BhagavadGitaandManagement WorldManagementLessonsfromIndia

M.P.Bhattathiri
RetiredChiefTechnicalExaminer GovernmentofKerala India

TableofContents
TableofContents....................................................................................................................................2 Abstract...................................................................................................................................................3 Introduction............................................................................................................................................4 ManagementguidelinesfromtheBhagavadGita..................................................................................4 Oldtruthsinanewcontext....................................................................................................................5 Thesourceoftheproblem.....................................................................................................................5 Utilizationofavailableresources............................................................................................................6 Workcommitment..................................................................................................................................6 Motivationselfandselftranscendence..............................................................................................6 Workculture...........................................................................................................................................7 Workresults............................................................................................................................................8 Manager'smentalhealth........................................................................................................................9 Managementneedsthosewhopracticewhattheypreach...................................................................9 Inconclusion...........................................................................................................................................9 Anoteontheword"yoga"...................................................................................................................10

Abstract
OneofthegreatestcontributionsofIndiatotheworldisHolyGitawhichisconsideredtobeoneof thefirstrevelationsfromGod.Themanagementlessonsinthisholybookwerebroughtintolightof theworldbydivineMaharishiMaheshYogiandSriSriRaviShankar,andthespiritualphilosophyby Sr. Srila Prabhupada Swami and humanism by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and Satya Sai Baba. MaharishicallstheBhagavadGitatheessenceofVedicLiteratureandacompleteguidetopractical life.Itprovides"allthatisneededtoraisetheconsciousnessofmantothehighestpossiblelevel." Maharishi reveals the deep, universal truths of life that speak to the needs and aspirations of everyone. Arjuna got mentally depressed when he saw his relatives with whom he has to fight. (Mentalhealthhasbecomeamajorinternationalpublichealthconcernnow).Tomotivatehimthe BhagavadGitaispreachedinthebattlefieldKurukshetrabyLordKrishnatoArjunaascounselingto do his duty while multitudes of men stood by waiting. It has got all the management tactics to achieve the mental equilibrium and to overcome any crisis situation. The Bhagavad Gita can be experiencedasapowerfulcatalystfortransformation.BhagavadGitameanssongoftheSpirit,song oftheLord.TheHolyGitahasbecomeasecretdrivingforcebehindtheunfoldmentofone'slife.In thedaysofdoubtthisdivinebookwillsupportallspiritualsearches.Thisdivinebookwillcontribute toselfreflection,finerfeelinganddeepenone'sinnerprocess.Thenlifeintheworldcanbecomea real educationdynamic, full and joyfulno matter what the circumstance. May the wisdom of lovingconsciousnesseverguideusonourjourney?WhatmakestheHolyGitaapracticalpsychology oftransformationisthatitoffersusthetoolstoconnectwithourdeepestintangibleessenceandwe mustlearntoparticipateinthebattleoflifewithrightknowledge? TheHolyGitaistheessenceoftheVedas,Upanishads.Itisauniversalscriptureapplicabletopeople ofalltemperamentsandforalltimes.Itisabookwithsublimethoughtsandpracticalinstructionson Yoga, Devotion, Vedanta and Action. It is profound in thought and sublime in heights of vision. It brings peace and solace to souls that are afflicted by the three fires of mortal existence, namely, afflictions caused by one's own body (disease etc), those caused by beings around one (e.g. wild animals,snakesetc.),andthosecausedbythegods(naturaldisasters,earthquakes,floodsetc). Mind can be one's friend or enemy. Mind is the cause for both bondage and liberation. The word mindisderivedfrommantothinkandthewordmanderivedfromManu(Sanskritwordforman). "TheSupremeLordissituatedineveryone'sheart,OArjuna,andisdirectingthewanderingsofall livingentities,whoareseatedasonamachine,madeofthematerialenergy." Thereisnotheorytobeinternalizedandappliedinthispsychology.Ancientpracticesspontaneously induce what each person needs as the individual and the universal coincide. The work proceeds through intellectual knowledge of the playing field (jnana yoga), emotional devotion to the ideal (bhaktiyoga)andrightactionthatincludesbothfeelingandknowledge(karmayoga).Withongoing purification we approach wisdom. The Bhagavad Gita is a message addressed to each and every human individual to help him or her to solve the vexing problem of overcoming the present and progressingtowardsabrightfuture.Withinitseighteenchaptersisrevealedahumandrama.Thisis the experience of everyone in this world, the drama of the ascent of man from a state of utter dejection,sorrowandtotalbreakdownandhopelessnesstoastateofperfectunderstanding,clarity, renewedstrengthandtriumph. Mindisveryrestless,forcefulandstrong,OKrishna,itismoredifficulttocontrolthemindthanto controlthewind~ArjunatoSriKrishna

Introduction
InthismodernworldtheartofManagementhasbecomeapartandparcelofeverydaylife,beitat home, in the office or factory and in Government. In all organizations, where a group of human beings assemble for a common purpose irrespective of caste, creed, and religion, management principles come into play through the management of resources, finance and planning, priorities, policies and practice. Management is a systematic way of carrying out activities in any field of humaneffort. Itstaskistomakepeoplecapableofjointperformance,tomaketheirweaknessesirrelevant,says the Management Guru Peter Drucker. It creates harmony in working together equilibrium in thoughts and actions, goals and achievements, plans and performance, products and markets. It resolvessituationsofscarcity,betheyinthephysical,technicalorhumanfields,throughmaximum utilization with the minimum available processes to achieve the goal. Lack of management causes disorder, confusion, wastage, delay, destruction and even depression. Managing men, money and materials in the best possible way, according to circumstances and environment, is the most importantandessentialfactorforasuccessfulmanagement.Itshouldliterallytransformhowpeople thinkandhelpthemfinallyrealizethepotentialofatrulyuniversalknowledgethatiswisdom.

ManagementguidelinesfromtheBhagavadGita
Reviewingperformanceandtakingcorrectivestepswhencalledfor. Thus, management is a process of aligning people and getting them committed to work for a commongoaltothemaximumsocialbenefitinsearchofexcellence. Delegation,motivation,andcommunication. Buildingteamsandteamwork. Developinghumanresources. Buildinganinnovativeorganization. Establishinginstitutionalexcellence. Cultivatingtheartofleadership. Planningthestrategytorealizethevision. Formingavision Thegeneralprinciplesofeffectivemanagementcanbeappliedineveryfield,thedifferences beingmoreinapplicationthaninprinciple.TheManager'sfunctionscanbesummedupas: Efficiencyisdoingthingsright. Effectivenessisdoingtherightthings. Thereisanimportantdistinctionbetweeneffectivenessandefficiencyinmanaging.

 The critical question in all managers' minds is how to be effective in their job. The answer to this fundamentalquestionisfoundintheBhagavadGita,whichrepeatedlyproclaimsthat"youmusttry to manage yourself." The reason is that unless a manager reaches a level of excellence and effectiveness,heorshewillbemerelyafaceinthecrowd.

Oldtruthsinanewcontext
The Bhagavad Gita, written thousands of years ago, enlightens us on all managerial techniques leadingustowardsaharmoniousandblissfulstateofaffairsinplaceoftheconflict,tensions,poor productivity,absenceofmotivationandsoon,commoninmostofIndianenterprisestodayand probablyinenterprisesinmanyothercountries. Themodern(Western)managementconceptsofvision,leadership,motivation,excellenceinwork, achieving goals, giving work meaning, decision making and planning, are all discussed in the BhagavadGita.Thereisonemajordifference.WhileWesternmanagementthoughttoooftendeals withproblemsatmaterial,externalandperipherallevels,theBhagavadGitatacklestheissuesfrom the grass roots level of human thinking. Once the basic thinking of man is improved, it will automaticallyenhancethequalityofhisactionsandtheirresults. ThemanagementphilosophyemanatingfromtheWestisbasedonthelureofmaterialismandona perennialthirstforprofit,irrespectiveofthequalityofthemeansadoptedtoachievethatgoal.This phenomenon has its source in the abundant wealth of the West and so 'management by materialism'hascaughtthefancyofallthecountriestheworldover,Indiabeingnoexceptiontothis trend. My country, India, has been in the forefront in importing these ideas mainly because of its centuries old indoctrination by colonial rulers, which has inculcated in us a feeling that anything WesternisgoodandanythingIndian,isinferior. Theresultisthat,whilehugefundshavebeeninvestedinbuildingtemplesofmodemmanagement education, no perceptible changes are visible in the improvement of the general quality of life althoughthestandardsoflivingofafewhasgoneup.Thesameoldstrugglesinalmostallsectorsof the economy, criminalization of institutions, social violence, exploitation and other vices are seen deepinthebodypolitic.

