Mosphe at 16:26, 13 December 2025

2025-12-13T16:26:44Z

New page

{{short description|Translation and commentary published by ISKCON}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
[[File:BGita As It Is.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Revised And Enlarged Edition (1983) front cover.]]

The '''{{IAST|Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is}}''' is a translation and commentary of the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' by [[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]], founder of the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON), commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement. This translation of ''Bhagavad Gita'' emphasizes a path of devotion toward the [[personal god]], [[Krishna]]. It was first published in 1968 in English by [[Macmillan Publishers]], and is now available in nearly sixty languages.<ref name = hk34>{{Harvnb|Cole|Dwayer|2007|p=34}}</ref><ref name="translation">The [[Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]] offers a 2006 {{cite web| url=http://www.bbt.info/files/languages/Books_in_Print_JUN06.pdf| title=summary PDF file showing which books have been translated into which languages.| publisher=www.krishna.com| accessdate=2008-05-30| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528180745/http://www.bbt.info/files/languages/Books_in_Print_JUN06.pdf| archivedate=28 May 2008| url-status=dead}}</ref> It is primarily promoted and distributed by members of [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|ISKCON]].

==Contents==
For each verse, the book (in complete editions) includes the [[Devanagari]] script, a [[Latin script|Latin]] transliteration, word-for-word [[Sanskrit]]-[[English language|English]] meanings, and English translation. An extensive commentary by Prabhupada is given throughout, based on various Gaudiya Vaishnava works, including: ''[[Ramanuja]] Bhasya'' (in Sanskrit); ''Sarartha-varsini-tika'' (Sanskrit) by [[Visvanatha Chakravarti|Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura]]; Gita-bhusana-tika (Sanskrit) by [[Baladeva Vidyabhushana]]; and [[Bhaktivinode Thakur]]'s [[Bengali language|Bengali]] commentaries.

The narrative in the {{IAST|Bhagavad-Gītā}} concerns a dialogue between Lord [[Krishna]] and a mighty warrior named [[Arjuna]] on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. In the narrative, Krishna has descended to earth to aid Arjuna in his battle against Kauravas and their army. Krishna assumes the role of Arjuna's chariot driver and aids him in the battle and reveals to Arjuna several divine truths about human existence in the material plane, the true nature of the supreme personality of God, and the method of eternal progression and release from the earthly cycles of death and rebirth through the practice of [[bhakti yoga]]. The narrative teaches that achieving Krishna consciousness and attaining the inner realization that all life is a manifestation of the eternal energy of Krishna will release an individual soul from the cycles of [[reincarnation]] (death and rebirth). The narrative culminates with Krishna revealing to Arjuna his universal form which encompasses all life and material existence. One notable event in the narrative is when Arjuna gazes at the opposing army and sees his relatives fighting for the opposing army, he is filled with grief and remorse that he must kill his own flesh and blood. In reply, Krishna reveals his true form to Arjuna and tells him that it does not matter if his relatives die in the battle today because they will eventually die anyway, and that Arjuna's duty to the supreme lord and his own self-realization transcends his material attachments to his relatives. The central message of the text is that nothing ever truly dies and that all life is in a continual cycle of death and rebirth, and that one has a duty to the process of self-realization and progression in order to manifest the supreme personality of God and achieve Krishna Consciousness, thereby escaping the eternal cycles of death and rebirth.

The book advocates the path of ''[[bhakti]]'' toward [[Krishna]], who is seen as the Supreme Personality of Godhead himself. It establishes that Krishna is not an incarnation, but the cause of all causes and source of all incarnations. He is even the cause of Vishnu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prabhupadabooks.com/bg/11/1|title=PrabhupadaBooks.com Srila Prabhupada's Original Books|website=prabhupadabooks.com}}</ref> It teaches the loving service of the transcendental personality of the Lord.

{{IAST|Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is}} is written in the tradition of [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]], whose followers regard the ''Bhagavad Gita'' as the essence of the [[Veda|Vedic knowledge]] and the [[Upanishad]]s, and consider the book authoritative and literally true.

==Substance==
{{IAST|Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is}} suggests a way of life for the contemporary Western world, and is derived from the ''[[Manu Smriti]]'' and other books of Hindu religious and social law. In this way of life, ideal human society is described as being divided into four ''[[Varna (caste)|varnas]]'' (''[[brahmana]]'' – intellectuals, ''[[kshatriya]]'' – administrators, ''[[vaishya]]'' – merchants, ''[[shudra]]'' – workers). Within his writings, Prabhupada supports the view that one becomes a member of one of the ''varnas'', not by one's birth (lineage), but by one's personal qualities ({{IAST|[[guṇa]]}}) and the type of work (''[[karma]]'') one actually performs ([https://web.archive.org/web/20060112020030/http://vedabase.net/bg/4/13/en BG 4.13]). Society is described as best ruled by a benevolent ''kshatriya'' sovereign, who is to govern according to rules set by scriptural tradition and preserved by self-controlled and pure-hearted spiritual leaders (''brahmanas''). The ''kshatriya'' sovereign (like courts in many democratic states) may also order [[death penalty|capital punishment]].

Brahmanas, elders, women, children and cows are said to deserve special protection, with animals, especially [[cow]]s, being preserved from slaughter at all costs. Prabhupada encouraged readers to adopt a [[Lacto vegetarianism|lacto-vegetarian]] diet and gives [[agriculture]] as the ideal economic basis of society. Prabhupada concluded that the society should be "Krishna conscious"—enlightened by devotion (''[[bhakti]]'') to [[Krishna]].

==Edition history==
[[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]], the author, arrived in the United States in 1965. In 1966, he had founded the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON) in a storefront at 26 2nd. Ave, New York City. At that time, he was very anxious to publish his ''Bhagavad-gita As It Is''. [[Macmillan Publishers]] agreed to publish a 400-page version in 1968, but the original manuscript was over 1000 pages, so the first Macmillan edition was known as the "Abridged Edition".{{fact|date=April 2025}}

By 1972, the "Abridged Edition" sales were substantial, and Macmillan agreed to publish the "Complete Edition".{{fact|date=April 2025}}

After Srila Prabhupada died in 1977, the [[Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]] (BBT) published in 1983 a "Revised and Enlarged" posthumous edition containing at least one thousand substantial changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bookchanges.com/108-iskcon-bhagavad-gita-changes/|title=108 ISKCON Bhagavad Gita Changes - ISKCON & BBT Prabhupada Book Changes|website=bookchanges.com}}</ref> The changes were justified as being "closer to the original manuscript". This edition has been very controversial among the followers of Srila Prabhupada.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

In 2001, Krishna Books Inc (KBI), who are licensed by the BBT, reprinted the 1972 "Complete Edition", so now both the "Complete" and "Revised and Enlarged" editions are available.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

==Distribution==
Prabhupada's translation is sold outside [[India]] due to the efforts of [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|Hare Krishna]] members on the streets, in airports, and in other public places. The book also enjoys brisk sales within India. It has been published in fifty-nine languages, including [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]], [[Danish language|Danish]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Czech language|Czech]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]], [[Latvian language|Latvian]], [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]], [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]], [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Georgian language|Georgian]], [[Serbo-Croatian language|Serbo-Croatian]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Assamese language|Assamese]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Kannada language|Kannada]],
[[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and [[Telugu language|Telugu]].<ref name="translation"/>

==Recognition==

On 4 December 2025, [[Prime Minister of India]] [[Narendra Modi]] presented a Russian copy of Prabhupada's ''Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is'' to the [[President of Russia]] [[Vladimir Putin]] during Putin's [[state visit]] to India, writing in his official [[Twitter|X account:]] "Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Modi |first=Narendra |date=4 December 2005 |title=X account of the Prime Minister of India |url=https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1996640866468090252 |access-date=5 December 2025}}</ref> The note added to the gift explained: "Its timeless wisdom inspires ethical living, mind control, and inner peace, with translations making it accessible to modern readers worldwide".<ref>{{Cite news |last=HT News Desk |date=5 December 2025 |title=M Modi's gifts to Putin span from Kashmir to Bengal and beyond, list includes special copy of Gita {{!}} Details, photos |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modis-gifts-to-putin-span-from-kashmir-to-bengal-and-beyond-list-includes-special-copy-of-gita-details-photos-101764946527495.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 December 2025 |work=[[The Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

