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Krishna: The Beautiful Legend of God
The Beautiful Legend of God contains the tenth and most significant book in the popular Indian epic Srimad Bhagavata Purana , which is the principal source for the story of Krishna, worshipped by many Hindus as the Supreme Being. Devoted to Krishna’s miraculous incarnation, this collection of sacred tales recounts his childhood and adolescence in the forests of playing with his friends, dallying amorously with cowherd maidens, and stealing butter to feed the monkeys. Krishna emerges from these episodes as an immediately engaging figure, and the stories have inspired generations of artists, musicians, poets, sculptors, and dramatists. They also contain valuable insights into Hindu views on such matters as creation, cosmography, and the history of the subcontinent.
Making its first appearance as a Penguin Classic, this edition of The Beautiful Legend of God includes an introduction, glossary of Sanskrit terms, pronunciation guide and bibliography.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Making its first appearance as a Penguin Classic, this edition of The Beautiful Legend of God includes an introduction, glossary of Sanskrit terms, pronunciation guide and bibliography.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
419 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2003
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 26, 2018
This is my first time reading Bhagavatham in English. The language medium did not take away the happiness of reading Bhagavatham in a language other than my own! I would definitely recommend this translation.
The introductory essay by the translator is informative and succeeds in inciting readers' curiosity about historicity of Indian texts and how Vedic deities were assimilated into Greek history. As one born into a culture that worships Krishna as an avatar of Narayana (Vishnu) I found the debate of whether Krishna or Vishnu is the ultimate deity fascinating.
I concur with Bryant that the exercise of pointing out the historical period of a Purana becomes futile because the texts might have later interpolations and additions. Therefore, historical dating of parts of text is more robust than dating the entire text.
Bryant's mention of the differences between the Vaishnava traditions in the South led by Ramanujacharya and Madhavacharya and the later interpretations in North led by Vallabhacarya and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu make the readers aware of various sub cultures in Hinduism.
I liked the effort the translator took to mention several names used for Lord Krishna: Hari, Madhusudana, Narayana, Mukunda, Dasarha, Damodara, Uttamasloka, Adhokshaja, Govinda, Urukrama, Madhudvit and more throughout the text.
In the current day and age when pluralism and tolerance are under attack, the Greek connection and archaeological evidence (p.xx ) seem to be valuable sources to increase credibility and legitimize a belief system. However, for practitioners of Bhakti yoga, interpreting and intellectualizing figure last on the list. Nevertheless the essay is worth reading even before one gets to the text (P. lxviii).
The introductory essay by the translator is informative and succeeds in inciting readers' curiosity about historicity of Indian texts and how Vedic deities were assimilated into Greek history. As one born into a culture that worships Krishna as an avatar of Narayana (Vishnu) I found the debate of whether Krishna or Vishnu is the ultimate deity fascinating.
I concur with Bryant that the exercise of pointing out the historical period of a Purana becomes futile because the texts might have later interpolations and additions. Therefore, historical dating of parts of text is more robust than dating the entire text.
Bryant's mention of the differences between the Vaishnava traditions in the South led by Ramanujacharya and Madhavacharya and the later interpretations in North led by Vallabhacarya and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu make the readers aware of various sub cultures in Hinduism.
I liked the effort the translator took to mention several names used for Lord Krishna: Hari, Madhusudana, Narayana, Mukunda, Dasarha, Damodara, Uttamasloka, Adhokshaja, Govinda, Urukrama, Madhudvit and more throughout the text.
In the current day and age when pluralism and tolerance are under attack, the Greek connection and archaeological evidence (p.xx ) seem to be valuable sources to increase credibility and legitimize a belief system. However, for practitioners of Bhakti yoga, interpreting and intellectualizing figure last on the list. Nevertheless the essay is worth reading even before one gets to the text (P. lxviii).
October 14, 2016
How vast is the Hindu mythos? A simple computation should do it: this volume, which is hefty on its own, covers Book 10 and a little bit of Book 11 from the Bhagavata Purana. But then there are seventeen other Puranas in addition to this one, and then there are the two gargantuan epics, as well as the Vedas, of which there are four or so, and a bunch of other stuff. A feast to end all feasts, you'd think, although I suspect I'd have difficulty digesting most of it without further study.
Also I believe this is the only Purana published by Penguin Classics so far. I can't imagine how long it'll take for me to put together a complete set.
This edition is divided into two halves. I'm saving the back end for another day. The first half is about Krishna's birth and his childhood in the forests, playing and laughing with the cow maidens, fighting demons, wowing his parents, instructing his countrymen. The Bhagavata makes it clear that Krishna is not just an avatar of Vishnu, which I understand may contradict other ancient texts. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, he is everything, and you should be thankful for being a blade of grass beneath his feet. I suspect there's a poetry & wisdom behind the English here that I could really languish in for awhile, but this is in prose, and like a lot of Penguin Classics translations, I found the language too pedestrian for its exalted subject.
www.sacred-texts.com has some translations from the Sanskrit that are in the public domain, they seem to be mostly from the 19th century. My next step will be to go exploring there.
Also I believe this is the only Purana published by Penguin Classics so far. I can't imagine how long it'll take for me to put together a complete set.
This edition is divided into two halves. I'm saving the back end for another day. The first half is about Krishna's birth and his childhood in the forests, playing and laughing with the cow maidens, fighting demons, wowing his parents, instructing his countrymen. The Bhagavata makes it clear that Krishna is not just an avatar of Vishnu, which I understand may contradict other ancient texts. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, he is everything, and you should be thankful for being a blade of grass beneath his feet. I suspect there's a poetry & wisdom behind the English here that I could really languish in for awhile, but this is in prose, and like a lot of Penguin Classics translations, I found the language too pedestrian for its exalted subject.
www.sacred-texts.com has some translations from the Sanskrit that are in the public domain, they seem to be mostly from the 19th century. My next step will be to go exploring there.
