It discusses how the doctrines are interpreted through earlier commentators and revised English translations, while also addressing critiques of polytheistic and pantheistic readings and the status of Yoga teachings. Extensive notes and indexes support study across multiple translation traditions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages113

Reading Time4 h 45 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

English Translations

Contents

Introduction

The Mahabharata

The Narrative Prior to the Bhagavad Gita

Summary of the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita

I. The Grief of Arjuna

II. The Sankhya-Yoga Doctrine

III. The Yoga of Action

IV. The Yoga of Knowledge

V. Yoga by Renouncing Works

VI. Yoga by Self-Restraint

VII. Yoga Through Spiritual Discernment

VIII. The Yoga of the Supreme Eternal Brahma

IX. Yoga Through the Royal Knowledge and the Royal Mystery

罚 31761 06144042 # HE BHAGAVAD GITA: WITH # AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION,EXPLANATORY NOTES,ANDAN EXAMINATION OF ITS DOCTRINES. COMPILED FROM VARIOUS WRITERS. It is shown that the Poem,while it contains some noble sentiments,teachesPolytheism and Pantheism;that God and the soul are one;that Rajas andTamas proceed from iod as well as Sattwa;that Caste is a divine institution;while its Yoga doctrine is proved to be a delusiou. HRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA: BL1138.62E51899 LONDON AND MADRAS. c.1ROBARTS — T900. Price3 Annts;Post-free,4 Anzus. I CucUTLm-Rob T-2 VTLms° SlThe Bhagavad Gita. Iondon,Christian LiteratureB575Society for India,1899. LondontMadhad maalhasat. Bhagavaegita.English √ U # THE BHAGAVAD GITA: WITH # AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION,EXPLANATORY NOTES,ANDAN EXAMINATION OF ITS DOCTRINES. COMPILED FROM VARIOUS WRITERS. It is shown that the Poem,while it contains some noble sentiments,teachesPolytheism and Pantheism;that God and the soul are one;that Rajas andTamas proceed from God as well as Sattwa;that Caste is a divine institution;while its Yoga doctrine is proved to be a delusion. SECOND EDITION,3,00o,TOTAL COPIES,6,ooo. Diguti74 rchiveInL 1)mnersiy ontu ## PREFACE. The Bhagavad Gitá,'The Divine Song,'or‘The Song of theAdorable One,'is allowed to represent the loftiest flight of Hinduphilosophy.It consists of a supposed dialogue between Arjunaand Krishna.Its great aim is to harmonise the doctrines of theYoga,the Sánkhya and the Vedánta,combining with them thedoctrine of faith (bhakti)in Krishna,and of stern devotion to casteduties. The author also saw"that the pure abstraction of a religiousdevotee was not possible for all men,and that it was opposed to thejust claims of family and caste.He contended still that mentaldevotion (buddhi yoga)was the best,but that devotion by work(karma zoga)might also lead to the great blessing of nirvána.But all work must be done without‘attachment'(sanga),simplyas a duty,and especially without any desire for reward (phala,fruit)...But though works are so far admitted into his system,thehighest state below is that of perfect repose,with constancy inmeditating on the Supreme;and his highest type of man is therecluse (muni),taking up a solitary resting place far from thehaunts of men,renouncing all the blessings of this world,and evenhope itself,holding the mind in check until thought ceases,andthus waiting in pious abstraction for the happy hour when he willbe absorbed into the infinite Brahma.”* The author,although in some respects in advance of his age,was a Vaishnava Brahman,who held the usual polytheistic andpantheistic ideas.To gain authority,his opinions were attributedto Krishna,and the poem was foisted in as part of the Mahábhárata. # ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS. Of these there have been several.The first was made in 1785,by Sir Charles Wilkins,to which was prefixed an Introduction byWarren Hastings.This forms the basis of the translation in thisvolume,but it has been carefully revised by comparing it withmore recent translations.It has been taken from an edition editedby the Rev.J.Garrett in 1846,containing the Sanskrit,Canarese,and English in parallel columns,for a copy of which the compileris indebted to Colonel Jacob,translator of the Vedánta Sára. The next translation was made by Mr.J.C.Thompson in 1855,and published by Trübner.Mr.Kasinath Trimbak Telang,ofBombay,published an English translation in 1875.This,probablyrevised,was adopted in 1887 by Max Müller in the"Sacred Booksof the East."The author,in the Preface,gives the followingaccount of the general principles followed in the translation: "My aim has been to make that translation as close and literal a render-ing as possible of the Gitâ,as interpreted by the commentators Sankarakarya,Sridharasvamin,and Madhusudana Sarasvati.Reference has also beenfrequently made to the commentary of Ramanugakârya and also to that ofNilakantha.”(p.35.) There a

FAQs

What dialogue and main purpose does the preface describe for the Bhagavad Gita?

It is presented as a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna. Its aim is to harmonize Yoga, Sánkhya, and Vedánta, combining them with faith (bhakti) and devotion to casted duties.

How does the volume discuss the translation approach used in the English versions?

It describes revisions of earlier translations by comparing with more recent work and close, literal rendering. It also notes reliance on commentator traditions when interpreting the text.

Why does the preface discuss devotion, work, and freedom from attachment?

It explains that work can lead toward nirvána, but all work must be done without attachment and without desire for reward. It also presents higher spiritual states culminating in meditation and absorption.

Sep 2, 2026

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