Thesourceoftheproblem
The reasons for this sorry state of affairs are not far to seek. The Western idea of management centers on making the worker (and the manager) more efficient and more productive. Companies offerworkersmoretoworkmore,producemore,sellmoreandtosticktotheorganizationwithout looking for alternatives. The sole aim of extracting better and more work from the worker is to improvethebottomlineoftheenterprise.Theworkerhasbecomeahirablecommodity,whichcan beused,replacedanddiscardedatwill. Thus, workers have been reduced to the state of a mercantile product. In such a state, it should comeasnosurprisetousthatworkersstartusingstrikes(gheraos)sitins,(dharnas)goslows,work torule etc. to get maximum benefit for themselves from the organizations. Societyatlarge is damaged. Thus we reach a situation in which management and workers become separate and contradictory entities with conflicting interests. There is no common goal or understanding. This, predictably,leadstosuspicion,friction,disillusionandmistrust,withmanagersandworkersatcross purposes.Theabsenceofhumanvaluesanderosionofhumantouchintheorganizationalstructure hasresultedinacrisisofconfidence.

 Westernmanagementphilosophymayhavecreatedprosperityforsomepeoplesomeofthetime atleastbutithasfailedintheaimofensuringbettermentofindividuallifeandsocialwelfare.Ithas remainedbyandlargeasoullessedificeandanoasisofplentyforafewinthemidstofpoorquality oflifeformany. Hence,thereisanurgentneedtoreexamineprevailingmanagementdisciplinestheirobjectives, scopeandcontent.Managementshouldberedefinedtounderlinethedevelopmentoftheworker as a person, as a human being, and not as a mere wageearner. With this changed perspective, managementcanbecomeaninstrumentintheprocessofsocial,andindeednational,development. NowletusreexaminesomeofthemodernmanagementconceptsinthelightoftheBhagavadGita whichisaprimerofmanagementbyvalues.

Utilizationofavailableresources
The first lesson of management science is to choose wisely and utilize scarce resources optimally. DuringthecurtainraiserbeforetheMahabharataWar,DuryodhanachoseSriKrishna'slargearmy forhishelpwhileArjunaselectedSriKrishna'swisdomforhissupport.Thisepisodegivesusaclueas tothenatureoftheeffectivemanagertheformerchosenumbers,thelatter,wisdom.

Workcommitment
ApopularverseoftheGitaadvises"detachment"fromthefruitsorresultsofactionsperformedin the course of one's duty. Being dedicated work has to mean "working for the sake of work, generating excellence for its own sake." If we are always calculating the date of promotion or the rate of commission before putting in our efforts, then such work is not detached. It is not "generatingexcellenceforitsownsake"butworkingonlyfortheextrinsicrewardthatmay(ormay not)result. Workingonlywithaneyetotheanticipatedbenefits,meansthatthequalityofperformanceofthe currentjobordutysuffersthroughmentalagitationofanxietyforthefuture.Infact,thewaythe world works means that events do not always respond positively to our calculations and hence expected fruits may not always be forthcoming. So, the Gita tells us not to mortgage present commitmenttoanuncertainfuture. Some people might argue that not seeking the business result of work and actions makes one unaccountable.Infact,theBhagavadGitaisfullofadviceonthetheoryofcauseandeffect,making thedoerresponsiblefortheconsequencesofhisdeeds.Whileadvisingdetachmentfromtheavarice of selfish gains in discharging one's accepted duty, the Gita does not absolve anybody of the consequencesarisingfromdischargeofhisorherresponsibilities. Thusthebestmeansofeffectiveperformancemanagementistheworkitself.Attainingthisstateof mind(called"nishkamakarma")istherightattitudetoworkbecauseitpreventstheego,themind, fromdissipationofattentionthroughspeculationonfuturegainsorlosses.

Motivationselfandselftranscendence
Ithasbeenpresumedformanyyearsthatsatisfyinglowerorderneedsofworkersadequatefood, clothingandshelter,etc.arekeyfactorsinmotivation.However,itisacommonexperiencethatthe

