Leading Western Scholars Review the Works of His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
Dr. Shaligram Shukla,
Department of Linguistics,
Georgetown University, U.S.A.
... It is a deeply felt, powerfully
conceived and beautifully explained work. I don't know whether to
praise more this translation of the Bhagavad-gita, its
daring method of explanation, or the endless fertility of its ideas. I
have never seen any other work on the Gita with such an
important voice and style. It is a work of undoubted integrity. I have
strongly recommended this book to all students interested in Sanskrit
and Indian culture. It will occupy a significant place in the
intellectual and ethical life of modern man for a long time to come.
Dr. Edward C. Dimock, Jr.,
Department of South Asian Languages and Civilization,
The University of Chicago, U.S.A.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is a welcome edition from many
points of view. It can serve as a valuable textbook for the college
student. It allows us to listen to a skilled interpreter explicating a
text which has profound religious meaning... I think there will be
little disagreement about the quality of the Swami's Sanskrit
scholarship... And, finally, for the non-specialist, there is readable
English and a devotional attitude which cannot help but move the
sensitive reader.
The increasing numbers of Western
readers interested in classical Vedic thought have been done a service
by Swami
Bhaktivedanta. By bringing us a new and living interpretation of a text
already known to many, he has increased our understanding manyfold.
Dr. Kailash Vajpeye,
Visiting Professor of Indian Studies,
Center for Oriental Studies,
The University of Mexico
As a native of India now living in
the West, it has given me much grief to see so many of my fellow
countrymen coming to the West in the role of gurus and
spiritual leaders. For this reason, I am very excited to see the
publication of Bhagavad-gita As It Is by Sri A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It will help to stop the terrible
cheating of false and unauthorized "gurus" and "yogis" and will give an
opportunity to all people to understand the actual
meaning of Oriental culture.
Dr. Samuel D. Atkins,
Professor of Sanskrit and Vedic Philology,
Princeton University, U.S.A.
I am most impressed with A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's scholarly and authoritative edition
of Bhagavad-gita . It provides
a lucid English translation followed by an outstanding and
comprehensive exegesis, with extensive subject index. It is a most
valuable work for the scholar as well as the layman and is of great
utility as a reference book as well as a textbook. I promptly recommend
this edition to my students. It is a beautifully done book.
Dr. J. Stillson Judah,
Professor of the History of Religions and
Director of Libraries,
Graduate Theological Union,
Berkeley, California, U.S.A.
The scholarly world is again
indebted to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Although
Bhagavad-gita has been translated many times, Prabhupada adds a
translation of singular importance with his
commentary.
Dr. I.C. Sharma,
Professor of Philosophy,
Old Dominion University,
Canada
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is a unique
contribution to religion and philosophy in general and to the
understanding of the basic philosophy and religion of India. The
scholarly interpretation, honest translation and most intelligible
explanations
of the original text makes this work valuable both to the general
reader and to the serious student seeking advanced knowledge. I have
not come across a more comprehensive, lucid and more genuine
presentation of the Bhagavad-gita than this work.
Dr. Elwin H. Powell,
Professor of Sociology,
State University of New York,
Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.
If truth is what works, as Pierce
and the pragmatists insist, there must be a kind of truth in the
Bhagavad-gita As It Is, since those who follow its teachings
display a joyous serenity usually missing in the bleak and strident
lives of contemporary people.
Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins,
Professor of Religion,
Franklin and Marshall College,
U.S.A.
There is little question that this
edition is one of the best books available on the Gita
and devotion. Prabhupada's translation is an ideal blend of literal
accuracy and religious insight.
Thomas Merton,
Theologian
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 manifestation of the permanent
living importance of the Gita . Swami Bhaktivedanta
brings to the West a salutary reminder that our highly activistic and
one-sided culture is faced with a crisis that may end in
self-destruction because it lacks the inner depth of an authentic
metaphysical consciousness. Without such depth, our moral and political
protestations are just so much verbiage.
A.L. Basham,
Professor and Head of the Department
Of Asian Civilizations,
The Australian National University,
Canberra, Australia
It is a most useful publication for
the student of Sanskrit, the text in both Devanagari and Roman type is
clear and accurate, the word-for-word translation is helpful to the
beginner. The translation approaches the text from the angle of
Chaitanya bhakti. Thus, while I cannot agree that this edition is
"definitive", it is a very useful one, and as Professor Dimock says in
his Preface, it gives us insight into the doctrines of the Gaudiya
Vaishnava school.
The above judgment is made as a
scholar. As a human being, I cannot but applaud the fact that your
movement is bringing faith and joy back into the lives of many unhappy
young people who have not been able to find those virtues in the
religion and culture in which they were raised, and I wish you success
in the good work you are doing.
Dr. Geddes MacGregor,
Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Philosophy,
University of Southern California, U.S.A.
No work in all Indian literature is
more quoted, because none is better loved in the West than the
Bhagavad-gita . Translation of such a work demands not only
knowledge of Sanskrit, but an inward sympathy with the theme and a
verbal artistry, for the poem is a symphony in which God is seen in all
things.
His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada is, of course, profoundly sympathetic to the theme.
He brings to it, moreover, a special interpretative insight... a
powerful and persuasive presentation in the bhakti tradition...
The swami does a real
service for students by investing the beloved Indian epic with fresh
meaning. Whatever our outlook may be, we should all be grateful for the
labor that has led to this illuminating work.
Dr. William F. Shipley,
Professor of Linguistics,
University of California, Santa Cruz, U.S.A.
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust edition
of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is proves to be an inspiration
and a delight... This is a beautiful book, subtly combining excellent
scholarship with a reverent sensitivity.
Dr. Davis Herron,
Professor of Religion,
Manhattan College, U.S.A.
This definitive edition of the
Gita is, due to the extensive purports, a storehouse of ancient
Vedic wisdom, poetry, politics and history. It should serve as a useful
textbook for students and a reference book for scholars of religion, as
well as a general introduction to Vedic culture and practical
philosophy. It is written for serious readers in general, not only from
a scholar's point of view, but as a life-long practitioner. It is this
sense of devotion that Srila Prabhupada has captured in his discussion
of the verses and which other commentators have failed to reveal. For
this reason, Bhagavad-gita As
It Is is an essential work for understanding the Indian
religious tradition.
Dr. Ann Stanford,
Translator of The Bhagavad-gita: A New Verse Translation,
The Seabury Press
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
is an excellent translation of this important religious work. Swami
Prabhupada renders the words of the master creator of the Gita as only
a person intimately familiar with the culture and language of ancient
India as well as the full religious purport of its message can. Being
myself a translator of the Gita, I know he has been
faithful to the tremendous task of bringing this work fully into the
present.
Dr. James Cecil King,
Professor of Sanskrit,
George Washington University, U.S.A.
Swami Bhaktivedanta's edition of the
Bhagavad-gita --with Sanskrit text, Roman
transliteration, English glosses and translation and a scholarly
exegesis--is an invaluable reference work. We are
indebted to the editor for his erudition, insights and industry, and to
the publisher for making the work available in an attractive and
readable, yet inexpensive format.
Dr. Frederick B. Underwood,
Department of Religion,
Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
I have had the opportunity of
examining several volumes published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust,
and have found them to be of excellent quality and of great value for
use in college classes on Indian religions. This is particularly true
of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust edition and translation of the Bhagavad-gita.
Dr. Victor Daniels,
Indian Studies Program,
California State College, U.S.A.
This is a real work of scholarship,
and is at the same time written simply and clearly. The many beautiful
illustrations bring the reader still another dimension of Indian
consciousness.
Choice Magazine,
March, 1973
Another commentary on the Bhagavad-gita,
this one by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada... a
translation and commentary by an ardent devotee of Sri Krishna is a
welcome counterpart to the familiar works of such western scholars as
Edgerton and Macnicol and the more modern translations of Deutsch,
Staford and others. The frankly dvaitist position is a welcome contrast
to much that is presented as "Hinduism" in popular courses.
Dr. Leo M. Pruden,
Dean of Academic Affairs,
College of Oriental Studies,
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
I can thus happily recommend
Prabhupada's edition and commentary on the Gita to any
of my colleagues in the field of Religious Studies, for I myself have
included it on a number of my reading lists for my courses in the field
of Indian Religions.
