Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 25 | | NEXT » |
Scholarly February 10, 2008 This is a respectable translation, but don't expect fluid reading as Sanskrit has more modality than English does.
A fairly good translation. October 19, 2007 This is a fairly good translation. At the end is an interesting essay Why did Henry David Thoreau take the Bhagavad Gita to Walden Pond? Then there is a useful glossary. One thing lacking is an index. I would recommend buying instead a translation with an index, like Schweig's or Easwaran's. One strange thing about Miller's translation is all the sexism, like 'learned men', 'undiscerning men', 'wise men' etc., which is surprising for a woman translator. It is true that Sanskrit there has masculine nouns, but both sexes are meant. The reason is that in Sanskrit every noun has to be assigned a gender, and masculine is the default even when both sexes are meant, like in Spanish, German etc.
A beatiful translation for the Gita August 9, 2007 This is a rather good translation for the Gita, it's not as beautiful as the translation by Srila Prabhupada, but it's still pretty good, especially for someone just learning about Sanatana Dharma. Jai Radhe-Madhava!
Pointless translation February 6, 2007 2 out of 10 found this review helpful
I got my hands on this 'pocket-'book by chance about 14 years ago and what a disappointment it was then! There is no Sanskrit, yoga is translated as !discipline!.. Did Ms. Miller have a clue about what she was doing other than make some money? Now that I have read translations by Sri Yogananda and Prabhupada, I have the ability to comment on it further. The Bhagavad Gita is not a simple set of words to be translated, this is a philosophy of life in sutra form-absolutely condensed so it could be passed down by guru to disciple by word of mouth. The guru transfers the knowledge not only by recitation but by showing actual practise. So, Ms. Miller has no qualification to translate other than knowledge of a language which can be picked up by a 10 year old. Even a 10 year old would do a better job at translating 'yoga'.
Wore out my first copy -- came here to order another one [Muslim Reviewer] December 7, 2006 4 out of 7 found this review helpful
Salaam to all,
I can not claim to speak authoritatively regarding the accuracy and fidelity of the translator's work, but it speaks to me and I am *quite* fond of this translation of the Gita.
I would like to address a few points raised by other reviewers.
Lets start with the sub-title: The "war" is between the illusory world of senses (and delusional 'imagination') and The-Eternal-Absolute, aka Al-Samad to Muslims, and YHVY to Israelites. This book is an 'exposition' on the Greater Jihad (Greater Struggle) spoken of by The Prophet (ALLAH's Salaam and Blessings Be upon him, his house, his progeny, his companions, and his Umma.)
The second item that needed to be addressed was implicitly addressed above. Is this 'book' congruent with the Religion of Abraham (ALLAH's Salaam and Blessings Be upon him and his progeny) and his Chosen Israel (ALLAH' Salaam and Blessing Be upon Israel) and HIS Anointed King of Israel, the Word made flesh (And ALLAH's Salaam Is Ever upon him) and *finally* with the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (ALLAH's Salaam and Blessings Be upon him, his house, his progeny, his companions, and his Umma)? In my 'reading' of The Book -- The Torah, The Pslams, The Gospels, and The Qur'an -- the answer is a resounding 'Yes'.
Who is this book addressed to? This book is an 'exposition' of matters Divine by Al-Samad to HIS Friends, HIS Friends being those Sentient that wish to find an 'eternal abode' with HIM, The Un-Changing. (In The Qur'an, these Friends of ALLAH are called 'Those Who are Granted *Nearness to HIM*'.) Thus, in this manual of the Greater Jihad -- which is the Inner Striving to strip away that which is 'not' -- we have The-GOD manifesting HIM-Self to Arjuna as his "Friend", "Teacher", and "Pilot".
Gandhi read this book every day. It certainly has a place in the daily reading list of any Friend of The-GOD, Who IS our Source and our Destiny.
This book will help with the task of 'choosing' the manner in which you, my fellow Sentient, shall 'Return' unto HIM.
|