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The Bhagavad Gita: A Biography
The life and times of India's most famous spiritual and literary masterpiece
The Bhagavad Gita, perhaps the most famous of all Indian scriptures, is universally regarded as one of the world's spiritual and literary masterpieces. Richard Davis tells the story of this venerable and enduring book, from its origins in ancient India to its reception today as a spiritual classic that has been translated into more than seventy-five languages. The Gita opens on the eve of a mighty battle, when the warrior Arjuna is overwhelmed by despair and refuses to fight. He turns to his charioteer, Krishna, who counsels him on why he must. In the dialogue that follows, Arjuna comes to realize that the true battle is for his own soul.
Davis highlights the place of this legendary dialogue in classical Indian culture, and then examines how it has lived on in diverse settings and contexts. He looks at the medieval devotional traditions surrounding the divine character of Krishna and traces how the Gita traveled from India to the West, where it found admirers in such figures as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Aldous Huxley. Davis explores how Indian nationalists like Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda used the Gita in their fight against colonial rule, and how contemporary interpreters reanimate and perform this classical work for audiences today.
An essential biography of a timeless masterpiece, this book is an ideal introduction to the Gita and its insights into the struggle for self-mastery that we all must wage.
The Bhagavad Gita, perhaps the most famous of all Indian scriptures, is universally regarded as one of the world's spiritual and literary masterpieces. Richard Davis tells the story of this venerable and enduring book, from its origins in ancient India to its reception today as a spiritual classic that has been translated into more than seventy-five languages. The Gita opens on the eve of a mighty battle, when the warrior Arjuna is overwhelmed by despair and refuses to fight. He turns to his charioteer, Krishna, who counsels him on why he must. In the dialogue that follows, Arjuna comes to realize that the true battle is for his own soul.
Davis highlights the place of this legendary dialogue in classical Indian culture, and then examines how it has lived on in diverse settings and contexts. He looks at the medieval devotional traditions surrounding the divine character of Krishna and traces how the Gita traveled from India to the West, where it found admirers in such figures as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Aldous Huxley. Davis explores how Indian nationalists like Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda used the Gita in their fight against colonial rule, and how contemporary interpreters reanimate and perform this classical work for audiences today.
An essential biography of a timeless masterpiece, this book is an ideal introduction to the Gita and its insights into the struggle for self-mastery that we all must wage.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Richard H. Davis
27 books8 followersBorn: 1951; Professor of Religion; Director, Religion Program; Director, Asian Studies Program;
Bard College
Bard College
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 21, 2015
As the title says, this is a biography of Bhagavad Gita. In the first part, the author traces the text from its conception and its place in the Mahabharata and its role and the various vedantic interpretations of the middle ages. Its first translations to foreign languages where it became a source of wisdom for the romantics and a source of denigration of Indian civilisation by its selective interpretation. Its adaptation by various revolutionary and political organisations during the colonial period ranging from the pacifist Gandhi to the Hindu nationalists like RSS. Its life in the 20th century when its circulation and readership increased phenomenally.
The second part consists of recommendations of four different English translations of the Gita. He finally ends the book with a chapter on the diverse forms of modern day recitations of the Gita in India and the rest of the world.
The second part consists of recommendations of four different English translations of the Gita. He finally ends the book with a chapter on the diverse forms of modern day recitations of the Gita in India and the rest of the world.
January 12, 2015
There have been many translations of the Bhagavad Gita, which is perhaps the most famous of all Indian scriptures, but this book is not one of them. Rather, Richard traces the journey of the Gita, from its oral renderings to when it appeared in written form...its different manifestations and interpretations...its journey from India to England and the States and Germany and then the rest of the world.
The book opens with the actual conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna; the dilemma Arjuna faces and how Krishna persuades him to engage in his duties, and in the process, teaches him the very essence of life itself. The author very deftly brings out various aspects of this conversation and lays the grounds for the subsequent chapters, where he connects these aspects to the the different interpretations of the Gita. A good portion of the book is dedicated to early manifestations of this text, following which he moves on to how the Gita left Indian shores through rudimentary translations by the British, who saw this scripture as a way to understand the Indian mindset. Richard then describes in detail the way Swami Vivekananda exploded onto the world scene at the Parliament of World Religions in 1893, thus introducing the teachings of the Gita to North America.
