FROM THE TRANSLATORS PEN GITA VIMARSHA is a commentary on the first seven chapters of Shrimad Bhagwat Gita, the

Divine Song. Soon after he completed writing commentary of the seventh chapter, Swami Ramananda was released from the mortal body and merged in the Supreme, Parmatman. He had, perhaps, accomplished the job for which he had taken birth in this world. In Gita Vimarsha, swamijee has explained in detail the message of the Gita and a reader is not deprived of any essential aspects of it. Wherever necessary, verses from subsequent chapters have been referred to and have been explained. Shrimad Bhagwat Gita is considered a religious scripture of the Hindus. It may be so because Shri Krishna, the singer of this Divine Song, is widely worshiped by the Hindus as an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. But the Gita is not really a religious scripture, as it does not ordain to worship any particular deity or to follow any specific path of worship. In fact, the Gita accepts all the religious paths and the Lord himself says that He alone has created all paths and all paths lead unto Him. All that He preaches is that whichever path is accepted that should be followed with full devotion, dedication and sincerity. All paths lead to the realisation of the Supreme Reality. The Gita is thus a scripture for the entire humanity. The sermon of the Gita was given to Arjuna, who after having seen those whom he had always respected, and his other relations and friends, standing in the battlefield ready to fight, and realising the prospect that they might be killed in that war, wanted to retire from the battlefield saying that the kingdom achieved as a result of that war would not be worthy of enjoyment. But towards the end of the Gita, after listening to the Lord, Arjuna accepts the advice of the Lord and becomes ready to fight to discharge his duty. The Gita, therefore, teaches that one should discharge his duties with full devotion and dedication without bothering about the consequences for oneself. One should always work, without

any fear or favour, in ones best judgment, for upholding the ethical and moral values of the society. If in the process one has to sacrifice ones own interests or the interests of near or dear ones, those should be sacrificed in the interest of the society at large. That alone is the path of ones salvation. It is in recognition of the eternal value of the message of the Gita that this book has been translated in almost all languages of the world. There are any number of commentaries of this book, written both by saints and scholars. Yet no one could claim that whatever he has written is the perfect explanation of the Divine message. The message being so intimately related to day-to-day life, everyone understands it from his own perspective of life. jaki rahi bhavana jaisi Prabhu murati tinh dekhi tese. Therefore, people should have the opportunity to know the different viewpoints, which may be identical in substance but are different in presentation, to have a better and clearer understanding of the Divine message. I got a copy of Gita Vimarsha about two years ago. It was for the first time in my life that I could have a little understanding of the Gita by reading this book. When I was going through the book I felt that the readership of the book should not remain confined to the Hindi knowing people and the views of Swamijee on the Gita should also be made available to English knowing community in the world, so that they also have a better understanding of the Gita. It was with this feeling and with some inner inspiration that I undertook the work of translating this book. However, this translation could not have seen the light of the day but for the encouragement given to me by Dr. Lakshmi Saxena, who retired as a Professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy, Gorakahpur University. It is she who has put in tremendous labour and effort in correcting and editing the amateurish translation done by a novice like me. I have taken every care in carrying out the corrections done by her, but still there may be some mistakes and errors, which I am sure the learned readers of this book will notice, and for them I am alone responsible. I feel this English version of Gita Vimarsh has been possible only by the grace and invisible blessings of Swamijee, without which an ignorant person like

me could never have thought of undertaking this work. I pray to him to continue to bless me and guide me in my spiritual voyage. Krishan goel NEW DELHI JUNE 21, 2001