The Bhagavad-Gita: A New Translation

by Georg Feuerstein (Translator), Brenda Feuerstein (Translator)

Overview

A fresh English translation laid out facing the original Sanskrit for easy reference and accompanied by a wealth of essential ancillary materials that make this book a complete course on the Bhagavad-Gītā in a single volume.

     This translation stands out from the many others first of all in its careful faithfulness to the original language, but also for the extensive tools for understanding it provides. It is accompanied by detailed explanatory notes, as well as by the entire Sanskrit text on facing pages—both in the original Devanagri alphabet and in a romanized version that allows the reader to approximate the sounds of this work (a pronunciation guide is also provided). Also included is a literal, word-for-word translation for comparison; extensive material on the background, symbolism, and influence of the Gītā; and an exhaustive glossary of terms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611800388
Publisher:	Shambhala
Publication date:	09/02/2014
Pages:	528
Sales rank:	180,430
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

GEORG FEUERSTEIN, PhD, (1947-2012) was internationally respected for his work on Yoga and authored of over fifty books. He designed and taught several distance-learning courses on Yoga philosophy for Traditional Yoga Studies. His widow, BRENDA FEUERSTEIN, is a Yoga teacher and the director of Traditional Yoga Studies. She is the coauthor, also with Georg, of Green Yoga and Green Dharma.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

The Transliteration and Pronunciation of Sanskrit xiv

Part 1 Introductory Essays 1

1 The Mahdbhdrata 3

2 The Dramatic and Historical Setting of the Bhagavad-Gitd 9

3 Dramatis Personae of the Gita 22

4 Divine Incarnations of Vishnu 38

5 The Gita's Syncretism and Holistic Orientation 42

6 Vyasa—Bard and Sage 47

7 The Hindu Concept of Cyclic Time 52

8 The Gita in Hindu Thought and Culture 56

9 On Translating the Bhagavad-Gita 71

Part 2 Bhagavad-Gita: Translation, with Sanskrit Text and Transliteration 77

Chapter 1 The Yoga of Arjuna's Despondency 79

Chapter 2 The Yoga of Knowledge 93

Chapter 3 The Yoga of Action 119

Chapter 4 The Yoga of Wisdom 135

Chapter 5 The Yoga of the Renunciation of Action 149

Chapter 6 The Yoga of Meditation 157

Chapter 7 The Yoga of Wisdom and Knowledge 171

Chapter 8 The Yoga of the Imperishable Absolute 181

Chapter 9 The Yoga of the Royal Wisdom and the Royal Secret 191

Chapter 10 The Yoga of [Divine] Manifestation 203

Chapter 11 The Yoga of the Vision of [the Lord's] All-Form 221

Chapter 12 The Yoga of Devotion 247

Chapter 13 The Yoga of the Distinction between the Field and the Field-Knower 153

Chapter 14 The Yoga of the Distinction between the Triple Qualities 265

Chapter 15 The Yoga of the Supreme Person 273

Chapter 16 The Yoga of the Distinction between the Divine and Demoniac Destiny 281

Chapter 17 The Yoga of Distinction between the Triple Faith 289

Chapter 18 The Yoga of Renunciation and Liberation 299

Part 3 Word-for-Word Translation 325

Select Bibliography 475

Glossary of Select Terms in the Bhagavad-Gita 479

Index 489

About the Authors 509

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Dr. Feuerstein’s new rendering is perhaps the most complete version of the more than one hundred English translations of the Gita to come our way in the last two-and-a-quarter centuries. This is a work for both scholars and serious laypersons, destined, I believe, to become the standard text for Yoga training programs in the English-speaking world.”—Richard Rosen, author of The Yoga of Breath and Pranayama beyond the Fundamentals

“A Bhagavad-Gita like no other! Never have its language and culture been so vividly etched, not only by the unrivaled precision of Feuerstein’s renderings, but also in a trove of companion materials unprecedented for their breadth and depth. There’s something here for everyone, from seeker to scholar to seer.”—Chip Hartranft, translator of The Yoga-Sutra of Patañjali

“Its timeless teachings on karma yoga and bhakti yoga make it a foundational text for modern yogis. Its compelling narrative, filled with iconic characters and colorful lessons about the spiritual journey, make it a pleasure to read. What makes the Feuersteins’ translation unique? It is packed with scholarly essays that help students understand the Gita’s historical and cultural context and its historical worldview before they read the text. Rich with footnotes and containing a helpful glossary, this book will serve serious yoga students and ambitious beginners alike.”—Yoga Journal

“It stands out both for its faithfulness to the original language and for its extensive tools for understanding the text.”—OM Magazine (UK)

Editorial Reviews

"Dr. Feuerstein's new rendering is perhaps the most complete version of the more than one hundred English translations of the Gita to come our way in the last two-and-a-quarter centuries. This is a work for both scholars and serious laypersons, destined, I believe, to become the standard text for Yoga training programs in the English-speaking world."—Richard Rosen, author of The Yoga of Breath and Pranayama beyond the Fundamentals

"A Bhagavad-Gītā like no other! Never have its language and culture been so vividly etched, not only by the unrivaled precision of Feuerstein's renderings, but also in a trove of companion materials unprecedented for their breadth and depth. There's something here for everyone, from seeker to scholar to seer."—Chip Hartranft, translator of The Yoga-Sūtra of Patañjali

"What makes the Feuersteins' translation unique? It is packed with scholarly essays that help students understand the Gita's historical and cultural context and its historical worldview before they read the text. Rich with footnotes and containing a helpful glossary, this book will serve serious yoga students and ambitious beginners alike."—Yoga Journal

From the Publisher