It is pleasing to place in your hands the simple reading of Bhagavadgitā namely 'Gitāślokārthavivṛti'. As we all very well know there are scores of books have been published on Gitā to this day, yet it has remained a perpetual repository of illumination for many. The simpler, plain reading of the same is pleasingly enlightening experience.
It is indeed our bounden duty to offer our courteous salutations to late Mahāmahopādhyāya Sri N.S. Ramabhadracharya for his splendid explanatory gloss on Gita. We owe our thanks to our Research Officer Vid S.Narayana and his team of assisting scholars for having put in their efforts in bringing out this book. Thanks are also due to all those who have helped us in this endeavor directly or indirectly.
`A thing of beauty is a joy for ever' may be an utterance of an English poet yet it has the currency of timeless truth. The aptness of the saying can directly be perceived through the example of Bhagavad-Gitä with its beauty of monumental theory of humanistic values. The streaming line of commentaries, glosses, explanations or interpretations written upon it right from its birth to this day by saints, learned to ordinary, belonging to different time and clime is but an indication of its inexhaustibleness of the trove.
It has drawn attention of the world people as well as inspired great thinkers, philosophers and anthropologists alike from contrasting cultural backgrounds. Hence we find this Articulation of the Divine being translated in to all major languages of the globe. The relevance of Bhagavad-Gită for the present day is very much evident as it being warmly embraced by management, corporate gurus to show ways to improve human harmony, their working efficiency without becoming stressed out, taking illumination from this stupendous treasure of profound wisdom.
This classic brings forth with its precise and penetrating words the A essential ingredients for an altruistic approach to life based on unadulterated intuitive evaluation of possible quests of human mind. The unfolding narrative explanations of the divine teacher to his more or less assuming pupil, who seeks for a perfect reply, make way for reassuring statements on meaningful living. Nevertheless the statements have sprung forth from well-founded facts not from arbitrary fancies, based on dogmas that are not unscientific.
Indian dogma has the long legacy of oral tradition in the Vedas hence these are Shrutis which were grasped by Seers in their trance, followed by later scriptures namely Upanişads which are mystical expressions of highest spiritual wisdom, and continued in the form of great epics Mahābhārata, Ramayana and in other subsequent Puranic accounts.
The triune of authoritative texts namely the Upanisads, the Brahmastitras or Vedantastitras and the Bhagavad-Gitä traditionally regarded as Prasthänatraya, form the bedrock for the edifice of various philosophical disciplines by later Acharyas appearing in different times. Many Acharyas have commentated upon these texts and exposed them to be cogent, coherent and consistent. Nonetheless the trinity of Acharyas namely Śankara, Rămănuja and Madhwa appearing in different centuries, have written their versatile commentaries for these texts, which have been accorded a revered cult status in traditional philosophical history.
The Gită forming the core of the epic Mahābhārata occurs in Bhismaparvan of the book at the instance of the Divine Lord Śri Kışņa instilling timely panacea into beleaguered spirits of Mighty warrior Arjuna to fight for righteousness, by making him understand Truth of Life through his discourse of realization.
Bhagavad Rāmānuja derives explicitly his school of thought namely Visişțădvaita (Qualified Monism) from the teaching of Gită, analyzing it succinctly to reveal philosophical doctrine of Arthapafichaka (fivefold topic). These are the Nature of God, the Nature of Individual Self, the State of final emancipation and beatitude, the proper way of attainment and finally the realization. According to Ramanuja the Gitä facilitates a loving Personal God with uncountable auspicious magnanimous attributes Him being the Soul of the Universe. The Individual Soul being subservient to Him shall offer unconditional devotional service and worship unto the ever compassionate Lord to be graced by Him to be there in His eternal abode to serve Him eternally joyously without the trace of earthly tribulations. Rämănuja emphasizes on Saraņāgati or Prapatti Märga that is the way of complete surrender to the Supreme Being is the surest way to attain salvation for the unassuming seeker. According to Ramanuja the book of Gită is to offer guidance and direction to this way for the seeker.
The views of Bhagavad Ramănuja on Gitā got emboldened beautifully in Tatparyachandrika of Śri Vedäntadeśika wherein the latter brings forth full force of the Bhāsya. The study of latter's gloss renders an invaluable insight to grasp the letter and spirit of not only Ramanuja but Gită as well. With rich tradition of commentaries available on Gită in the light of Visişțădvaita, the Academy of Sanskrit Research at Melkote has already brought out Rāmānuja's Gită-bhäşya in three volumes with valuable additions of Śri Yamunāchārya's Gitärthasangraha and Śri Vedäntadeśikä's Tatparyachandrika, Glossary, Verse Index and other appendix.
This edition of Bhagavad-Gită brought out by ASR titled 'Gită-ślokārtha-vivrti' has been presented with lucid clarifying explanation to each word of the verses in Sanskrit by late Mahāmahopādhyāya Sri N.S.Ramabhadracharya who had rendered his priceless service to the Academy in early eighties. Even though his dignified presence was not available in person of late, he continued to lend his versatile hand in editing Academy's research publications.
Here the author has followed the text to bring out the meaning of the terms deftly simply in consonance with the interpretations of Rāmānuja and Desika. As the author has claimed in his invocatory verses 'Soulabhyārtham' the reader will have facility of easy grasp of the purport of verses.
Astrology (115)
Ayurveda (106)
Gita (76)
Hinduism (1356)
History (143)
Language & Literature (1743)
Learn Sanskrit (26)
Mahabharata (29)
Performing Art (69)
Philosophy (453)
Puranas (117)
Ramayana (49)
Sanskrit Grammar (256)
Sanskrit Text Book (32)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist