The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Navigating the Battle of Life

by Ravi Ravindra

A new translation of the great classic--with wide-ranging, multi-traditional commentary that emphasizes its practical advice for living with integrity.

“All there is is Krishna.”
 
Upon hearing this famous and enigmatic line from the Gita’s seventh chapter when he was a boy, Ravi Ravindra embarked on a journey to understand its deep meaning.  The search led him far beyond the tradition from which the text originally arose to an exploration of world mystical wisdom, including  Zen, Christianity, Yoga, and particularly the teachings of J. Krishnamurti and G. I. Gurdjieff.  Dr. Ravindra’s  fresh prose translation with wide-ranging commentary, is the fruit of that lifelong process.  It stands out from the many other versions with its assertion that the Bhagavad Gita is at heart a universal guide to navigating the battle of life required of each and every one of us. It is through that navigation, he shows, that we can discover and connect with the Krishna deep within   The Eternal Witness who is above the battle, and who is, ultimately and joyfully, all there is.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Philosophy, Classics

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2017

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exceptional philosophy of life! This was my first real introduction to Krishna and his teachings. The notion of right action or non-action, doing away with selfish desire, and how being indifferent to both success and failure as keys to a spiritually fulfilling life have made me re-contemplate what being "results-oriented" is all about as opposed to being happy in the moment in life's journey.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread and got even more from it this time. Excellent commentary.

[Denar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am Time, the Destroyer of Worlds, come forth here with the will to annihilate the nations.."

[Riya ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very decent commentary of The Bhagavad Gita. The author has well researched the topic and knows what he's speaking. He even puts various references and perspective from other scriptures most notably The Bible, The Yoga Sutras, The Upanishads and also quotes various spiritual personalities such as Madame de Salzmann, Sri Aurobindo, Adi Shankaracharya etc to explain the various teachings of Gita. The only complain I have with this book is its excessive repetition. The author repeatedly quotes the older quotes from Gita in subsequent chapter as it is. It's very annoying and adds unnecessary length to the otherwise short book making it boring. In a written text, we can always go back and read but still he references everything line by line. But anyway, it was a decent commentary on Gita and that's what matters.

[Michael J. Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first given the Bhagavad Guta by my father when I turned 18. It was the translation by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Though i had been exposed to yoga, meditation and hinduism since the age of 7 I found the Maharishi's translation challenging, no doubt due to my age and not his work. At 35 i was given Paramahansa Yogananda's translation but my consciousness was still not ready to ready to be penetrated by God's Song. At 50, Ravi Ravindra's translation came to me at the cashier's table at Rebel Heart Books. I went home and read it in a couple hours. This is an excellent entry point into one of humanities greatest scientific works.

[Karandeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author could have done away with a great number of pages if not for his repetitive explanation. 


The book otherwise is a pretty good explanation of the Gita. I have read the Gita while I read the Mahabharata and this version where the author is doing all the thinking for me, makes me want to think, how would I interpret it if I just read the verses?


This makes me want to read just the Gita and see how I grasp the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna.

I skipped the last chapter altogether, because I just couldn't go on. The book can be a real bore. So make sure you want to absolutely read it or be sure you like the subject.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As part of my latest Bhagavad Gita course, I was supposed to read the Gita three different times from three different perspectives. I figured I'd try to read different versions than me previous favorites. This one was not my fave, but I think it could be really interesting for some - instead of in poem format with stanzas, it's in a prose format.

[Aishwarya Mahatme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not reading this from a point of view of a religion but looking at it from a broader perspective. The author has tried to present an unbiased interpretation while keeping it interesting. Some of the content feels repetitive but still one completely envelopes into the tale! Pretty good for people looking for an english translation of Gita

[Kathy Heare Watts]

I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.

[Michael Baranowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of commentaries, but I love the Bhagavad Gita and wanted to see if a commentary might help me deepen my understanding and practice. Not really, but that could be me as much as it is this book, which had its moments.

[Sean Helvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Universal guidance nicely summarized here but a little tricky to understand without more context.

[Peter Sandwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy to read, narrative translation

[Tej Kumar Nepal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myths offer truths that speak about the human condition and have withstood the test of time. The Mahabharata is one such magnificent saga and the Bhagavad Gita is the nectar of its distilled wisdom.

The great Indian gurus and philosophers have looked at the battle of Kurukshetra as an euphemism for the struggle within - between a person's 'asuric' (demonic) and "daivic' (divine) inclinations. Eons later, the Gita is still relevant and popular. Is it because we are still fascinated about an ancient war and a philosophical discourse that happened in the middle of a battlefield a long time ago, or because we are concerned about understanding the constant tussle between good and bad in our lives and in our own consciousness?

Ravi Ravindra's fresh prose translation of the great epic stands out from the many other versions with its assertion that the Gita is, at its heart, an indispensable universal guide to help you cross the battlefield of life.

[Kimhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

War of inner and outer self. History of mankind self destructive nature.

[Christen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading the Gita, so I cannot compare the translation. I found it readable and enjoyed it.

[Erik Steevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me personally, this is the best book I have ever read on The Bhagavad Gita.
Sir Ravi Ravindran thank you so much for this masterpiece.

[Sreya VT · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you want a new idea, read an old book."