The Bhagavad-Gita for the Modern Reader: History, interpretations and philosophy PDF
Preview The Bhagavad-Gita for the Modern Reader: History, interpretations and philosophy
The Bhagavad-Gita for the Modern Reader What is the Bhagavad-Gita? Is it just a religious text? When was it composed? How relevant is it to the modern world? This book answers these foundational questions and more. It critically examines the Bhagavad-Gita in terms of its liberal, humanist and inclusive appeal, bringing out its significance for both present times and novel applications. The author elaborates the philosophy underlying the text as well as its ethical and spiritual implications. He also responds to criticisms that have been levelled against the text by Ambedkar, D. D. Kosambi and, more recently, Amartya Sen. The volume proposes new ways of utilising the text in diverse fields, such as business and management and scientific research. Eclectic and accessible, this work will be of interest to scholars of philosophy, religion, history, business and management studies, as well as the general reader. M. V. Nadkarni is presently Honorary Visiting Professor at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru, and a Member of the Governing Body at the Centre for Multi-disciplinary Development Research (CMDR), Dharwad, Karnataka, India. An economist by professional training, with specialisation in agricultural and ecological/environmental economics, he is actively interested in development economics, political economy, history, sociology, philosophy, ethics, religion and Gandhian Studies. He was the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) National Fellow for two years (2002– 04) and Vice Chancellor of Gulbarga University, Karnataka, India from 1999 to 2002. The Bhagavad-Gita for the Modern Reader History, interpretations and philosophy M. V. Nadkarni First published 2017 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2017 M. V. Nadkarni The right of M. V. Nadkarni to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A catalog record has been requested for this book. ISBN: 978-1-138-20231-3 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-43900-6 (ebk) Typeset in Sabon by Apex CoVantage, LLC Transliteration Yasya mulam tvaya proktam mameti hyarpaye katham / Koaham arpana-karta syam yasyastitvam tvaya kritam //1// Tvam sweekurushwakhilakaryakartah kritam tu kimchit tava pritijatam / Gitarthasarastu janeshu gamyah tvadiya karyesmi nimittamatram //2// Bhanita Bhagavadgita bahvibhih bhashya-bhangibhih / Tasam talina-tatparyam granthesmin viniveditam //3// Vibhrame bhartsita Gita vitarkena vimarshakaih / Satarkam khandanam tesham vinayenaiva bhashitam //4// Kalakramena Gitaya prayoga agata navah / Tesham kathanam chaapi savistarena samarpitam //5// Vachakeshu vyavasthayin Vishwesha-a Vishwa-vatsala / Vanditvaanena granthena vinamram tvam yajamyaham //6// Translation How can I dedicate this as mine whose source is (as) told by You? Who am I to dedicate whose existence is created by You? //1// Even then, Oh Doer of Everything, accept what little is done born from your love! The essence of the Gita needs to be disseminated among people; I am just an instrument (nimitta) in Your own work. //2// The Bhagavad-Gita is spoken of by numerous waves of (bhangibhih) commentaries; their underlying (talina) purport (tatparyam) is narrated in this book. //3// The Gita has been criticised in confusion by critics with false arguments; their refutation is presented (here) logically and politely only. //4// In the course of time, new applications (prayogah) of the Gita have come into vogue; their narration is also offered in good detail. //5// Through this book, I salute (and) propitiate (yajami) You in all modesty, the Lord of the universe, (who is) affectionate to all, and nicely abiding among the readers. //6// [The original Sanskrit verses and their translation are both by the author] Contents Cover Title Copyright CONTENTS Preface Key to transliteration 1 Significance of the Gita, its date and authorship As a sacred text As a part of the Mahabharata Date and authorship 2 Classical commentators of the Gita The Gita in the rest of the Mahabharata, and the Puranas Shankara Bhaskara Ramanuja Madhva Others in the Sanskritic tradition Jnaneshwari – The Gita goes to people at large Appendix to Chapter 2 on the three Acharyas and their philosophies 3 The Gita goes global Wilkins’s English translation, impact and reactions Reception in Germany Further spread 4 Makers of modern India and their interpretations of the Gita Raja Rammohan Roy Bankimchandra Theosophical Society and Annie Besant Bal Gangadhar Tilak Swami Vivekananda Lala Lajpat Rai Mahatma Gandhi Aurobindo Ghose Swami Sahajananda Saraswati Jawaharlal Nehru 5 Contemporary interpretations Swami Ramdas D. V. Gundappa (DVG) Swami Sivananda K. M. Munshi S. Radhakrishnan Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda Vinoba Bhave A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Swami Ranganathananda Eknath Easwaran Swami Chinmayananda Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; Swami Dayananda Saraswati 6 Philosophy of the Gita The Gita and the pursuit of happiness Ethics in the Gita God and His world Sadhana: spiritual striving 7 Criticisms of the Gita and responses Contradictions Historicity Is the Gita other-worldly? amoral? deterministic? Is the Gita reactionary? The Gita and its deontology Miscellaneous criticisms 8 Novel applications The Gita as a guide to leadership, enterprise and management Pursuit of truth in scientific research Success in career and life Glossary Bibliography Name index Subject index
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