==Trial==
{{Main|Bhagavad Gita As It Is trial}}
{{Wikinews|Indian Parliament irate as Russia poised to ban Bhagavad Gita | Russian court rejects move to ban Hindu scripture}}
In June 2011, a group linked to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] had demanded a ban owing to an alleged "conflict of interests" between the [[Hinduism in Russia|Russian followers]] of [[Krishna]] and local authorities in the Siberian region of [[Tomsk]]. The case was dismissed by a federal judge on 28 December 2011.<ref name=ban1>{{cite news|title=Gita row: Russia court refuses to ban Bhagvad Gita|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/russian-court-refuses-to-ban-gita-report-161516|accessdate=28 December 2011|newspaper=[[NDTV]]|date=28 December 2011}}</ref>

Russian ambassador [[Alexander Kadakin]] condemned the "madmen" seeking the ban, underlining that Russia was a secular country:<ref>{{cite news|title=Declare Bhagavad Gita as national book, demands BJP|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Declare-Bhagavad-Gita-as-national-book-demands-BJP/Article1-784744.aspx|accessdate=20 December 2011|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=20 December 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220143222/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Declare-Bhagavad-Gita-as-national-book-demands-BJP/Article1-784744.aspx|archivedate=20 December 2011}}</ref>
{{Cquote|Russia is a secular and democratic country where all religions enjoy equal respect... Even more applicable it is to the holy scriptures of various faiths -- whether it is the Bible, the Holy Quran, Torah, Avesta and, of course, ''Bhagavad Gita'' -- the great source of wisdom for the people of India and the world.}}
About 15,000 Indians in [[Moscow]] and followers of ISKCON in [[Russia]] asked the [[Indian government]] to intervene to resolve the issue.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gita row snowballs, India raises issue at 'highest levels'|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/gita-row-snowballs-india-raises-issue-at-highest-levels/articleshow/11180045.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712122740/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/gita-row-snowballs-india-raises-issue-at-highest-levels/articleshow/11180045.cms|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 July 2012|accessdate=20 December 2011|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=20 December 2011}}</ref> The move triggered strong protests by [[Parliament of India|Members of Parliament]] as they wanted the Indian Government to take up the matter strongly with Russia. The final hearing in the Tomsk district court was then scheduled on 28 December, with the court agreeing to seek the opinion of the Russian [[Ombudsman]] on human rights in the [[Tomsk|Tomsk region]] as well as [[Indology|Indologists]] from [[Moscow]] and [[St Petersburg]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Gita ban: Russian court suspended verdict till 28 Dec|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=393903&catid=36|accessdate=20 December 2011|newspaper=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]|date=19 December 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108011714/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=393903&catid=36|archivedate=8 January 2012}}</ref> The prosecutor's office filed an appeal against the judge's ruling, but on 21 March 2012, the appeal court upheld the decision of the lower court, rejecting the prosecutor's petition.<ref name=NDTVxx>{{cite news|title=Russian court dismisses plea seeking ban on Gita|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/russian-court-dismisses-plea-seeking-ban-on-gita-188254|accessdate=21 March 2012|newspaper=[[NDTV]]|date=21 March 2012|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{Citation
|last1=Cole
|first1=Richard
| last2= Dwayer
| first2= Graham
| year=2007
| title=The Hare Krishna Movement: Forty Years of Chant and Change
| publisher=I. B. Tauris
| location=London
| isbn=978-1-84511-407-7 }}
* {{Citation
| last=Davis
| first=Richard H.
| year=2014
| title=The Bhagavad Gita: A Biography
| publisher=Princeton University Press
| isbn=978-1-40085-197-3
| pages=165–168}}
* {{Citation
| last =Goswami
| first = Satsvarupa dasa
| year = 2002
| authorlink = Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
| title =Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Vol 1-2
| publisher=[[Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]]
| location=[[Los Angeles]]
| edition=2 nd
| pages = vol.1 1133 pages vol.2 1191 pages
| isbn = 0-89213-357-0}}

==External links==
* [http://www.worldcat.org/title/bhagavad-gita-as-it-is/oclc/2231212/editions ''Bhagavad-Gita As It Is'' editions] (Worldcat)
* [http://bbtedit.com/examples ''Bhagavad-Gita As It Is'' edits]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhagavad-Gita As It Is}}
[[Category:1968 books]]
[[Category:Bhagavad Gita]]
[[Category:Books by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]]
[[Category:International Society for Krishna Consciousness texts]]
[[Category:Macmillan Publishers books]]
[[Category:Vaishnavism]]

Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is - Revision history

Mosphe at 16:26, 13 December 2025