dissatisfactionoftheclerkandoftheDirectorisidenticalonlytheirscalesandcompositionvary.It should be true that once the lowerorder needs are more than satisfied, the Director should have little problem in optimizing his contribution to the organization and society. But more often than not,itdoesnothappenlikethat.("Theeaglesoarshighbutkeepsitseyesfirmlyfixedonthedead animal below.") On the contrary, a lowly paid schoolteacher, or a selfemployed artisan, may well demonstrate higher levels of selfactualization despite poorer satisfaction of their lowerorder needs. This situation is explained by the theory of selftranscendence propounded in the Gita. Self transcendenceinvolvesrenouncingegoism,puttingothersbeforeoneself,emphasizingteamwork, dignity,cooperation,harmonyandtrustand,indeedpotentiallysacrificinglowerneedsforhigher goals,theoppositeofMaslow. "Workmustbedonewithdetachment."Itistheegothatspoilsworkandtheegoisthecenterpiece of most theories of motivation. We need not merely a theory of motivation but a theory of inspiration. TheGreatIndianpoet,RabindranathTagore(18611941,knownas"Gurudev")saysworkingforlove is freedom in action. A concept which is described as "disinterested work" in the Gita where Sri Krishnasays, "Hewhosharesthewealthgeneratedonlyafterservingthepeople,throughworkdoneasasacrifice forthem,isfreedfromallsins.Onthecontrarythosewhoearnwealthonlyforthemselves,eatsins thatleadtofrustrationandfailure." Disinterested work finds expression in devotion, surrender and equipoise. The former two are psychologicalwhilethethirdisdeterminationtokeepthemindfreeofthedualistic(usuallytakento mean"materialistic")pullsofdailyexperiences.Detachedinvolvementinworkisthekeytomental equanimityorthestateof"nirdwanda."Thisattitudeleadstoastagewheretheworkerbeginsto feelthepresenceoftheSupremeIntelligenceguidingtheembodiedindividualintelligence.Suchde personified intelligence is best suited for those who sincerely believe in the supremacy of organizationalgoalsascomparedtonarrowpersonalsuccessandachievement.

Workculture
Aneffectiveworkcultureisaboutvigorousandarduouseffortsinpursuitofgivenorchosentasks. Sri Krishna elaborates on two types of work culture "daivi sampat" or divine work culture and "asurisampat"ordemonicworkculture. Daivi work culture involves fearlessness, purity, selfcontrol, sacrifice, straightforwardness, self denial,calmness,absenceoffaultfinding,absenceofgreed,gentleness,modesty,absenceofenvy andpride. Asuri work culture involves egoism, delusion, personal desires, improper performance, work not orientedtowardsservice. Mere work ethic is not enough. The hardened criminal exhibits an excellent work ethic. What is neededisaworkethicconditionedbyethicsinwork. It is in this light that the counsel, "yogah karmasu kausalam" should be understood. "Kausalam" meansskillortechnique ofworkwhichisanindispensablecomponentofaworkethic.Yogah"is

definedin theGitaitself as"samatvamyogahuchyate"meaninganunchangingequipoiseofmind (detachment.)TilaktellsusthatactingwithanequablemindisYoga. (Bal Gangadhar Tilak, 18561920, the precursor of Gandhiji, hailed by the people of India as "Lokmanya," probablythemostlearnedamongthecountry'spoliticalleaders.Foradescriptionof themeaningsoftheword"Yoga",seefootofthispage.) Bymakingtheequablemindthebedrockofallactions,theGitaevolvedthegoalofunificationof workethicwithethicsinwork,forwithoutethicalprocessnomindcanattainequipoise.Theguru, AdiSankara(borncirca800AD),saysthattheskillnecessaryintheperformanceofone'sdutyisthat of maintaining an evenness of mind in face of success and failure. The calm mind in the face of failure will lead to deeper introspection and see clearly where the process went wrong so that correctivestepscouldbetakentoavoidshortcomingsinfuture. The principle of reducing our attachment to personal gains from the work done is the Gita's prescriptionforattainingequanimity.Ithasbeenheldthatthisprincipleleadstolackofincentivefor effort,strikingattheveryrootofworkethic.Tothecontrary,concentrationonthetaskforitsown sake leads to the achievement of excellence and indeed to the true mental happiness of the worker.Thus,whilecommonplacetheoriesofmotivationmaybesaidtoleadustothebondageor extrinsicrewards,theGita'sprincipleleadsustotheintrinsicrewardsofmental,andindeedmoral, satisfaction.