Dr. Alf Hitebeitel,
Professor of the History of Religions,
George Washington University, U.S.A.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami's Bhagavad-gita
As It Is has provided a rich resource for a
number of students, including those beginning to learn Sanskrit, those
who have longed to appreciate Hindu literature within
a living tradition and those who appreciate dedicated and impressive
scholarship. As for myself, I have persistently recommended it on all
these counts, and have also found such satisfaction in
it as the above.
Dr. Judith Tyberg,
Founder-Director, East-West Cultural Centre, Los Angeles,
Professor of Sanskrit (Field Faculty),
Goddard Collage, U.S.A.
Swami Bhaktivdanta has offered a
great service with his English translation and commentary on
the great Upanishadic scripture, the Bhagavad-gita .
This presentation with its many beautiful color pictures, is truly an
inspired work.
Olivier Lacombe,
Professor of Sanskrit and Indology,
Sorbonne University, Paris, France
The original version of this work is
by Swami Bhaktivedanta. Essentially, it consists of a commented
translation of the Bhagavad-gita, edited
in English, a language which the Swami has completely mastered, as he
has Sanskrit and Bengali.
As successor to the Chaitanya
line,
the author has right to an august title, according to the Indian
usage: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
The great interest in reading his
edition of the Gita lies in the authenticity of the
interpretation according to the Chaitanya tradition.
As for this French version, here
offered to the public, it is avowedly faithful to the original English
by Swami Bhaktivedanta. It has been presented without philologic
addition or doctrinal editing.
Dr. Francois Chenique,
Profesor of Religious Sciences,
Institute of Political Studies,
Paris, France
Srila Prabhupada's edition thus fills
a sensitive gap in France, where many hope to become familiuar with
traditional Indian thought, beyond the commercial East-West hodgepodge
that has arisen since the time Europeans first penetrated India.
... Whether the reader be an
adept of Indian spiritualism or not, a reading of The
Bhagavad-gita As It Is will be extremely profitable, for it will
allow him to understand the Gita as still today the
majority of Hindus do. For many, this will be the first contact with
the true India, the ancient
India, the eternal India.
Dr. Jean Varenne,
Professor of Sanskrit Studies,
Universite d'Aix-en-Provence, France
... This magnificently presented
book is of inestimable value. To [the translation and commentary]
are added--in order to facilitate to the maximum the reader's
understanding of the author's explanations--an entire series of very
valuable appendices: glossary, index, pronunciation guide, etc. There
are also numerous illustrations in full color with the merit of having
made no compromises with Western art. The paintings are in fact exactly
in keeping with contemporary, popular religious iconography of India.
One cannot help but
enthusiastically recommend that others read such a work which, from so
many points of view, merits applause.
Dr. Paul Lesourd, Author,
Professor Honoraire,
Catholic University of Paris, France
I can say that in the Bhagavad-gita
As It Is I have found explanations and answers to questions I
had always posed regarding the interpretations of this sacred work,
whose spiritual discipline I greatly admire. If the asceticism and
ideal of the apostles which form the
message of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is were more
widespread and more respected, the world in which we live would be
transformed into a better, more fraternal place.
Srimad-Bhagavatam
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
Valdis Leinieks,
Department of Classics,
University of Nebraska, U.S.A.
The monumental edition of the
Bhagavata Purana by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is a major
contribution to Indian studies. It is one of those rare works which are
truly useful to both the scholar and the layman. The edition contains
the Sanskrit text, both in Devanagari and
transliteration, a word-for-word translation, connected translation in
contemporary English, and an extensive commentary for each
verse. It can thus be used profitably by students of widely differing
degrees of familiarity of Sanskrit and Indian culture. A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's commentary represents a consistent
religious interpretation of the work based on thorough familiarity with
Hindu tradition. The books are beautifully produced, yet modestly
priced.
They should play a significant role in promoting serious study of
Indian culture and religion in the English-speaking world.
Kantimag Kumar,
Professor of Indo-European Philology,
Oxford University, England
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
has undertaken the gigantic task of translating into English the most
popular of the Vedic theological works which are the philosophical
treasures of ancient India.
