A Comprehensive Guide to Bhagavad-Gita with Literal Translation

by H D Goswami

Overview

In the late 18th century Bhagavad-gita became the first Sanskrit work to be rendered in a European tongue, and since that time it has generated countless translations and secondary analyses. Among these, however, H.D. Goswami's Comprehensive Guide with Literal Translation excels in its capacity to schematize and summarize the Gita's powerful appeal as a source of perennial wisdom. With its sophisticated thematic approach, this Comprehensive Guide brings clarity to the Gita's content in a most thorough and systematic way, inviting both first-time and seasoned readers to vigorously engage with the text while enjoying the rewards of deep understanding. Especially impressive is the fact that this volume not only provides the reader with a stimulating learning experience, but also serves as an exceptional reference book for specific topics. Concise yet thorough, this skillful exposition, containing hundreds upon hundreds of key Gita references, affords a conceptual window into the core elements of Krishna's teachings to Arjuna. Throughout this work we are graced by the knowledge, Sanskrit expertise and personal illuminations of one who is not only a highly trained scholar, but also a widely experienced spiritual teacher.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692761717
Publisher:	Krishna West, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2016
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	236
Sales rank:	512,776
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

A renowned teacher of Bhagavad-gita, H.D.Goswami (Howard Resnick) received his Ph.D in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University. He has published articles with Harvard, Columbia, and the University of California, and has lectured at universities around the world. A lifelong practitioner of bhakti-yoga, he is currently developing Krishna West, a project dedicated to making Bhagavad-gita’s ancient wisdom accessible and user-friendly in Western countries.

Table of Contents

Contents Acknowledgments x A Note to the Readers xii Comprehensive Guide PART I: Introduction 3 Historical Context 4 The Origins of the Gita 6 PART II: Individual Eternal Persons (Purusha) 9 PART III: Nature's Three Modes (Guna) 12 PART IV: Action, Reaction, Bondage (Karma) 17 PART V: Sacrifice or Offering (Yajna) 21 PART VI: God (Krishna) 33 Features of God 33 God's Expansive Being (Vibhuti) 37 The Supreme Person (Parama-Purusha) 45 Terms Reserved for Souls (Bhuta, Jiva, Deha) 48 Krishna's Original Form (Rupa) 52 PART VII: Yoga 59 The Power of Reason (Buddhi) 59 Spiritual Practice (Yoga) 64 Equality (Samatvam) 65 Renunciation (Sannyasa) 70 PART VIII: Karma-yoga (Action-Yoga) 75 Arjuna's Problem 75 The Need for Action 76 Action as Yoga and Yajna 76 Career as Yoga 78 Inaction in Action 80 PART IX: Jnana-yoga (Knowledge-Yoga) 84 Knowledge as a Spiritual Path 84 True Principles of Life (Tattva) 85 Scripture (Veda, Shastra, Gita) 89 Spiritual Teachers 93 Sincere Students 97 Seeing the Truth (Dhyana) 98 Knowledge that Liberates 101 The Knowledge-Offering (Jnana-yajna) 102 PART X: Dhyana-yoga (Meditation-Yoga) 105 Meditation as Spiritual Practice 105 Meditation as Spiritual Offering 108 PART XI: Bhakti-yoga (The Yoga of Devotion) 109 Hierarchy of Yogas and Yogis 109 Knowledge of Krishna 110 How to Attain Krishna 114 Constancy in Devotional Practice 118 Purity in Devotional Practice 119 Compassion Toward All Beings 120 The Offering of Pure Love 121 PART XII: Mukti (Liberation) 126 Negative Liberation (Freedom from) 126 Positive Liberation (Freedom to) 128 Brahman, the Supreme Imperishable 133 Reaching Krishna 137 PART XIII: Conclusion 145 Literal Translation Chapter One 151 Chapter Two 155 Chapter Three 161 Chapter Four 165 Chapter Five 169 Chapter Six 172 Chapter Seven 176 Chapter Eight 178 Chapter Nine 181 Chapter Ten 184 Chapter Eleven 187 Chapter Twelve 192 Chapter Thirteen 194 Chapter Fourteen 197 Chapter Fifteen 200 Chapter Sixteen 202 Chapter Seventeen 204 Chapter Eighteen 207 Bibliography 213 Index 215

Editorial Reviews

"Anyone that has read one of the several English translations of the famed Bhagavad-gita, with its richness of life-affirming truth, may have come away feeling spiritually refreshed yet vaguely uncertain as to whether or not the Gita upholds a clearly developed system of thought. With its sophisticated thematic approach, this Comprehensive Guide brings clarity to the Gita's content in a most thorough and systematic way, inviting both first-time and seasoned readers to vigorously engage with the text while enjoying the rewards of deep understanding. Especially impressive is the fact that this volume not only provides the reader with a stimulating learning experience, but also serves as an exceptional reference book for specific topics. Thus, in terms of my own Gita studies, I am happy to have the benefit of this Comprehensive Guide, as well as the excellent, highly literal, translation that comes with it. And I certainly will be recommending this book to my students of Indian philosophy."
- Kenneth Valpey Ph.D., Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies "

H.D. Goswami's Comprehensive Guide with Literal Translation provides readers with unique insight into the essential meaning of Bhagavad-gita, with succinct, carefully crafted explications of complex philosophical themes. Concise yet thorough, this skillful exposition, containing hundreds upon hundreds of key Gita references, affords a conceptual window into the core elements of Krishna's teachings to Arjuna. Throughout this work we are graced by the knowledge, Sanskrit expertise and personal illuminations of one who is not only a highly trained scholar, but also a widely experienced spiritual teacher. Goswami is thus to be commended for so eloquently polishing the various facets of this most precious and rare jewel of sacred literature so that we, the readers, may perceive that much more of its unbounded brilliance."
- Graham M. Schweig Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Christopher Newport University

"In the late 18th century Bhagavad-gita became the first Sanskrit work to be rendered in a European tongue, and since that time it has generated countless translations and secondary analyses. Among these, however, H.D. Goswami's Comprehensive Guide with Literal Translation excels in its capacity to schematize and summarize the Gita's powerful appeal as a source of perennial wisdom. The literal translation's careful nuancing demonstrates the author's Sanskrit mastery and philosophical expertise while the Guide's focused precision and theological depth reflect the training of a Harvard doctorate as well as the spiritual insight of one dedicated to the sannyasa (renounced) order. Thematically divided into twelve parts, each with multiple subsections that focus on major issues, the Guide's strongest features are its expert pinpointing of verses that pertain to each theological topic and its contextual analysis, articulated in succinct crisp prose that eschew both academic jargon and sectarian rhetoric. It is an excellent resource not only for those approaching the Gita as a spiritual manual, but also for those seeking a more systematic and rigorous understanding of its philosophical content. I look forward to using this work in my Hinduism courses."
- Edwin Bryant Ph.D., Professor of Hindu Religion and Philosophy, Rutgers University

From the Publisher