Workresults
TheGitafurtherexplainsthetheoryof"detachment"fromtheextrinsicrewardsofworkinsaying: Iftheresultofsincereeffortisasuccess,theentirecreditshouldnotbeappropriatedbythedoer alone. Iftheresultofsincereeffortisafailure,thentootheentireblamedoesnotaccruetothedoer. The former attitude mollifies arrogance and conceit while the latter prevents excessive despondency,demotivationandselfpity.Thusboththesedispositionssafeguardthedoeragainst psychologicalvulnerability,thecauseofthemodemmanagers'companionsofdiabetes,highblood pressureandulcers. Assimilation of the ideas of the Gita leads us to the wider spectrum of "lokasamgraha" (general welfare) but there is also another dimension to the work ethic if the "karmayoga" (service) is blendedwith"bhaktiyoga"(devotion),thentheworkitselfbecomesworship,a"sevayoga"(service foritsownsake.) Alongwithbhaktiyogaasameansofliberation,theGitaespousesthedoctrineofnishkamyakarma orpureactionuntaintedbyhankeringafterthefruitsresultingfromthataction.Modernscientists havenowunderstoodtheintuitivewisdomofthatactioninanewlight. ScientistsattheUSNationalInstituteofMentalHealthinBethesdafoundthatlaboratorymonkeys thatstartedoutasprocrastinatorsbecameefficientworkersaftertheyreceivedbraininjectionsthat suppressedagenelinkedtotheirabilitytoanticipateareward.Thescientistsreportedthatthework ethicofrhesusmacaqueswasn'tall thatdifferentfromthatof manypeople:"If therewardisnot immediate,youprocrastinate",DrRichmondtoldLATimes.

(Thismaysoundapeculiarlyreligiousideabutithasawiderapplication.Itcouldbetakentomean doingsomethingbecauseitisworthwhile,toserveothers,tomaketheworldabetterplaceEd.)

Manager'smentalhealth
Soundmentalhealthistheverygoalofanyhumanactivitymoresomanagement.Soundmental healthisthatstateofmindwhichcanmaintainacalm,positivepoise,orregainitwhenunsettled,in themidstofalltheexternalvagariesofworklifeandsocialexistence.Internalconstancyandpeace aretheprerequisitesforahealthystressfreemind. Someoftheimpedimentstosoundmentalhealthare: Greedforpower,position,prestigeandmoney. Envyregardingothers'achievements,success,rewards. Egotismaboutone'sownaccomplishments. Suspicion,angerandfrustration. Anguishthroughcomparisons. Thedrivingforcesintoday'sbusinessesarespeedandcompetition.Thereisadistinctdangerthat theseforcescauseerosionofthemoralfiber,thatinseekingtheend,onepermitsoneselfimmoral means tax evasion, illegitimate financial holdings, being "economical with the truth", deliberate oversightintheaudit,toocleverfinancialreportingandsoon.Thisphenomenonmaybecalledas "yayatisyndrome". Inthebook,theMahabharata,wecomeacrossakingbythenameofYayatiwho,inordertorevelin theendlessenjoymentoffleshexchangedhisoldagewiththeyouthofhisobligingyoungestsonfor athousandyears.However,hefoundthepursuitofsensualenjoymentsultimatelyunsatisfyingand camebacktohissonpleadinghimtotakebackhisyouth.This"yayatisyndrome"showstheconflict between externally directed acquisitions (extrinsic motivation) and inner value and conscience (intrinsicmotivation.)

Managementneedsthosewhopracticewhattheypreach
"Whatevertheexcellentandbestonesdo,thecommonersfollow,"saysSriKrishnaintheGita.The visionary leader must be a missionary, extremely practical, intensively dynamic and capable of translatingdreamsintoreality.Thisdynamismandstrengthofatrueleaderflowsfromaninspired andspontaneousmotivationtohelpothers."Iamthestrengthofthosewhoaredevoidofpersonal desire and attachment. O Arjuna, I am the legitimate desire in those, who are not opposed to righteousness,"saysSriKrishnainthe10thChapteroftheGita.

Inconclusion
ThedespondencyofArjunainthefirstchapteroftheGitaistypicallyhuman.SriKrishna,bysheer power of his inspiring words, changes Arjuna's mind from a state of inertia to one of righteous action,fromthestateofwhattheFrenchphilosopherscall"anomie"orevenalienation,toastateof selfconfidenceintheultimatevictoryof"dharma"(ethicalaction.)

 When Arjuna got over his despondency and stood ready to fight, Sri Krishna reminded him of the purposeofhisnewfoundspiritofintenseactionnotforhisownbenefit,notforsatisfyinghisown greedanddesire,butforthegoodofmany,withfaithintheultimatevictoryofethicsoverunethical actionsandoftruthoveruntruth. Sri Krishna's advice with regard to temporary failures is, "No doer of good ever ends in misery." Everyactionshouldproduceresults.Goodactionproducesgoodresultsandevilbegetsnothingbut evil.Therefore,alwaysactwellandberewarded. MypurportisnottosuggestdiscardingoftheWesternmodelofefficiency,dynamismandstriving forexcellencebuttotunetheseidealstoIndia'sholisticattitudeof"lokasangraha"forthewelfare ofmany,forthegoodofmany.Thereisindeedamoraldimensiontobusinesslife.Whatwedoin businessisnodifferent,inthisregard,towhatwedoinourpersonallives.Themeansdonotjustify theends.Pursuitofresultsfortheirownsakeisultimatelyselfdefeating.("Profit,"saidMatsushita saninanothertradition"istherewardofcorrectbehavior."Ed.)

