Eknath Easwaran is one of my favorite Hindu authors. His writing is always approachable, informative, and insightful. In his translation of the Bhagavad Gita he has provided a very accessible version for English readers. Instead of a direct verse translation, he has chosen to paraphrase the poem in prose form. By doing so, the readability and interpretation is more apparent to someone not familiar with the Bhagavad Gita. In some ways, this may limit the scope of understanding and interpretation found in the often ambiguous text. One difficulty is that he chose not to translate certain Sanskrit terms. Understandably, this would have been difficult since they often have no English equivalent. However, he did explain the terms in greater detail in the provided introductions to the book and each individual chapter. Notes on various verses are included at the end of the book, but might have been more helpful if the text had directed the reader to them. A very good interpretive, paraphrased translation of this magnificent text.The Bhagavad Gita: Translated for the Modern Reader
~translation by Eknath Easwaran
Eknath Easwaran is one of my favorite Hindu authors. His writing is always approachable, informative, and insightful. In his translation of the Bhagavad Gita he has provided a very accessible version for English readers. Instead of a direct verse translation, he has chosen to paraphrase the poem in prose form. By doing so, the readability and interpretation is more apparent to someone not familiar with the Bhagavad Gita. In some ways, this may limit the scope of understanding and interpretation found in the often ambiguous text. One difficulty is that he chose not to translate certain Sanskrit terms. Understandably, this would have been difficult since they often have no English equivalent. However, he did explain the terms in greater detail in the provided introductions to the book and each individual chapter. Notes on various verses are included at the end of the book, but might have been more helpful if the text had directed the reader to them. A very good interpretive, paraphrased translation of this magnificent text.
Eknath Easwaran is one of my favorite Hindu authors. His writing is always approachable, informative, and insightful. In his translation of the Bhagavad Gita he has provided a very accessible version for English readers. Instead of a direct verse translation, he has chosen to paraphrase the poem in prose form. By doing so, the readability and interpretation is more apparent to someone not familiar with the Bhagavad Gita. In some ways, this may limit the scope of understanding and interpretation found in the often ambiguous text. One difficulty is that he chose not to translate certain Sanskrit terms. Understandably, this would have been difficult since they often have no English equivalent. However, he did explain the terms in greater detail in the provided introductions to the book and each individual chapter. Notes on various verses are included at the end of the book, but might have been more helpful if the text had directed the reader to them. A very good interpretive, paraphrased translation of this magnificent text.
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