There are many aspects of the journey of the Gita that I was not aware of, for instance, the major role that it played in the Indian struggle for independence, both in the ahimsa movement spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi and the revolutionary movement as well!
A book attempted on this scale has to be backed up by excellent research, and Richard does not disappoint, to say the least. From the very start, it is clear that the author has not only done his homework, but has done it well. He has combed through (by his own accounts) over 300 translations of the Gita and recommended four of them to those who wish to understand the diverse ways in which it can be interpreted. In the process, he manages to hold the interest of the reader and give the uninitiated a basic tour of Hinduism and its most important conversation. This is not a religious book; rather, it is a successful attempt in deconstructing the universal appeal of the message contained in the Bhagvad Gita.
This book could have easily become a mundane exercise in history; instead, it stands out as a beacon in the study of a timeless piece of literature. The role it played in the Indian freedom struggle, and what it means in todays life....its all there, well researched and written in a pleasant narrative. Read it!
The book opens with the actual conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna; the dilemma Arjuna faces and how Krishna persuades him to engage in his duties, and in the process, teaches him the very essence of life itself. The author very deftly brings out various aspects of this conversation and lays the grounds for the subsequent chapters, where he connects these aspects to the the different interpretations of the Gita. A good portion of the book is dedicated to early manifestations of this text, following which he moves on to how the Gita left Indian shores through rudimentary translations by the British, who saw this scripture as a way to understand the Indian mindset. Richard then describes in detail the way Swami Vivekananda exploded onto the world scene at the Parliament of World Religions in 1893, thus introducing the teachings of the Gita to North America.
There are many aspects of the journey of the Gita that I was not aware of, for instance, the major role that it played in the Indian struggle for independence, both in the ahimsa movement spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi and the revolutionary movement as well!
A book attempted on this scale has to be backed up by excellent research, and Richard does not disappoint, to say the least. From the very start, it is clear that the author has not only done his homework, but has done it well. He has combed through (by his own accounts) over 300 translations of the Gita and recommended four of them to those who wish to understand the diverse ways in which it can be interpreted. In the process, he manages to hold the interest of the reader and give the uninitiated a basic tour of Hinduism and its most important conversation. This is not a religious book; rather, it is a successful attempt in deconstructing the universal appeal of the message contained in the Bhagvad Gita.
This book could have easily become a mundane exercise in history; instead, it stands out as a beacon in the study of a timeless piece of literature. The role it played in the Indian freedom struggle, and what it means in todays life....its all there, well researched and written in a pleasant narrative. Read it!
November 9, 2014
This series continues to impress. Davis relates the life of the Gita judiciously and clearly. A great introduction to the text and the political, philosophical, and theological uses to which it has been put in the lives, from ancient Brahmans up to Hegel, Huxley, Ghandi, and more.
June 12, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening. Davis writes a biography of the Gita starting from its founding tenets to the way it is read, narrated, shared, interpreted, performed, and celebrated today.
The starting chapters discuss the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, the questions and anxieties Arjuna faces with battle imminent, and Krishna's response. It has excerpts from the text, and focuses on the elegant way Krishna argues that different paths to spiritual attainment -- the discipline of action (karma), the discipline of knowledge (jnana), the discipline of devotion (bhakti) -- ultimately lead to the same end point, if followed by the correct combination of detachment from worldly results yet a commitment to action still.
The spiritual content of the Gita is an important component of the book but not its main goal. Davis is concerned then with how the message of the Gita was received, how it was historically situated, and the very rich engagement it achieved in India. In particular, the Vedanta school of thought and its analysis of the Gita receives great attention, as well as other works that analyze it such as the Jnaneshvari in Marathi by Jnanadeva.
We then move to the first Western translations, and the initial reception the work received in the US and Europe. The first such translations are important from the perspective of exciting interest, and it was very interesting to read about the first German translators of the work (perhaps because I've become more familiar with their universities of late). But there were also translations that served a purpose. As Davis says,
Indeed, the colonial project needed translators who could show that Indians needed conquest for their own good, and there were a host of translators who were happy to do so.