Now, in his monumental English
rendering of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata
Purana ), the author has made available for the first time to
English readers a full perspective of the broad philosophical scope of
the Bhagavatam . Srila Prabhupada has taken immense care
to present before the reader a lucid and comprehensive exposition of
the text by providing accurate synonyms for all words, an easily
intelligible English rendering and an elaborate commentary, which is
not only a useful compendium of information on the vast body of Vedic
literature, but also a learned, logical and crystal-clear exposition of
the intended meaning of this unique sacred scripture.
This important series, presented
by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, affords a golden opportunity to
scholars and laymen alike to dive deeply into the ocean of India's
profound philosophical wisdom.
Dr. Alex Wayman, Professor of
Sanskrit,
Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
It has been my great pleasure
recently to have read the Srimad-Bhagavatam in the
superb edition authorized by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I am
sure this monumental work will go far to
bring the sublime message of the Bhagavatam to numerous
Westerners who otherwise would miss this opportunity.
Alaka Hejib, Department of
Sanskrit and Indian Studies,
Harvard University, U.S.A.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
has presented the monumental scripture Srimad Bhagavatam,
the stupendous work of Maharsi Vyasa, with the English translation
accompanied by an exegesis of each verse. His
commentary is remarkable from various points of view. In these books
one finds a rare blend of traditionalism and modernism with an abundant
fund of knowledge about Hinduism... The format of the book is
appealing, and it is attractively produced... For those who have no
access to the Sanskrit language, this book
conveys in superb manner the message of the Bhagavatam.
It can be recommended to all students of Indian religion, culture and
philosophy.
Dr. Garry Gelade,
Professor of Psychology,
Oxford University, England
This is a book to be treasured. The
clarity and precision of his commentaries on the text can rarely have
been equalled. No one of whatever faith or philosophical persuasion who
reads these books with an open mind can fail to be both moved and
impressed.
Dr. Mahesh Mehta,
Professor of Asian Studies,
The University of Windsor, Canada
In the diversity of approaches
offered by the yogis of India, the most significant, of course,
is the way of Krishna consciousness. It is amazing to se how Sri
Bhaktivedanta Swami has in less than ten years
succeeded by his personal devotion, untiring energy and efficient
direction in organizing the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness.
Now, following his exposition of
the Bhagavad-gita, which has
gained a considerable popularity both among the Sanskritic and
non-Sanskritic circles, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has
undertaken a stupendous project of rendering the entire
Bhagavata into English. The format of the work, with
Sanskrit text transliteration, analysis of words and purport, makes
it eminently useful for students of Sanskrit. The edition is true
to the spirit and flavour of the original. Srila Prabhupada has
done an excellent service to the students of Sanskrit poetry by his
able rendition of "the abode of divine joy" that the Bhagavata
is.
Dr. Will B. Evans, Jr.,
Professor of Humanities and Philosophy,
University of Arkansas, U.S.A.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada's explanation of the text is extraordinarily lucid and
cogent
in the light of contemporary problems. This edition of Bhagavatam
is especially welcome at a time when India's wisdom is
needed in the West. I recommend highly this edition of the
Bhagavatam to anyone who wishes a sound and practical knowledge
of India's spiritual wisdom.
Professor C.P. Agrawal,
Chairperson,
Department of Humanities,
University of Michigan, U.S.A.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is a
valuable source material for several categories of readers. With its
exhaustive plan of providing the original Sanskrit text, its Roman
transliteration, English synonyms, English translation and elaborate
commentary by a scholar and practitioner of the philosophy, it cannot
but be attractive to serious students and scholars
of religion and philosophy. I recommend this series to anyone as an
important and useful reference work.
Dr. I.W. Mabbett,
Professor of History,
Monash University, Australia
It is clear that these volumes are
essential additions to the library of any university where Indological
studies are pursued. The books have been lavishly produced, and the
format is one likeley to be attractive to the undergraduate reader. The
scholarship of the edition and translation is very
sound, and the sections discussing the "purport" of each verse contain
a great deal of background material.
Dr. Ashok Malhotra,
Professor of Philosophy,
State University of New York at
Oneonta, New York, U.S.A.
