The Song Celestial: A Poetic Version of the Bhagavad Gita

Description

The Song Celestial: A Poetic Version of the Bhagavad Gita is a poetic rendition of the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Hindu scripture that is part of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. Arnold's rendition captures the essence and philosophical depth of the original text while presenting it in a format accessible to Western readers. He sought to convey the spiritual teachings and profound wisdom of the Gita through poetic language and imagery. The Bhagavad Gita itself is a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, who serves as his charioteer. Set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the Gita addresses the moral and philosophical dilemmas faced by Arjuna as he grapples with the prospect of fighting in a righteous but emotionally challenging war. The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita cover a wide range of topics, including duty (dharma), righteousness, devotion, selflessness, and the nature of reality. It presents various paths to spiritual liberation, emphasizing the importance of selfless action (karma yoga), devotion to God (bhakti yoga), and the pursuit of knowledge (jnana yoga).

Part of the Harvard Classics set.

This book has 20,223 words, 73 pages in the PDF version, and was originally published in 1885.

Production notes: This ebook of The Song Celestial: A Poetic Version of the Bhagavad Gita was published by Global Grey in 2018, and updated on the 17th April 2024. The artwork used for the cover is 'Arjuna kneels before his charioteer, Krishna' by an unknown artist.