The Bhagawad Geeta - by Swami Chinmayananda

So much for my earlier promise of a post-a-day! Well, something’s better than nothing. So, here goes.

“The Holy Geeta,” a commentary by Swami Chinmayananda is a great book to start your journey into understanding The Bhagavad Geeta. Each shloka is provided in Sanskrit and is accompanied by a lucid explanation. The author has provided numerous examples to drive home the point. However, if this is your maiden interaction with philosophy, it will take some time to get used to. But you won’t be disappointed. I have read a couple of other books on the Geeta, but this book is, by far, the best.

In my opinion, everyone should read and understand the perpetual message behind the Geeta. One should try and apply the principles described in one’s day-to-day activities. That’s the best way to understand the message behind the Geeta.

Here is one quote that made me think a lot:

When a man thinks of objects, “attachment” for them arises; from attachment “desire” is born; from desire arises “anger…”

From anger comes “delusion;” from delusion “loss of memory;” from loss of memory the “destruction of discrimination;” from the destruction of discrimination he “perishes.”

For me, it felt good to get back in touch with the Sanskrit language after a gap of nearly eight years. I had studied Sanskrit as a first language for about five years and had also cleared the Prathama (in 8th standard) and Dviteeya (in 9th standard) exams. I did not take up the Tritheeya exams (in 10th standard) because I shifted my focus on to the NTSE (National Talent Search Exam) conducted by NCERT, New Delhi.

And yes, I did become a National Level Scholar.