The translation by His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of the First Canto of
Srimad Bhagavatam is a rare treat for scholars as well as
students of the Hindu religion. Swami Bhaktivedanta's translation is
accurate, and his use of contemporary idioms in the commentary will
appeal to both scholars and layman. The book
will be a worthy addition to one's personal and/or college library.
Dr. A.D. Brear,
Professor of Philosophy,
The University of Leicester, England
I have derived great pleasure from
studying the first volume of your edition of the Srimad
Bhagavatam . It is indeed a model of clarity, and may be used
with profit by all students of Indian religions. Here at last is a text
of central significance with a sensitive commentary by a master from
within the bhakti tradition.
... presents the text within its living spiritual context.
Dr. James Breckenridge,
Professor of History of Religions,
Baylor University, U.S.A.
The Srimad Bhagavatam
is the most celebrated of the Puranas . No serious
student of Hinduism can afford to neglect Swami Prabhupada's
translation of this text. Here is a valuable tool for both the student
and teacher of world religions.
Dr. R.E. Asher,
Professor of Linguistics,
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
It is axiomatic that no book can be
expected entirely to satisfy all its potential readers. Here is one,
however, which can be said to come remarkably close
to that ideal. Here we have the ideal of what an edition of a Sanskrit
text for a Western audience should be. It is beautifully planned and
printed.
Dr. Sooda L. Bhatt,
Professor of Indian Languages,
Boston University, U.S.A.
The Srimad-Bhagavatam
is extremely useful for all those interested in ancient India, whether
their interest be that of the philosopher, the student of religion, the
historian, the linguist, the sociologist or the political scientist. I
truly hope that Srila Prabhupada will complete his translation of the
entire Bhagavata and continue to translate other eminent
Sanskrit works as well. Undoubtedly this work of Swamiji's is a great
contribution to the
troubled human society of today's world.
Choice Magazine, June, 1975
A commentary on the Vedanta-sutra
by Srila Vyasadeva divided into twelve "cantos", of which four are
presented here in eight beautifully produced volumes. These lavish
volumes, obviously the product of devotional effort, contain many
lovely full-color illustrations. Even the dust jackets are replete with
symbolism.
A well-prepared set of
references, glossaries, pronunciation guides, indexes to Sanskrit
verses, and general indexes concluded Cantos 1 and 2. All in all, these
books will be useful in the study of Hinduism.
Dr. Mohan Lal Sharma,
Professor of English,
Slippery Rock State College, U.S.A.
The life of Krishna is treated here
with marvelous felicity and facility. Each Sanskrit verse carries an
English rendering followed by an exegesis/explication of India's hoary
and sublime contributions in culture, philosophy, politics, sociology,
religion and bhakti (love). The reviewer deems it a signal
honor to strongly recommend this encyclopedic work, undertaken as a
labor of love, to all readers/students of Indian religion and culture.
Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
Dr. Gerald A. Larue,
Professor of Religion,
University of Southern California, U.S.A.
Year by year, interest in Eastern
religious thought and philosophy grows in America. The editing and
translating of the important Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita
will make a substantial contribution to those who seek information
about Indian concepts. This is an attractive, readable presentation of
the text. The Sanskrit [sic--Bengali]
text is followed by an English transliteration, synonyms and
a translation--an excellent educational approach to the teachings. The
intent of the texts is developed in the purports, which guide
the reader into interpretative appreciation of the texts. A list of
references, a Glossary, a Bengali pronunciation chart, an index,
and eleven plates (most in color) make this volume an important
resource
for anyone interested in the teachings of Krishna.
N.C. Bhattacharya,
Professor, University of Alberta,
Canada
I have read Sri
Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi Lila, Volume 1 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta
with great pleasure. Though the work is relatively unknown in the West,
it is considered to be an important contribution to one aspect, namely,
bhakti margo, of Indian philosophy and Hindu
religion. Scholars and students interested in Indian classics will
certainly welcome the publication of this important work with original
Bengali text, Roman transliterations of the text, translation, and
elaborate purports in English.
Dr. Bruce Long,
Department of Asian Studies,
Cornell University, U.S.A.
The appearance of an English
translation of Krishnadas Kaviraja Gosvami's Sri
Chaitanya-charitamrita by A.C. Bhaktivedanta (Founder-Acharya of
the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is a cause for
celebration among both scholars in Indian studies and lay people
seeking to enrich their knowledge of Indian spirituality. It will fill
a most serious lacuna in our libraries and in our course on the
religious traditions of India.
For the first time we possess a
readily accessible edition for this great religious classic that will
provide opportunity for scholars in Indian literature and followers of
the Krishna consciousness tradition alike to compare the original text
with a modern English translation and become acquainted with the deeper
spiritual meaning of this
work through the learned commentary of Sri Bhaktivedanta.
Anyone who
gives a close reading to the commentary will sense that here, as in his
other works, Sri Bhaktivedanta has combined a healthy mixture of the
fervent devotion and aesthetic sensitivity of a devotee and the
intellectual rigor of a textual scholar. At
no point does the author allow the intended meaning of the text
to be eclipsed by the promotion of a particular doctrinal persuasion.
These exquisitely wrought volumes
will be a welcome addition to the libraries of all persons who are
committed to the study of Indian spirituality and religious literature,
whether their interests are sparked by the motivations of the scholar,
the devotee or the general reader.
Professor Daniel H. Ingalls,
Chairman, Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies,
Harvard University, U.S.A.
I am most happy to have these
handsomely printed volumes which embody the work of so learned and
sincere a believer in the message of the Charitamrita.
Dr. Rory O'Day,
Department of Human Relations,
University of Waterloo, Canada
I can recommend Sri
Chaitanya-charitamrita as a source of rich insights for every
serious student of consciousness.
Dr. Mark Juergensmeyer,
Associate Professor of Ethics and
the Phenomenology of Religions,
The Graduate Theological Union, U.S.A.
It is a handsomely bound, elegant
volume, as well befits its contents. The format of the book is
well thought out and should be a model for other translations. Having
the original text and synonyms, verse-by-verse with the translations
and purport is a splendid idea.
It is a genuine joy to have this
momentous biographical work on the life of Bengal's great saint
Chaitanya, prepared by his best-known modern interpreter, A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Dr. Leonard Nathan,
Professor, Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies,
University of California at Berkeley, California, U.S.A.
The Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita
of Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami is one of the most important texts of the
Vaishnava bhakti movement of
north India, and for that reason alone A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada's translation of it is important. Its very presentation
provides embodiment of a living religious tradition. All this
for the very reasonable price of $7.95 per volume, in a day when
books of this size with illustrations might run easily twice that.
Dr. Herbert J. Landar,
Professor of English,
California State University,
Los Angeles, U.S.A.
Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita
with Chaitanya's teachings, as represented in the
sixteenth century by Krishnadas, in the brilliant edition of
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, contains the original Bengali text
(some parts are in Sanskrit), a transliteration, separate treatments of
the meanings of words, translation, and explanations, along with
prefactory and lecture material, a key
to the Bengali syllabary, a map of Bengal, and beautiful illustrations.
Students, scholars and laymen will take inspiration from this work,
each in his own way.
Dr. Arthur Kreisman,
Professor of Humanities,
Dean of Arts and Sciences,
Southern Oregon State College, U.S.A.
Apart from being a great religious
leader and reformer, Sri Chaitanya ranks as one of the outstanding
thinkers of classical medieval Hindu philosophy. It is
therefore both important and interesting to have this Bhaktivedanta
edition of the Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita in English
available, so that scholars who do not read Sanskrit can for the first
time follow the subtleties of Achintya-Bhedabheda doctrine in their
original format. There is the additional bonus
of insight into a Vaishnavite saint and religious ecstatic. Praise for
the physical format of these books (the printing, the illustrations,
the helpful apparatus supplied) and the price cannot be too high. They
are truly beautifully done.
Dr. John L. Mish,
Chief, Oriental Division,
New York Public Library, New York, U.S.A.
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust editions
of the famous Sanskrit religious classics of India with new
translations and commentaries are an important addition to
our expanding knowledge of spiritual India. The new editions of the Bhagavata
Purana ( Srimad Bhagavatam ) and Sri
Chaitanya-charitamrita are particularly welcome. The print is
clear and the
paper excellent. Continue the good work!
Other Writings
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
Dr. Robert B. Tapp,
Professor of Humanities,
Religious Studies and South Asian
Studies,
University of Minnesota, U.S.A.