Anoteontheword"yoga"
Yogahastwodifferentmeaningsageneralmeaningandatechnicalmeaning.Thegeneralmeaning is the joining together or union of any two or more things. The technical meaning is "a state of stabilityandpeaceandthemeansorpracticeswhichleadtothatstate."TheBhagavadGitausesthe wordwithbothmeanings. M.P.Bhattathiri. LetusgothroughwhatscholarssayaboutHolyGita. "NoworkinallIndianliteratureismorequoted,becausenoneisbetterloved,intheWest,thanthe BhagavadGita.TranslationofsuchaworkdemandsnotonlyknowledgeofSanskrit,butaninward sympathywiththethemeandaverbalartistry.ForthepoemisasymphonyinwhichGodisseenin allthings....TheSwamidoesarealserviceforstudentsbyinvestingthebelovedIndianepicwith freshmeaning.Whateverouroutlookmaybe,weshouldallbegratefulforthelaborthathasleadto thisilluminatingwork." Dr. Geddes MacGregor, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Philosophy University of Southern California "The Gita can be seen as the main literary support for the great religious civilization of India, the oldest surviving culture in the world. The present translation and commentary is another manifestationofthepermanentlivingimportanceoftheGita." ThomasMerton,Theologian "I am most impressed with A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's scholarly and authoritative editionofBhagavadGita.Itisamostvaluableworkforthescholaraswellasthelaymanandisof great utility as a reference book as well as a textbook. I promptly recommend this edition to my students.Itisabeautifullydonebook." Dr.SamuelD.AtkinsProfessorofSanskrit,PrincetonUniversity

"AsasuccessorindirectlinefromCaitanya,theauthorofBhagavadGitaAsItIsentitled,according to Indian custom, to the majestic title of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. ThegreatinterestthathisreadingoftheBhagavadGitaholdsforusisthatitoffersusanauthorized interpretationaccordingtotheprinciplesoftheCaitanyatradition." OlivierLacombeProfessorofSanskritandIndology,SorbonneUniversity,Paris "I have had the opportunity of examining several volumes published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trustandhavefoundthemtobeofexcellentqualityandofgreatvalueforuseincollegeclasseson Indianreligions.ThisisparticularlytrueoftheBBTeditionandtranslationoftheBhagavadGita." Dr.FrederickB.UnderwoodProfessorofReligion,ColumbiaUniversity "If truth is what works, as Pierce and the pragmatists insist, there must be a kind of truth in the BhagavadGitaasItIs,sincethosewhofollowitsteachingsdisplayajoyousserenityusuallymissing inthebleakandstridentlivesofcontemporarypeople." Dr.ElwinH.PowellProfessorofSociologyStateUniversityofNewYork,Buffalo "ThereislittlequestionthatthiseditionisoneofthebestbooksavailableontheGitaanddevotion. Prabhupada'stranslationisanidealblendofliteralaccuracyandreligiousinsight." Dr.ThomasJ.HopkinsProfessorofReligion,FranklinandMarshallCollege "The BhagavadGita, one of the great spiritual texts, is not as yet a common part of our cultural milieu.Thisisprobablylessbecauseitisalienpersethanbecausewehavelackedjustthekindof close interpretative commentary upon it that Swami Bhaktivedanta has here provided, a commentary written from not only a scholar's but a practitioner's, a dedicated lifelong devotee's pointofview." DeniseLevertov,Poet "TheincreasingnumbersofWesternreadersinterestedinclassicalVedicthoughthavebeendonea service by Swami Bhaktivedanta. By bringing us a new and living interpretation of a text already knowntomany,hehasincreasedourunderstandingmanyfold." Dr.EdwardCDimock,Jr.DepartmentofSouthAsianLanguagesandCivilizationUniversityofChicago "The scholarly world is again indebted to A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Although BhagavadGita has been translated many times, Prabhupada adds a translation of singular importancewithhiscommentary." Dr. J. Stillson Judah, Professor of the History of Religions and Director of Libraries Graduate TheologicalUnion,Berkeley,California "SrilaPrabhupada'seditionthusfillsasensitivegapinFrance,wheremanyhopetobecomefamiliar withtraditionalIndianthought,beyondthecommercialEastWesthodgepodgethathasarisensince thetimeEuropeansfirstpenetratedIndia.WhetherthereaderbeanadeptofIndianspiritualismor not,areadingoftheBhagavadGitaasItIswillbeextremelyprofitable.Formanythiswillbethefirst contactwiththetrueIndia,theancientIndia,andtheeternalIndia."

