Why Read Bhagavad-gita As It Is?

There is no book throughout world history like the Bhagavad-gita. The great American transcendentalist philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, had this to say about the Bhagavad-gita:

"In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita, in comparison with which our modern world and it's literature seem puny and trivial."

Seeing as how there are many hundreds of editions of Bhagavad-gita available, how does one go about choosing which edition to read? One school of thought is to choose the edition which moves our heart the most. But how do we know if our heart is being moved in the right direction?

If ones reads Sanskrit, the original language in which the Bhagavad-gita was spoken by Krishna to Arjuna, there is no difficulty in deciding which edition to read, because in Sanskrit there is only one edition. So when it comes to deciding which translation to read, the decision is also very simple. One simply has to find out which edition most accurately translates the Sanskrit into English.

Of course if you don't know Sanskrit how can you tell which edition is most accurately translated? Luckily in my case I have studied Sanskrit. I took formal training in Sanskrit from the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. From the standpoint of Sanskrit scholarship, it is very clear that Bhagavad-gita As It Is is the edition to read. I have noted that while in practically every other edition the original meaning has been tampered with, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is comes shining through with the original clear meaning like the sun cutting through the fog.

And if you think I am biased, it is not only me. The world's leading Sanskrit authorities all agree that Bhagavad-gita As It Is is the edition which most accurately presents the sublime instructions of Absolute Truth imparted by Lord Krishna to his disciple Arjuna 5,000 years ago on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. Let all those who want to know what was really spoken in that ultimate psychotherapy session take advantage of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

Not only is this edition of the Gita the most authoritative. It is also the most widely distributed edition. It is currently available in 54 different languages. Check it out! You can get a free download at: www.backtohome.com/BG

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Neglecting Sita and Rama?

In the Hare Krishna Mantra, there is a mention of Rama, which I believe is Lord Rama. If I understand clearly, Rama and Krishna are both avatars of Vishnu. So Rama, Krishna and Vishnu are actually one and the same.

I have always wondered, in none of your lectures or emails, have you ever mentioned about Lord Rama or Mata Sita. You have always described the pastimes of Lord Krishna and Radha. Why do you mention about Radha and Krishna and not mention about life and teachings of Sita and Rama?

Susheel

Answer: Watering the Root Nourishes the Branches

You are right that Rama, Krishna, and Vishnu are one and the same. But you are incorrect to think that Krishna and Rama are avatars of Vishnu. The actual situation is that Vishnu and Rama and avatars of Krishna. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita in which Lord Sri Krishna states that He is the source of everything, that everything emanates from Him.

While it is not true that we never mention Sita and Rama, the fact is that we mention Radha and Krishna a lot more than we mention Sita and Rama. However this does not mean that we are neglecting Sita and Rama. Just as when we water the root of a tree all the leaves and branches are nourished, when Radha and Krishna are glorified Sita and Rama are automatically glorified.

If you will hear more of my lectures you, will find that I sometimes do mention Sita and Rama. You can find my lectures here:

http://hgssda.krishnahosting.com/Lectures.aspx?country=mexico

Sankarshan Das Adhikari