I know of no better introduction to
the vast literature of Krishna bhakti than Swami
Bhaktivedanta's paraphrase of Canto 10 of the Bhagavata Purana
. Translators inevitably have to choose between felicity and fidelity.
In this edition, Bhaktivedanta resolves the
dilemma by presenting a "purport" of each chapter which is
both readable and substantial... retains much of the piety and
rich imagery of the original. Krishna has been too transforming a
figure for too many people to remain confined to India or known
only through the Bhagavad-gita .
Here we have the rounding out of his story that has proved so fecund
for Indian art, song, dance and devotion.
Dr. R.N. Sharma,
Professor of History,
Colgate University, U.S.A.
A very beautiful account of Lord
Krishna's life. All the stories are well presented and are easy to read
and understand. Each volume has many colored pictures showing Lord
Krishna in different moods and actions. The glossary of terms makes it
easy for Western readers to enjoy these books much more.
Dr. Bardwell Smith,
Professor of Religion,
Carleton College, U.S.A.
This marvelously available summary
study of Srila Vyasadeva's Srimad Bhagavatam (10th
Canto) by Swami Bhaktivedanta is a boon to classroom discussion of
material previously unavailable to all but a few. The reasonably priced
three-volume paperback edition brings this wealth of stories about
Krishna within reach of undergraduate study, making knowledge of the
bhakti tradition considerably richer. Recommended for both
introductory and intermediate use.
Dr. Louis Roberts,
Executive Chairman,
Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures,
Syracuse University, U.S.A.
The book Krishna: The Supreme
Personality of Godhead should prove to be an important addition
to materials available for college courses in religion. The
three-volume paperback edition contains plates with well-produced
colors. The text reads well in English, and undergraduates will have no
difficulty reading large segments of the work. It is
one of the best sources in English for gaining insight into the
bhakti religious tradition.
Dr. William A. Johnson,
Professor of Philosophy,
Brandeis University, U.S.A.
Krishna is an important
book for both the new student of the History of Religions as
well as for the professional scholar. It is presented in an
interesting format with a readable text and multi-colored pictures. A
glossary in the back of the book helps clarify the many complex terms
which are used in the volume.
Krishna is a helpful
and significant contribution to the growing phenomenon of
interest in the religions of Asia.
Dr. James Preston,
Professor of Anthropology,
State University of New York at Oneonta, U.S.A.
At last we have an inexpensive set of
classical Indian texts (Krishna, three volumes) available
for students. These are particularly valuable for introductory courses
on Indian civilization, but may also be used to advantage by
anthropologists who seek to introduce undergraduates to South Asia.
Frequently anthropology courses on India use ethnographies and
sometimes indigenous novels as required texts, but these
should be supplemented with some key classical Indian scriptures. Now
this is possible with the welcome publications of the Bhaktivedanta
Book Trust.
Dr. Roger j. Corless,
Professor of Religion,
Duke University, U.S.A.
With all the books on Vedanta
and bland neo-transcendentalism that are at present available to the
English-speaking public, it is good to have on the popular market such
an uncompromising statement of an
opposing view from the pen of one who is as firmly rooted in a
disciplic tradition as Bhaktivedanta Swami. The Sanskrit is carefully
and intelligibly romanized. There is a Sanskrit glossary, an
index and a list of scriptural citations.
Dr. Patrick Peebles,
Professor of History,
University of Missouri at Kansas City, U.S.A.
This is a valuable book for any
student of Indian civilization. It is a sumary and exegesis of an
important work of Sanskrit religious literature, written
in a clear, direct and very readable style. It serves as a rigorous
explanation of bhakti-yoga for one whose knowledge of Krishna
comes primarily through Indian art, literature or
history.
Dr. Klaus Klostermaier,
Department of Religion,
University of Manitoba, Canada
This "authorized English presentation
of Srila Rupa Goswami's Sri Upadeshamrita"--as the
subtitle says--is a very welcome addition to literature from the
Chaitanyaite school of thought. This very brief work gives in a
nutshell the essence of prema-bhakti . The present edition
gives the Sanskrit text in bold Devanagari and in Roman
transliteration, a word-for-word translation of the text, a running
translation in bold type and a brief comment after each verse, which
should prove very helpful for students. A glossary as well as an index
of Sanskrit terms has been added. The cover--colour reproduction of
photographs of Rupa Goswami's samadhi in Vrindaban and of the
Radha-kunda at Govardhana--make the volume appear very attractive. It
should be
very useful for classes dealing with Indian religions.