There are a number of important Indian figures who brought the Gita to an international audience, and then those who took it as a guide in the battle for independence, even though the exact interpretation could differ a lot. I won't write on these aspects as they would be familiar to an Indian audience.
What I do want to briefly share, however, is my favorite part of the book. This is when Davis shares four translations of the Gita that differ, as he puts it, in stylistic, pedagogic, interpretive, and motivational ways. We see a dry but utterly literal, historically accurate, academic translation; a poetic interpretation that foregrounds the beauty and resonance of its verses; a devotional translation with emphasis on the spiritual and religious content of each line; and then a philosophical translation that tries to place the Gita as an eternal work that offers guidance to everyone, while discussing its relationship with other streams of thought in the western context. Davis then takes the famous lines uttered by Oppenheimer, and how the four translators wrote these lines in English. It's fabulous and really insightful.
Great book if you're into this genre.
The starting chapters discuss the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, the questions and anxieties Arjuna faces with battle imminent, and Krishna's response. It has excerpts from the text, and focuses on the elegant way Krishna argues that different paths to spiritual attainment -- the discipline of action (karma), the discipline of knowledge (jnana), the discipline of devotion (bhakti) -- ultimately lead to the same end point, if followed by the correct combination of detachment from worldly results yet a commitment to action still.
The spiritual content of the Gita is an important component of the book but not its main goal. Davis is concerned then with how the message of the Gita was received, how it was historically situated, and the very rich engagement it achieved in India. In particular, the Vedanta school of thought and its analysis of the Gita receives great attention, as well as other works that analyze it such as the Jnaneshvari in Marathi by Jnanadeva.
We then move to the first Western translations, and the initial reception the work received in the US and Europe. The first such translations are important from the perspective of exciting interest, and it was very interesting to read about the first German translators of the work (perhaps because I've become more familiar with their universities of late). But there were also translations that served a purpose. As Davis says,
Nowadays, we readily accept that no reading of a work of religious literature is entirely innocent. Every reading draws on a reader's own presuppositions, values, and purposes. But some readings are less innocent than others.
Indeed, the colonial project needed translators who could show that Indians needed conquest for their own good, and there were a host of translators who were happy to do so.
There are a number of important Indian figures who brought the Gita to an international audience, and then those who took it as a guide in the battle for independence, even though the exact interpretation could differ a lot. I won't write on these aspects as they would be familiar to an Indian audience.
What I do want to briefly share, however, is my favorite part of the book. This is when Davis shares four translations of the Gita that differ, as he puts it, in stylistic, pedagogic, interpretive, and motivational ways. We see a dry but utterly literal, historically accurate, academic translation; a poetic interpretation that foregrounds the beauty and resonance of its verses; a devotional translation with emphasis on the spiritual and religious content of each line; and then a philosophical translation that tries to place the Gita as an eternal work that offers guidance to everyone, while discussing its relationship with other streams of thought in the western context. Davis then takes the famous lines uttered by Oppenheimer, and how the four translators wrote these lines in English. It's fabulous and really insightful.
Great book if you're into this genre.
January 21, 2025
Traces the publication and reception history of the Gita as a stand-alone text outside of the Mahabharata. The medieval period is represented by the commentaries of Shankara, Ramanuja, and a free translation of Jnanadeva. Since there is a wealth of material about the Gita translations in European languages since the beginning of the colonial period, it's no surprise that the last couple of centuries are where this book comes into its own, at least with respect to how the Gita was received. A volume dedicated to both reception and contested interpretations from the medieval era is still warranted, though. I know Edwin Bryant has been working on it for a while, and it really can't come sooner.
Indian texts have a long history of being accompanied by detailed commentaries, century upon century of exegesis. My occasional forays into the Gita without such guides have left me feeling lost. Richard Davis's book just brings home the point that if you want to make this text a part of your life, at a minimum, you need commentarial assistance. That’s my takeaway, not his.
Pairs well with Fruits of Our Desiring.
