A Comprehensive Guide to Bhagavad-Gita with Literal Translation

I have taught the Bhagavad-gita, in depth, since the early 80's, and been a student of the gita since the early 70's. This guide book is the best I have read. It's simply superb whether the reader has an academic or spiritual interest, or both. The author has organized the text in such a way, with reference to the verses, that the flow and purpose of the gita are crystal clear. It's also a joyful reading experience. It's not often one finds a "can't put down" book in this genre.

The author, Howard J. Resnick, is a Ph.D from Harvard in Sanskrit studies, and an experienced practitioner (over 50 years) of the spiritual science of Bhakti Yoga. His academic training will help you learn every important lesson presented in the Gita. If you are looking for a guide to help you understand the Gita as a scripture, for spiritual reasons, or a college student learning World Religions or Sanskrit, or simply curious, this is the book for you. I would recommend to use the Bhagavad-GIta As It Is, by A.C.Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, as your main text. It has all original Sanskrit verses, their translation, and impeccable commentary.

The Author, H.D. Goswami, has made an invaluable contribution the the study of the Gita. This is a uniquely western academic approach and a traditional devotional yoga approach from one who is steeped in both worlds. As a student of the Bhagavad Gita for the last 42 years I have found this approach of thematic and linguistic analysis very useful. I do hope this edition becomes THE standard in university courses in the western world.--Rakhal Raja das

As a full professor, scholar, and author in the fields of international and intercultural communication, I find this book to be extraordinarily helpful for understanding the values that undergird Indian culture. HD Goswami is an outstanding scholar, drawing from both scholarly and sectarian sources to patiently and clearly explicate the Bhagavad-Gita. His mastery of Sanskrit is literally unmatched among Western scholars: he is the only person to ever score a perfect grade on Harvard's Sanskrit PhD comprehensive exam! This, together with his decades of study of the Gita and other Indian texts, makes this book essential reading for anyone who wants deep comprehension of the Gita. The author also provides a commonsense, contemporary translation of the Gita, which is also very helpful. Overall, this book is a must-have!

While I have read many translations/commentaries of the Bhagavad-gita over the years, this one is peerless in providing a stunning synthesis of topics/themes that trace their way throughout the verses. These key concepts can be easily missed by those who don't have a mastery of the original language (as the author does).Many of these themes uncovered are not merely abstractions for intellectual reflection, but concrete invitations to hear the core of the BG, the call to faithful and fruitful devotion that offers meaning, freedom and joy.

I was gifted this book in soft cover by a friend. I had not previously read the Gita cover to cover, but rather bits and pieces. HD Goswami's book clearly and simply reveals Krishna's message in Krishna's own words. I particularly appreciated that the author's book doesn't proselytize or attempt to preach or convert you, or demonstrate any other agenda other than to genuinely and authentically expose no more or less than Krishna and Arjuna's dialog - the Bhagavad Gita. I enjoyed the book so much that I regifted it and purchased the kindle edition for daily rereading and reference.

H.D. Goswami, Dr. Howard J Resnick, is not only an accomplished academic, but someone who has formally strived to live the tenants of the Bhagavad Gita for more than half a century within a Bengali Vaishnava context. His introduction, translation and notes demonstrate his unique qualifications to communicate this essential understanding of Love in and as devotion to a very personal God through the dedication of the fruits of own’s efforts. But don’t take it from me. Read the book.

I am very impressed with this Translation. It is an awesome Book, including the in depth commentary. A masterfully, respectful & very proper edition. This Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, although very literally composed is also very reader/student friendly. I humbly highly recommend this very fine Volume. Sincerely, Humbly & Thankfully Submitted

The BG can be a difficult book to comprehend without guidance by someone who knows its narrative and understands it as a step by step conversation between Krishna and Arjuna culminating in Bhakti i.e. that it is a yoga ladder. Without this the book becomes a series of verses that people read or quote out of context or in a willy-nilly fashion. H.D Goswami takes a different approach - Firstly it is not a commentary it is an exposition of what the BG says. Becasue the Gita is a conversation it jumps from topic to topic and then revisits a previously talked about topic in a different light at a later time in the conversation (the way we converse in real life) - this brings us on to the second major style of the book - The author compartmentalises the topics within Gita and constructs chapters on those topics drawing from the entire dialogue to make it easier for people to understand. Hence the reader is left with a complete and uninterupted understanding of the topics of the Gita without having to remember the bits of the conversation that happened however many chapters before........I am surprised that this book has not gained more publicity - it is not just another rewrite of the dialogue - it allows you to easily understand its contents.

Very good easy to read and understand this description of the Gita. Ideal for all followers and the curious students interested in the Vedic epic.

Accessibile e ben spiegato. Una prospettiva di parte da leggere insieme ad un altro commentario alla BG per una comprensione più profonda.

Its a guide to understand Bhagavadgita not Bhagavadgita.

Both philosophically as well as by spirit - one of the best studies of the Bhagavad-gita.The style of rendering the subject flow with references to different supporting verses from the original is extremely well done.