BHAGAVAD GITA By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA.pdf

Publisher: The Divine Life Trust Society; 13 edition (January 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 8170520002
ISBN-13: 978-8170520009





The Bhagavadgita is one phase of the Tripod of Indian philosophy and culture, the other two phases being the Upanishads and the Brahmasutras. While the Upanishads lay the foundation of the loftiest reach possible for humanity and the Brahmasutras logically elucidate the intricate issues involved in the Upanishads, the Bhagavadgita blends together the Transcendent and the Immanent features of the Ultimate Reality, bringing together into an integrated whole knowledge and action, the inner and the outer, the individual and the society, man and God, all which are portrayed as facets of a Universal Operation, presenting entire life and all life as a perfectly complete organic wholeness, leaving nothing unsaid and attempting to solve every problem in life.

FOREWORD
The modern man in this present decade of the second half of the 20th century is greatly in
need of an effective guide to light. He is groping. He sees only problems everywhere and no
solutions are to be found anywhere. He does not know which way to turn, what course to adopt and
how to move towards a better state of things. Therefore, his life is filled with restlessness,
unhappiness and complication. The Bhagavad Gita contains words of wisdom and practical
teachings that contain the answers to the above-mentioned condition of the present-day individual.
The Bhagavad Gita is a message addressed to each and every human individual to help him
or her to solve the vexing problem of overcoming the present and progressing towards a bright
future. This holy scripture is not just an “old scripture”, nor is it just a book of “religious teachings”,
nor even a Hindu holy book. It transcends the bounds of any particular religion or race, and is
actually divine wisdom addressed to mankind for all times, in order to help human beings face and
solve the ever-present problems of birth and death, of pain, suffering, fear, bondage, love and hate.
It enables man to liberate himself from all limiting factors and reach a state of perfect balance, inner
stability and mental peace, complete freedom from grief, fear and anxiety. Within its eighteen
chapters is revealed a human drama. This is the experience of everyone in this world, the drama of
the ascent of man from a state of utter dejection, sorrow and total breakdown and hopelessness to a
state of perfect understanding, clarity, renewed strength and triumph.
Each discourse holds for you an invaluable new lesson and imparts a new understanding of
yourself in a marvellous way. The mystery of man, this world and God, is explained as perhaps
nowhere else. The workings of your mind—the real problem to your welfare and happiness—how
to overcome it, what the path to blessedness is, as also the path to perdition, the secret of
self-mastery and the way to peace amidst your daily activities and duties—all these and more you
will find in this great treasure. It is yours by which to enrich your life.
To the Western reader I would suggest that he carefully reads through the entire book once.
Then he should commence it a second time. Upon the second reading he should adopt the method of
selectivity, not in reading but in what he takes from it. Such things as seem to be particularly Hindu
and therefore, perhaps, not acceptable to him as a person of another faith, he can just pass by
without being perturbed. But everything else that is of a purely philosophical, psychological,
ethical and psychical nature,—all these he can grasp and assimilate fully. He will be wonderfully
enriched and supremely blessed. His life will become new from that moment. All clouds will
vanish. Light will fill the heart and mind. I assure him of this. This is the Gita.
I commend this wonderful gift of God unto every man and woman, towards his or her
supreme blessedness and highest welfare.
Swami Chidananda
10th July, 1968 (Guru Purnima)