The Bhagavad-Gita: A New Translation

A Review of the Bhagavad-Gita: A New Translation by Stephen Mitchell 

Review by Ronald W. Shaw, Executive Director          

The Bhagavad-Gita, “Song of the Blessed One” can be considered one of the most important of Hindu scriptures. It is not an historical work of fact, although it is based around many historical figures and events. Gandhi described the work as “not a historical work, but that under the guise of physical warfare it described the duel that perpetually went on in the hearts of mankind, and that physical warfare was brought in merely to make the description more alluring.”

On the surface, it can be viewed as simply the moral dilemma faced by a soldier going to war but, after a thorough reading, the work can be considered a philosophical debate on the nature of man’s existence and the amount of control he has over it. The general argument of the text appears to be the belief that all acts incapable of being performed without attachment are unacceptable.

The Bhagavad-Gita is written in the form of a conversation between Prince Arjuna, a warrior from the Pandavas clan who are the paragons of virtue, and his friend and charioteer Krishna, who is an earthly incarnation of Vishnu. As they face their opponents, the Kauravas, Arjuna has Krishna drive him into the open space between the two forces. Seeing many friends, relatives, and teachers in both sides Arjuna faces the moral dilemma that becomes the basis of the poem. 

Overcome by his confusion, Arjuna ponders the heavy cost of participating in what he knows will be a vicious war. Although he knows in his heart the fight he is battle about to start is part of a just war, he is still torn apart and wonders whether he would be better off if he threw down his arms and allowed himself to be killed. It is at this point that Krishna reminds him of his duty as a warrior and the need for him to cast aside his doubts and perform his duty. Krishna advises him that the only way to fulfill his duty is through his faith in God and that he must surrender himself to perform his duty without regard for emotion and personal gain or wealth.

The problem for the western reader may be quite simple. Regardless of Krishna’s reasoning, the message of disinterested discharge may be difficult to understand when the basic message is to take up arms and fight. Despite his many exhortations, it is up to each individual reader to determine why Arjuna must fight, kill, and possibly die. Many people may question if there is a real reason for Arjuna to go into battle. They may fail to see that the warrior does not fight for personal gain, nor for glory, but because he or she is told to- each soldier does what is expected, and tries to keep a sense of honor.