title: Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita: An Exposition of the Gita in the Light of Modern Thought and Modern Needs, Vol. 1
author: Swami Ranganathanananda
description: Among the several modern commentaries on the Gita, this one is unique in the sense it is both down to earth and fascinatingly erudite. In explaining every verse, the author relates its real connotation and significance to not only what Shankaracharya said in his introduction to the Gita, or how Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda interpreted it in terms of practical Vedanta, but also how it conforms to the thinking of some of the greatest Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The author weaves every verse into the requirements of modern life and throws light on how man should lead his life while involved in his daily chores and fulfil his duties in accordance with the philosophy of action as taught by Sri Krishna. --Sri Ramakrishna Math/Chennai<br /><br />I have read several translations of the Gita in English-from Sir Edwin Arnold's to Annie Besnat's,to Gandhiji's,Vinobhaji and Radhakrishnan's and some others also...I find the exposition of Swami Ranganathananda in many respects unique:it is both down to earth and fascinatingly erudite.In explaining every shloka Swamiji relates it's real connotation and significance to not only What Adis Shankara said in his introduction to the Gita or how Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda interpreted in terms of Practical Vedanta but also how it conforms to the thinking of some of the Great philosophers like Socrates,Plato and Aristotle,Swamiji takes you,while expalining the depth and intricasies of Sri Krishna's teachingsmon an enlightening voyage of discovery,where you meet Buddha,Mahavira,Tao,Christ and most of the thinkers in the West and relates their thoughts by an ingenious interactionwith the message of Sri Krishna.Even the greatest scientists like Einstein or famous neurologists like Sir Charles Sherington and poets like Wordsaworth and Shelley and Philosophers like Julian Huxley and bertrand Russell are brought in by Swamiji to give us an indepth understanding of the real meaning of the real meaning of these shlokas.Swamiji weaves every Shloka into the requirements of modern life and throws light on how man should lead his life while involved in nhis daily chores or business deals or academic pursuits and fulfil his duties in accordance with the philosphy of action taught by Sri Krishna ,which is a marvel of the elevation itself. --Dr.Rafiq Zakaria/Muslim Scholar of Mumbai
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  ###### **Praise for _The Bhagavad Gita:_**
  
  
  ###### **_A Walkthrough for Westerners_**
  
  
  “An engrossing and enlightening version of this finest source of spiritual
  teaching in the world, [this book] expands the possibilities of conveying its
  wisdom even further into the Western world, as a greater number of people will
  now be able to readily grasp its message.”
  
  
  ###### _— Spirit of Change_
  
  
  “Working under the premise that there ‘needed to be a truly different style of
  Gita,’ organizational consultant Hawley created this prose version to speak
  afresh to Westerners. Hawley’s rendition succeeds in its objective of
  providing ‘clarity and flow’ to the famous Indian poem. Hawley writes more as
  a disciple than a scholar, lending a devotional authenticity to the text.”
  
  
  ###### _— Publishers Weekly_
  
  
  “This well-researched composition stays true to the Vedantic philosophies that
  were first written down more than two millennia ago, while still