Indian texts have a long history of being accompanied by detailed commentaries, century upon century of exegesis. My occasional forays into the Gita without such guides have left me feeling lost. Richard Davis's book just brings home the point that if you want to make this text a part of your life, at a minimum, you need commentarial assistance. That’s my takeaway, not his.
Pairs well with Fruits of Our Desiring.
October 1, 2025
Richard H. Davis provides a thoughtful and comprehensive account of how the Bhagavad Gita has been received, interpreted, and reinterpreted across centuries. Rather than focusing solely on the text itself, Davis traces its journey from ancient India through colonial encounters and into its global role today, showing how it has inspired both spiritual seekers and political leaders.
The writing balances scholarly rigor with accessibility, making it approachable for general readers while still offering valuable insights for specialists. At times the historical detail may feel dense, but overall, Davis succeeds in demonstrating why the Gita continues to be one of the most influential works in world religious and philosophical thought.
An excellent addition to the Lives of Great Religious Books series.
The writing balances scholarly rigor with accessibility, making it approachable for general readers while still offering valuable insights for specialists. At times the historical detail may feel dense, but overall, Davis succeeds in demonstrating why the Gita continues to be one of the most influential works in world religious and philosophical thought.
An excellent addition to the Lives of Great Religious Books series.
Read
February 11, 2023This book is a short history of how people have interacted with and processed the Bhagavad Gita over the centuries. While in no way a comprehensive history, it gives more information about the book and its impact over the ages.
That said, while the author has attempted to be respectful, some amount of bias does creep in. And the writing style is wanting some clarity. Nevertheless a necessary read for anyone interested in the Gita.
That said, while the author has attempted to be respectful, some amount of bias does creep in. And the writing style is wanting some clarity. Nevertheless a necessary read for anyone interested in the Gita.
Read
June 19, 2024After hearing an author talk I read a translation of the Bhagavad Gita which then inspired me to read this book to get more context for the famous religious text. I found the book fascinating and helpful in better understand the work, its context and history. I am hoping to return to other volumes in this series (Lives of Great Religious Books) but have a handful of editions from Books that Changed the World that I really should get to first...
May 21, 2020
I chose to read this before diving into the Bhagavad Gita, and I'm so glad I did. It provides background information and competing theories on purpose, composition, and interpretation. I highly recommend it.
October 28, 2021
Solid. I read it for teaching purposes, so I'm not sure it would stand up to the Common Reader test, but it's a very useful book for anyone who has to teach BG.
July 23, 2022
Helped in my book study class on Gita
September 6, 2022
Reads like a school textbook. Not a good book to understand. Seems like each chapter could have been a longread article on Medium.
April 26, 2023
It is new way of looking at a book. Refreshingly different in not giving commentaries on Gita. Thoroughly enjoyed reading.
July 23, 2023
Really informative imo
July 27, 2025
What it elucidates that’s new to me is NOT MUCH.
July 27, 2025
A very good account of the legacy of reception and interpretation of the Gita across the centuries.
January 28, 2015
Mildly disappointing. The series is dedicated to discussing the life of spiritual classics in the world and this one does that in a fairly pedestrian way. Davis provides some background on the relationship between the BG and the Marabharata, the traditions surrounding it authorship and transmission, the various translations (which often came with political agendas--imperialist, nationalist), a bit on the differing schools of interpretation, which revolve around questions of dualism. Not sorry I have that, but Davis spends much too much of his limited space discussing meta-issues of translation. Ending the book with Bakhtin struck me as inappropriate, a mark of the author's academic location rather than anything of use to anyone seeking a basic orientation into the BG.
December 14, 2014
The Bhagavad Gita is an Indian religious tract. The author explores its historical background and explains its meanings. It aids the reader in comparing and understanding another of the world's religions.
June 22, 2015
Jay, Main patron, June 2015, 5 stars:
It is a concise study of a Hindu Holy Book that is informative and insightful with an extensive bibliography.
It is a concise study of a Hindu Holy Book that is informative and insightful with an extensive bibliography.
Read
September 11, 2015good and interesting... a good start for Indian literature
April 8, 2017
His initial chapter discussing the philosophy of the Gita and his later chapters on the appropriation of the Gita by various nationalists in the 19th and 20th centuries are all excellent. The rest sort of stumble along.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews