Srimad Bhagavad Gita A Historicsl Perspective

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Revised version of the same title released in 2017. Suggestions offered by the President of the book-releasing function, Dr. N Satyanarayana Raju Director Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Sri Venkateswara School Tirupat, Chief Guest Prof K Muralidhara Sarma Vice Chancellor Kentriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha Tirupati at the function, and the Reviewer of the book Dr M Narendra, Professor of English Sri Venkateswara University are incorporated in this revised version. Certain later developments in the religious and spiritual issues, so far as available, are emended, besides carrying out certain print errors that were noticed in the first edition. The book brings out parallels from the Bible (English Standard Version) and the Qur-aan (Arabic-English Version) to point out that the spiritual ideas flew from one part of Asia to another - Kurukshetra - Jerusalem - Mecca al Medinah - and also to answer certain avoidable controversial statements from a few persons, journalists in particular and letter-writers to standard English newspapers.

P. Yenadi Raju Born 15 July 1942. Parents: Smt Padmaraju Subbamma and Sri Padmaraju Subba Raju, Muppalavandlapalle, Rajampeta Mandal, Kadapa Dt., AndhraPradesh. Educational qualifications: M.A., Ph.D. from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. Faculty in the Department of History in the same institution. Taught M.A., IAS, M.Phil and Ph.D. students. Besides parent Sri Venkateswara University, he served as Guest Professor at the Hyderabad Central University and Dravidian University. Worked as Co- ordinator and Editor for Research Project on Relook at the Indian Freedom Movement Combined Andhra Pradesh Chapter. Guided research. Edited and authored 21 post-graduate and research level books. Addressed Refresher Courses and Orientation Programmes for senior college and university teachers, save professors, Lfe-time Achievement Awardee 28 November 2018.

There are commentaries in English on Srimad Bahagavad Gita. Why another English version English is for as extensive readership as possible globally. At the time of typing this draft, we are past mid 2015. We have read in the press during the past one year unkind cuts on this Divine Song. Journalists feel they are "the know-at-all" people. "Belittling [the] Indian way seems fashionable. They get away with it because they hardly ever have to face those who are knowledgeable." The following is an excerpt from a write-up published in English daily from South India on 5 November 2014: "Mythological stories that boast of our [Indians'] proficiency in genetics and plastic surgery are without any basis and against the spirit of our constitution. Glorifying our past without any basis is of no use..." A reply: "... the French surgeon who performed the first ever case of plastic surgery in modern times was asked about his feat. His simple reply: He had the notes of Susruta [the noted first Indian plastic surgeon] in front of him and did not deviate from them." Both these versions appeared the same day. The unexpected fitting reply seems to have incensed the denigrator of "the Indian way," Just thirty-five days thereafter, another write-up from the same person appeared in the columns of the same paper (10 December 2014). An excerpt: "There is no philosophical basis or scientific explanation that the Gita provides solutions to many of our problems. When medical science and Psychology have made tremendous advances and help us live a healthy and good life, there is no need to go back to the religious scriptures for this..." Reply from the Mahatma "When doubts engulf, problems approach and despondency arises, I open the Bhagavad Gita. Any of the verses therein consoles me...." Rest of the remarks find response at commentary under 3:11 and 4:30. It seems such denigrators made it a point to go for such writing at every possible point of time. A half page article "Gita, Gandhi and Gadse" by a journalist appeared in the press on 30 January 2015. Its nutshell: Both Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Gadse read the Bhagavad Gita but one became martyr and the other a murderer. An explanation to this appears at commentary under 9:34. Solanay When one journalist denigrated the Bhagavad Gita, an opinion supporting him appeared on 3 November 2014 from an Indian Navy retired officer from South India saying rationality argument ... cannot break the concrete irrational shell of Indians". When asked whether the adjective "irrational" does not apply to him since he is an Indian and whether the faith he professes is any free from irrational contexts, no reply could be found. A combination of such developments after Srimati Sushma Swaraj, Hon'ble Minister for External Affairs, Government of India, gave in the later part of 2014 an emotional statement as an individual that Srimad Bhagavad Gita should be made the national scripture, made this compiler react. Why "national"? The Divine Song is already a Universal Scripture. In 2014 the Russian Federal Court cleared it for reading in that country when a particular section had taken objection to its reading there. Writing here about the greatness of the splendid scripture would be like trying to show the Sun with a wick. An apt remark from Saunaka Rṣi Das, an Irish national, attracted to the Gaudia Vaisnavism: "The west looks to India when it comes to philosophy. Indians sadly have neglected their heritage." (30 January 2015). He deserves an explanation. The not-so-well-understood "democracy" and "secularism" or rather the misled ones are holding the heritage for ransom. The day these are properly understood and respected by all, the anguish of Saunaka Ṛși Das finds solace. In this compilation, slokas (verses) in Devanagari are avoided with a view to make the book as compact as possible. Transliteration is done with as minimum diacritics as possible, taking care to preserve the pronunciations as in the source. Roman letters in bold are preferred to Italics for the verses since the former are found eye friendly in contrast to the latter. Traditionalists will kindly bear with. Readers would do well by familiarising themselves with the guide to pronunciation and diacritics given on the page following the Table of Contents. Diacritics save the number of letters. The founder Guru of Sri Sukabrahmasramam, Srikaļahasti, Andhra Pradesh, India, Sri Sri Sri Vidya Prakasanandagiri Swamulu's Gitamakarandamu (Honey of Gita) Telugu-reprint 2011 is the inspiration to this work. His Gita-verses in Telugu, frequent visits to the authority on Sanskrit, Vaman Shivram Apte's Sanskrit English Dictionary Reprint 1998, ISKCON's His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is-1972, Advaita Ashrama's Swami Gambhirananda's BHAGAVAD Gita With the commentary of SANKARACARYA reprint 2014, Sistla Subbarau's commentary on Srimadbhagavadgita, 1996 (Telugu), and Charles Philip Brown's Telugu-English Dictionary Reprint 2012 guided this compiler to do this divine-ordained job. He owes much to these stalwarts. Dr D Ananda Naidu, Professor of History, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, extended solid support during the progress of this work. Mere "thanks" would be far less an acknowledgement. May God Almighty bestow on him and his family His choicest blessings. Dr V Thimmappa of the same Department helped in several technical issues involved in the computer-operations. This compiler gratefully acknowledges his help.

**Contents and Sample Pages**