FrancoisChenique,ProfessorofReligiousSciencesInstituteofPoliticalStudies,Paris,France "It was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voiceofanoldintelligencewhichinanotherageandclimatehadponderedandthusdisposedofthe samequestionswhichexerciseus" Emerson'sreactiontotheGita "AsanativeofIndianowlivingintheWest,ithasgivenmemuchgrieftoseesomanyofmyfellow countrymencomingtotheWestintheroleofgurusandspiritualleaders.Forthisreason,Iamvery excitedtoseethepublicationofBhagavadGitaasItIsbySriA.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiPrabhupada. Itwillhelptostoptheterriblecheatingoffalseandunauthorized'gurus'and'yogis'andwillgivean opportunitytoallpeopletounderstandtheactualmeaningofOrientalculture." Dr.KailashVajpeye,DirectorofIndianStudiesCenterforOrientalStudies,TheUniversityofMexico "The Gita is one of the clearest and most comprehensive one, of the summaries and systematic spiritualstatementsoftheperennialphilosophyevertohavebeendone" AldousHuxley "It is a deeply felt, powerfully conceived and beautifully explained work. I don't know whether to praisemorethistranslationoftheBhagavadGita,itsdaringmethodofexplanation,ortheendless fertilityofitsideas.IhaveneverseenanyotherworkontheGitawithsuchanimportantvoiceand style....Itwilloccupyasignificantplaceintheintellectualandethicallifeofmodernmanforalong timetocome." Dr.ShaligramShuklaProfessorofLinguistics,GeorgetownUniversity "IcansaythatintheBhagavadGitaAsItIsIhavefoundexplanationsandanswerstoquestionsIhad always posed regarding the interpretations of this sacred work, whose spiritual discipline I greatly admire.IftheasceticismandidealoftheapostleswhichformthemessageoftheBhagavadGitaasIt Isweremorewidespreadandmorerespected,theworldinwhichwelivewouldbetransformedinto abetter,morefraternalplace." Dr.PaulLesourd,AuthorProfesseurHonoraire,CatholicUniversityofParis "When I read the BhagavadGita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seemssosuperfluous." AlbertEinstein "Whendoubtshauntme,whendisappointmentsstaremeintheface,andIseenotonerayofhope onthehorizon,IturntoBhagavadGitaandfindaversetocomfortme;andIimmediatelybeginto smileinthemidstofoverwhelmingsorrow.ThosewhomeditateontheGitawillderivefreshjoyand newmeaningsfromiteveryday." MahatmaGandhi "InthemorningIbathemyintellectinthestupendousandcosmogonalphilosophyoftheBhagavad Gita,incomparisonwithwhichourmodernworldanditsliteratureseempunyandtrivial."

 HenryDavidThoreau "TheBhagavadGitahasaprofoundinfluenceonthespiritofmankindbyitsdevotiontoGodwhich ismanifestedbyactions." Dr.AlbertSchweitzer "TheBhagavadGitaisatruescriptureofthehumanracealivingcreationratherthanabook,witha newmessageforeveryageandanewmeaningforeverycivilization." SriAurobindo "Theideathatmanislikeuntoaninvertedtreeseemstohavebeencurrentinbygoneages.Thelink withVedicconceptionsisprovidedbyPlatoinhisTimaeusinwhichitstates'beholdwearenotan earthlybutaheavenlyplant.'ThiscorrelationcanbediscernedbywhatKrishnaexpressesinchapter 15ofBhagavadGita." CarlJung "TheBhagavadGitadealsessentiallywiththespiritualfoundationofhumanexistence.Itisacallof actiontomeettheobligationsanddutiesoflife;yetkeepinginviewthespiritualnatureandgrander purposeoftheuniverse." PrimeMinisterNehru "The marvel of the BhagavadGita is its truly beautiful revelation of life's wisdom which enables philosophytoblossomintoreligion." HermanHesse "I owed a magnificent day to the BhagavadGita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoketous,nothingsmallorunworthy,butlarge,serene,consistent,thevoiceofanoldintelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exerciseus." RalphWaldoEmerson "In order to approach a creation as sublime as the BhagavadGita with full understanding it is necessarytoattuneoursoultoit." RudolphSteiner "From a clear knowledge of the BhagavadGita all the goals of human existence become fulfilled. BhagavadGitaisthemanifestquintessenceofalltheteachingsoftheVedicscriptures." AdiShankara "The BhagavadGita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. It is one of the most clear and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed;henceitsenduringvalueissubjectnotonlytoIndiabuttoallofhumanity."