January 18, 2013
The best version of Book 10, Bhagavata Purana that I have found. The author has gone to great lengths to include Sridhar Swami's commentary and also make the often complex theology accessible to the average reader. The Bhagavata Purana, especially book 10 has a place within my heart. I fully reccommend this version to anybody who wants to read about Lord Krishna's pastimes.
September 17, 2013
Beautiful and sensitively translated, an interpreted text of prose from the X book of the Puranas describing Krsna's life and exploits. I like the fact that the translator/interpretor includes a quick portion of the XI book, as well to understand the denouement of the Krsna avatar.
February 23, 2010
Wonderful translation - hard to put down. The text is very readable and supplemented with very helpful endnotes to increase your understanding.
August 14, 2013
Hands down this is the best translation out there for the Bhagavad Purana.
May 1, 2024
An important text of the Vaisnavite literature and the Puranic corpus. There are 18 major Purānas. Bhāgavata Purāna is one of them. This contains ancient folklores, cosmologies, religious beliefs, avatars of Vishnu, and regional histories, rites, and yogic practices.
Krishna was born in a prison in Mathura to Vasudeva and Devki, and raised by Yashoda and Nanda in Gokul and Vrindavan.
The tenth book occupies a quarter of the entire Bhāgavata Purāna and depicts Krishna's childhood in the house of his foster parents Yasoda and Nanda in Vrindavana. It depicts his Lila (pastime activities and frolicking), exploits, play ethics, tussles with demonic forces, and episodes of immense wonderment.
The world is a pastime (Lila)! Bhakti or devotion is a central theme of the book. No other Purānas has triggered such widespread commentaries or pop culture adaptations. The episodes of Kaliya-mardan, Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain, stealing clothes of the Gopis, Rasa-Lila, eating curd and mud, defeating demons like the calf Vatsa, Putana, crane Baka, serpent Agha, ass Dhenuka, serpent Kāliya, and horse Keśī are all found in this Bk. X.
Krishna is the absolute godhead and divine being who has assumed a body for the sake of līlā: an expression of his bliss, self-sustained nature, & reciprocated love towards the devotees!
He is beyond karma that ties mortals in the cycle of life and death, therefore they suffer from the divine illusion and perceive Krishna not as a god but as their friend!
Līlā is essentially the yogic union with the divine which sometimes help Krishna to forget his own divine superiority. This Līlā produces the central thesis of the book, i.e., Advaita Vedanta or the Non-dualistic interpretation of the Samkhya philosophy (epistemological dualism) found in the Upanishads, stating that the universal soul (atman) and transcendental reality (Brahman) are One, that is Krishna—the difference in oneness!
___
#sanskrit #indianliterature #bookphoto #bookgram #philosophy #indianphilosphy #metmuseum #sanskritliterature #classicalliterature #aesthetic #bhagavatapuran #krishna #vaishnav #bookworm #bookpile #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaesthetic #bookaddict
Krishna was born in a prison in Mathura to Vasudeva and Devki, and raised by Yashoda and Nanda in Gokul and Vrindavan.
The tenth book occupies a quarter of the entire Bhāgavata Purāna and depicts Krishna's childhood in the house of his foster parents Yasoda and Nanda in Vrindavana. It depicts his Lila (pastime activities and frolicking), exploits, play ethics, tussles with demonic forces, and episodes of immense wonderment.
The world is a pastime (Lila)! Bhakti or devotion is a central theme of the book. No other Purānas has triggered such widespread commentaries or pop culture adaptations. The episodes of Kaliya-mardan, Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain, stealing clothes of the Gopis, Rasa-Lila, eating curd and mud, defeating demons like the calf Vatsa, Putana, crane Baka, serpent Agha, ass Dhenuka, serpent Kāliya, and horse Keśī are all found in this Bk. X.
Krishna is the absolute godhead and divine being who has assumed a body for the sake of līlā: an expression of his bliss, self-sustained nature, & reciprocated love towards the devotees!
He is beyond karma that ties mortals in the cycle of life and death, therefore they suffer from the divine illusion and perceive Krishna not as a god but as their friend!
Līlā is essentially the yogic union with the divine which sometimes help Krishna to forget his own divine superiority. This Līlā produces the central thesis of the book, i.e., Advaita Vedanta or the Non-dualistic interpretation of the Samkhya philosophy (epistemological dualism) found in the Upanishads, stating that the universal soul (atman) and transcendental reality (Brahman) are One, that is Krishna—the difference in oneness!
___
#sanskrit #indianliterature #bookphoto #bookgram #philosophy #indianphilosphy #metmuseum #sanskritliterature #classicalliterature #aesthetic #bhagavatapuran #krishna #vaishnav #bookworm #bookpile #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaesthetic #bookaddict
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2023
It tells the story of the god Krishna, the supreme godhead of the Hindus and worshipped by them for over two and a half millennia. The most popular stories about him occur in this, the 10th book, which is the climax of the epic. The stories relate to Krishna's childhood and adolescence in the forests of Vrindavan among the herdspeople, delightful tales which lie behind much of Hindu art, appearing in painting, temple sculpture, drama, dance and song.
April 16, 2017
The description is monotonous and centered around Krishna but very very repetitive.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews