Book Reviewed: Bhagavad-Gita or the Song Celestial, by Edwin Arnold

The Heavenly Song; blissful and rapturous

Sir Edwin Arnold’s English translation of BhagavadGita was first published in 1885. This is one of the joyful and quintessential rendering of Gita for readers in English language; the poetic beauty of the holy book is retained to its full glory.

This is much more than a spiritual classic, philosophy or a seraphic doctrine. Its magnificent poetry that offers an inspirational wisdom to life’s perplexing problems. It embraces different forms of yoga; karma (action), bhakti (devotion) jnana (knowledge). It harmonizes the metaphysical teachings of early Hindu philosophers like Kapila and Patanjali imparting exemplary knowledge leading to self-realization. In eighteen percipient chapters, Lord Krishna delivers the spiritual discourses to ease the mind of Arjuna during the Kurukshetra battle when he expresses tremendous guilt to fight his own kinsman and teachers.

Edwin Arnold, a favored poet laureate after the death of Lord Tennyson, is a poetic-genius to have delivered this artistic and creative translation. Arnold’s work is available online free of charge, and this work is one way to assimilate the sublime message of BhagavadGita. His exemplary work is elucidated in the following examples:

1. BhagavadGita 4:3

Now once again to thee it is declared-
This ancient lore, this mystery
supreme-Seeing.
I find thee votary and friend

2. BhagavadGita 7:17

Highest, nearest, best
That last is, the devout soul, wise, intent
Upon "The One." Dear, above all, am I
To him; and he is dearest unto me!

3. BhagavadGita 6:5

Let each man raise, The Self by Soul,
not trample down his Self,
Since Soul that is Self's friend
may grow Self's foe.