AldousHuxley "TheBhagavadGitawasspokenbyLordKrishnatorevealthescienceofdevotiontoGodwhichis theessenceofallspiritualknowledge.TheSupremeLordKrishna'sprimarypurposefordescending andincarnatingistorelievetheworldofanydemoniacandnegative,undesirableinfluencesthatare opposed to spiritual development, yet simultaneously it is His incomparable intention to be perpetuallywithinreachofallhumanity." Ramanuja TheBhagavadGitaisnotseparatefromtheVaishnavaphilosophyandtheSrimadBhagavatamfully revealsthetrueimportofthisdoctrinewhichistransmigrationofthesoul.Onperusalofthefirst chapter of BhagavadGita one may think that they are advised to engage in warfare. When the second chapter has been read it can be clearly understood that knowledge and the soul is the ultimategoaltobeattained.Onstudyingthethirdchapteritisapparentthatactsofrighteousness arealsoofhighpriority.IfwecontinueandpatientlytakethetimetocompletetheBhagavadGita and try to ascertain the truth of its closing chapter we can see that the ultimate conclusion is to relinquishalltheconceptualizedideasofreligionwhichwepossessandfullysurrenderdirectlyunto theSupremeLord. BhaktisiddhantaSaraswati "The Mahabharata has all the essential ingredients necessary to evolve and protect humanity and thatwithinittheBhagavadGitaisthe epitomeoftheMahabharatajustasgheeistheessenceof milkandpollenistheessenceofflowers." Madhvacarya Yogahastwodifferentmeaningsageneralmeaningandatechnicalmeaning.Thegeneralmeaning is the joining together or union of any two or more things. The technical meaning is "a state of stabilityandpeaceandthemeansorpracticeswhichleadtothatstate."TheBhagavadGitausesthe wordwithbothmeanings.LordKrishnaisrealYogiwhocanmaintainapeacefulmindinthemidstof anycrisis." MataAmritanandamayiDevi. Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana are but three paths to this end. And common to all the three is renunciation.Renouncethedesires,evenofgoingtoheaven,foreverydesirerelatedwithbodyand mindcreatesbondage.Ourfocusofactionisneithertosavethehumanitynortoengageinsocial reforms,nottoseekpersonalgains,buttorealizetheindwellingSelfitself. SwamiVivekananda(England,London;189596) "Science describes the structures and processes; philosophy attempts at their explanation. When suchaperfectcombinationofbothscienceandphilosophyissungtoperfectionthatKrishnawas, wehaveinthispieceofworkanappealbothtotheheadandheart." SwamiChinmayanandonGita I seek that Divine Knowledge by knowing which nothing remains to be known!' For such a person knowledgeandignorancehasonlyonemeaning:HaveyouknowledgeofGod?Ifyes,youaJnani!If

not,youareignorant.AssaidintheGita,chapterXIII/11,knowledgeofSelf,observingeverywhere theobjectoftrueKnowledgei.e.God,allthisisdeclared tobe true Knowledge (wisdom);whatis contrarytothisisignorance." SriRamakrishna MaharishicallstheBhagavadGitatheessenceofVedicLiteratureandacompleteguidetopractical life.Itprovides"allthatisneededtoraisetheconsciousnessofmantothehighestpossiblelevel." Maharishi reveals the deep, universal truths of life that speak to the needs and aspirations of everyone. MaharishiMaheshYogi TheGitawaspreachedasapreparatorylessonforlivingworldlylifewithaneyetoRelease,Nirvana. My last prayer to everyone, therefore, is that one should not fail to thoroughly understand this ancientscienceofworldlylifeasearlyaspossibleinone'slife. LokmanyaTilak Ibelievethatinallthelivinglanguagesoftheworld,thereisnobooksofulloftrueknowledge,and yet so handy. It teaches selfcontrol, austerity, nonviolence, compassion, obedience to the call of duty for the sake of duty, and putting up a fight against unrighteousness (Adharma). To my knowledge, there is no book in the whole range of the world's literature as high above as the BhagavadGita,whichisthetreasurehouseofDharmanoronlyfortheHindusbutfoeallmankind. M.M.Malaviya