Preface

The Bhagvad Gita is one of the most important basic texts for the the study of Hinduism and has attracted the attention and admiration of thinkers throughout the world.

The English translation combines accuracy and clarity and preserves to a remarkable degree the emotional content of the original. The section dealing with the Grand Vision is rendered in verse form. The words in each verse are taken one by one in the prose order, and their literal meaning explained , pointing  out the derivation of all difficult words and compounds. The major variations in the text are given in footnotes, and Appendix I discusses the relative importance of the different readings. Some parallel passages from other world scriptures are pointed out in Appendix II which also contains some expository notes and references for further study of the problems raised. The Introduction gives a brief outline of the grammar of the Samskrt language. The detailed 'Table of Contents' sets forth succinctly the argument of the Gita, pointing out the connection and appropriateness of the aphorisms. At the end there is a complete word-index. Thus this edition carries within itself practically all the help needed for a preliminary 'literary' study of the text.