Bhagavad-Gita As It Is
by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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Book Reviews of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is

Book Review: Only Authentic Translation and Commentary in English
Summary: 5 Stars

"...Sri Chaitanya Sampradaya is a branch of Madhwa philosophy. There are historic proofs to substantiate this fact. The sadhana achieved by Sri A. C. Prabhupada, Acharya of "Chaitanya Sampradaya" is to be welcomed by all Vaishnavites. It is due to him people all over the world have learned about Lord Krishna. This work should have been accomplished by Madhwa followers. But Prabhupada has served the world in propagating this cult. Even in the western world he has attracted a large number of devotees of Lord Krishna, through his discourse on "Bhagavat Geeta." The book "Bhagavat Geeta" of Sri Prabhupada is allowed to be sold in front of Krishna Mandira at Udupi. This fact is known to all eight mutts of Udupi. As well as all devotees of Udupi Kshetra..."
Sri Laksmivara Tirtha Swami
Sri Shiroor Mutt, Udupi
Jadadguru Sri Sri Madhwacharya Peethan
Udupi, South Candra "

This edition of the Gita shows that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a conclusion that can be seen from internal references n the Gita itself but also supported by other texts such as Bhagavata Purana 1.3.28 wherein it is stated

"All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists."

Those critics who claim that Bhaktivedanta Swami's commentary is not congruent with Vedic culture simply show that they themselves do not know what Vedic culture and philosophy are. Rather "Bhagavad-Gita As It Is" is widely revered all over India by leading members of Vedic culture such a Pejvara Swami of Udipi, and Muralidhar Bhattar head-priest of Srirangam. Bhagavad-Gita As It Is has been widely accepted by hundreds of scholars. Professor Dimock opines:

"The Bhagavad-gita is the best known and the most frequently translated of Vedic religious texts. ...Next to the Bhagavata-purana, the Gita is the text most frequently quoted in the philosophical writings of the Gaudiya Vaisnava school, the school represented by Swami Bhaktivedanta as the latest in a long succession of teachers. It can be said that this school of Vaisnavism was founded, or revived, by Sri Krsna-Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1533) in Bengal, and that it is currently the strongest single religious force in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Gaudiya Vaisnava school, for whom Krsna is Himself the Supreme God, and not merely an incarnation of another deity, sees bhakti as an immediate and powerful religious force, consisting of love between man and God. Its discipline consists of devoting all one's actions to the Deity, and one listens to the stories of Krsna from the sacred texts, one chants Krsna's name, washes, bathes, and dresses the murti of Krsna, feeds Him and takes the remains of the food offered to Him, thus absorbing His grace; one does these things and many more, until one has been changed: the devotee has become transformed into one close to Krsna, and sees the Lord face to face.

"Swami Bhaktivedanta comments upon the Gita from this point of view, and that is legitimate. More than that, in this translation the Western reader has the unique opportunity of seeing how a Krsna devotee interprets his own texts. It is the Vedic exegetical tradition, justly famous, in action. This book is then a welcome addition from many points of view. It can serve as a valuable textbook for the college student. It allows us to listen to a skilled interpreter explicating a text which has profound religious meaning. It gives us insights into the original and highly convincing ideas of the Gaudiya Vaisnava school. In providing the Sanskrit in both Devanagari and transliteration, it offers the Sanskrit specialist the opportunity to re-interpret, or debate particular Sanskrit meanings-although I think there will be little disagreement about the quality of the Swami's Sanskrit scholarship. And finally, for the nonspecialist, there is readable English and a devotional attitude which cannot help but move the sensitive reader. And there are the paintings, which, incredibly as it may seem to those familiar with contemporary Indian religious art, were done by American devotees.

"The scholar, the student of Gaudiya Vaisnavism, and the increasing number of Western readers interested in classical Vedic thought have been done a service by Swami Bhaktivedanta. By bringing us a new and living interpretation of a text already known to many, he has increased our understanding manyfold; and arguments for understanding, in these days of estrangement, need not be made.

"Professor Edward C. Dimock, Jr.
Department of South Asian Languages and Civilization
University of Chicago"

On hearing the Gita from Lord Krsna, Arjuna was transformed. No other Gita commentary (all 800 of them in English) has the ability to make the same transformation in anyone who reads it and follows its direction. Much more could be said but we have only 1000 words. Now it is time for you to order this book and find out for yourself.

Summary of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is

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