ভগবদ্গীতা (ইংরেজি) - সি. রাজাগোপালাচারী সি. রাজাগোপালাচারী

THE Gita is one of the most authoritative sources of Hindu doctrine and ethics, and is accepted as such by Hindus of all denominations. A study of even selections from it, strengthened by earnest meditation, will enable young men and women to understand the religion of our fathers, which is the background of all the noble philosophy, art, literature and civilization that we have inherited.
There are many excellent translations of the Gita in English and in the Indian spoken languages. For scholars, the commentaries of Sri Sankaracharya and other great religious teachers are mines of knowledge before which any modern notes are but chaff. The following pages are intended for students who have not the equipment and time for studying the original text with any of these great commentaries.
Though The Gita is a chapter in the Mahabharata, one should note that the Gita, as a scripture of Hinduism, stands apart from the Mahabharata. The context has rightly receded into insignificance and has practically disappeared in orthodox Hindu interpretation. To take the battle of Kurukshetra literally and to interpret all that is said in the Gita in the light of the motive of the particular scene would not only not help the student to understand the Gita aright, but may even lead him to error.
It is true that the teachings in the Gita being of universal validity would also be applicable to the Mahabharata scene and must help to solve Arjuna’s problems and doubts. But we shall fail to understand the teaching aright if we are obsessed by the particular scene and seek to interpret the general by the particular. It is a common practice in Sanskrit literature to provide great works with such or other prologues. We should forget the battle-scene when we study the Gita as a scripture of Sanatana Dharma.
There are eighteen adhyayas in the Gita and seven hundred slokas in all. In the following pages 226 slokas are quoted. A study of them is enough to give a fairly good grasp of the Bhagavad-Gita.
The Bhagavad-Gita professes to give nothing new beyond what has previously been taught by the Upanishads. It contents itself with a synthesis of the older teachings.
This book does not propose to give any new interpretation of the Bhagavad-Gita. Let the reader not expect to find in the following pages any old interpretations controverted, any newly invented explanations.
This little book aims at a simplified presentation of the Gita content, and at bringing it within a small compass so as to enable the modern student to understand, in the midst of his other studies, the faith, discipline and ideals that lighted the path of life for our forefathers, and to which is given the name Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism.
What is said in the Gita, the Upanishads and other holy books of the world may often be not as precise or clear as we would want it to be. The explanations are not as satisfying as the proofs we find in the physical sciences. This is necessarily so because the matter is wholly different and the approach and methods of application also must differ. Things within the domain of human reasoning can be defined and proved. But for the understanding of things beyond, faith and meditation have to function. The scriptures and holy books may be looked upon as help to assist reverent meditation, by which alone the human mind can get glimpses into the truth beyond.
To ignore the real is foolish. The unknown is no less real because it is unknown.