A Simple Verse Translation of Śrī Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā
A Simple Verse Translation of Śrī Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā
Overview
In this book review, first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.12, Issue 11 in 1901, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura evaluates a poetic rendition of the Bhagavad-gītā in Bengali. He gives a short summary of the Gītā’s contents, and gives his opinion of the author’s attempts.
by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
(translated by Swami B.V. Giri)
The late Madan Mohan Ghosh Mahāśaya, who wrote this book, was not able to get it published. His son, Śrīyuta Yadava Krishna Ghosh, has published it and presented it to the public. The price is 6 Anas. It is printed nicely and has large letters.
There is no philosophical book in the world comparable to Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā. In this book, Svayaṁ Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa uses Arjuna as an example to teach the world the subtle explanation of all the Vedas and the Vedānta. In the beginning, He shows discrimination concerning ātma-tattva (the reality of the self), and explains the necessity of detachment from all worldly matters. In the first six chapters, He discusses the relationship between material activities and the pure jīvātmā, and the conduct of jīva bound by māyā. In the concluding portion of the Sixth Chapter, He establishes the superiority of the yogī over all the karmīs and jñānīs, and has pointed out that the bhakti-yogī is superior to all yogīs. Moreover, He divides the bhakti-yogīs into two categories, and has shown the supreme excellence of the bhakti-yogī who is based in śraddhā over the bhakti-yogī who is based in viveka (self-discernment). From the Sixth to the Seven Chapter, He speaks about the characteristics and activities of pure bhakti based upon śraddhā. From the Thirteenth to the Seventeenth Chapter, He elaborates specifically on the various doctrines stemming from the traditions of the karmīs, jñānīs, and yogīs, culminating in the sādhana of pure bhakti. A brief review of all those topics is seen in the Eighteenth Chapter. Finally, establishing the supremacy of bhakti with pure śraddhā in relation to śaraṇāpatti (surrender), He concludes His instructions. In practice, every person has the right to adhere to their own ideas, yet from the highest point of perfection, taking shelter at the feet of Kṛṣṇa is the supreme dharma.
The Gītā-śāstra is a book that includes all other śāstra. For one who has not yet received the nectar-laden teachings of the Gītā-śāstra, carrying the burden of other śāstras is simply another name for śāstra-gardabhatā (hauling śāstra like an ass). Not everyone has the qualification to access the Sanskrit Gītā, therefore, the Bengali translation of the Gītā is beneficial. Verse translations are better for the general public than prose. Many will receive benefit from the verse translations composed by Ghosh Mahāśaya. It would have been better if the verses had been made simpler.
By adopting this book, the best of poets will immediately fulfil the needs of the world – there is no doubt about this. Until such a time that a better translation is found, many things will be accomplished through this book.