Book Review in The Hindu- on THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE BHAGAVADGITA: S. M. Srinivasa Chari;

[Guest guest]

Interpretation of the Gita

 

R. Gopalakrishnan

 

 

 

 

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Presents the entire gamut of the Vedantic

interpretations of the Gita

--

 

THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE BHAGAVADGITA: S. M. Srinivasa

Chari; Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.,

P.B.No 5715, Rani Jhansi Road, New Delhi-110055. Rs.

575.

 

The Bhagavad Gita, the Song Celestial, has been

acclaimed as a major Hindu philosophical treatise as

well as a religious scripture. It gives both a divine

touch and a rational treatment of the human

predicament.

 

The Kurukshetra represents the phenomenal world where

there are constant battles between good and evil;

Arjuna represents the good and Duryodana, the evil.

Lord Krishna patronises the good and punishes the

wicked as He taught.

 

Commentaries

 

 

Several preceptors of Vedanta and modern scholars like

Gandhiji, Sri Aurobindo and Tilak have commented on

the philosophical concepts enunciated in this text.

This shows that the Gita gives scope for divergent

views according to the bent of mind of the

interpreters. Though all of them are agreed on the

fundamental theme that Lord Krishna is the Supreme

Being (Paratattva), they differ with regard to the

nature of the Supreme Being, the soul and their

relationship in terms of difference and

non-difference, as well as the nature of the ultimate

goal and the means to attain it.

 

The author of the book under review endeavours to

highlight the philosophical tenets of the Bhagavad

Gita based on an evaluation of the commentaries of the

three preceptors, Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva —

absolutistic, theistic and dualistic perspectives

respectively.

 

Part one of the book gives an expository elucidation

of the 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita wherein the

doctrines of Vedanta like Brahman, Atman, kinds of

Yoga, God, and nature of liberation are adequately

explained. The second part in four chapters with 13

sub-topics deals extensively with the doctrinal

exposition of the Bhagavad Gita.

 

The author acknowledges that while there are

innumerable writings, scholarly presentations, and

translations available both in India and abroad, his

intention is to " present a consolidated and

comprehensive exposition of the philosophy of the

Gita " based on the teachings of the Upanishads and the

Vedanta Sutras in the light of the commentaries by the

three preceptors.

 

Ultimate Reality

 

 

The execution of this work proves beyond doubt that

the hope of the author is fulfilled. His intention is

to show that Lord Krishna is the ultimate metaphysical

Reality.

 

All the essential characteristic features attributed

to Brahman in the Upanishads and the Vedanta Sutras

are attributed to Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

The cosmic form of the Lord, Visvarupa, reveals the

most distinctive feature of Divine glory representing

the infinite nature of Paramatman (Ananta).

 

The author has meticulously quoted several verses from

various texts including the Gita to substantiate his

understanding and presentation and he has carefully

given the diacritical marks.

 

This book also contains a fine glossary, bibliography

and index. More care should have been taken in

checking the spelling. For instance, the Gita verse

should be `param brahma param dhaama'. But the author

uses the expression `parama' in both the places.

Similarly, instead of using `aahustvaam' the author

uses `ahustvam'.

 

Barring these mistakes the book on the whole will be

worthwhile to read and reflect upon, since a reader

can get the entire gamut of Vedantic interpretations

of the Gita

 

 

 

 

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