Dr. H.B. Kulkarni,
Associate Professor of English and Philosophy,
Utah State University, U.S.A.
1. Krishna, two volumes
2. The Bhagavad-gita As It Is
3. Srimad-Bhagavatam
4. Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
5. The Nectar of Devotion
I have read the above books with
great care, attention and profound interest, and have found them to be
of incalculable value to anyone who is curious about India's spiritual
and cultural heritage. The
quality of the get-up and illustrations is excellent, and the language
unusually felicitous. The author of these books displays on every page
an astounding scholarship in the subjects treated, and also
an understanding and ease of exposition of abstruse ideas--which are
rarest gifts of a man who has been rigorously brought up in the
schools of Vaishnava philosophy and has absorbed its teachings so fully
that he seems to have reached the highest state of spiritual
illumination only few blessed souls achieve.
Dr. James P. McDermott,
Professor of Religion,
Bowdoin College, U.S.A.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's
volume on the Teachings of Lord Chaitanya is a most
handsome production, the photographs and the other full-color
illustrations making a most attractive accompaniment to the text. The
text itself serves as a solid introduction to the life and thought of
Chaitanya. Scholars will find the inclusion of all quotations in
transliterated Sanskrit to be of use, while full translation of such
passages will make the text accessible to students, as will the
presence of the Glossary.
Dr. Roy C. Amore,
Professor of Religion,
University of Windsor, Canada
All of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami's
writings combine an expert's knowledge of Sanskrit and a spiritual
master's authority of interpretation with an especially readable style.
When read from cover to cover, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
provides an encyclopedia of Krishna doctrine and ethics. The reader
sees here a very complete expression of "personal theism", which
differs radically from Shankara's Vedanta. This should
prove a valuable book to the student.
Robert Frager,
Assistant Professor of Psychology,
University of California, Santa Cruz, U.S.A.
I have read over both the Krishna
trilogy and the Teachings of Lord Chaitanya . I find them
both excellent examples of Indian religious thought. The stories and
illustrations of Krishna provide an insight into Indian
devotionalism that is not generally available in the United States. The
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya gives details of
the life of Chaitanya that are also very difficult to find outside of
India. It also includes many interesting interpolative comments by
Bhaktivedanta Swami that amplify and interpret Chaitanya's teachings.
Thank you for the opportunity to
review these books. I plan to recommend them as alternative readings
for my classes on psychology of religion.
Dr. K.L. Seshagiri Rao,
Professor of Religious Studies,
University of Virginia, U.S.A.
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
is an authentic and lucid account in English of the life and philosophy
of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The spiritual movement initiated by "the
Great Master" five hundred years ago has profoundly influenced millions
of men and women in India ever since, an is presently making its mark
throughout the world.
Sri A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the present spiritual master of the
movement in disciplic succession, has done a great service to the
English-speaking world by making this spiritual treasure
available in English.
Paul Hockings, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor of Anthropology,
University of Illinois, U.S.A.
This [Sri Ishopanishad] is a very
elegant paperback, clearly printed and well designed in every
way. The eighteen Sanskrit mantras are given in both
Devanagari and Roman script, something that will be of
great help to the beginning students. Swami Prabhupada has given
intelligent and lucid commentary on every mantra, and--unusual
for this type of publication--a glossary and
index have been added.
Dr. C.L. Spreadbury,
Professor of Sociology,
Stephen F. Austin State University, U.S.A.
These books are not only beautiful,
but also relevant to our times, as we as a nation search for
new cultural patterns of our way of life.
Dr. Frank Ledwith,
Professor of Psychology,
University of St. Andrews, Scotland
The Perfection of Yoga
is most useful for anyone wishing to understand the meaning of yoga.
It also introduces the student to the study of Bhagavad-gita
and shows how direct
and simple, yet in another sense, how profoundly complex is the path of
spiritual growth through yoga practice. It is a scholarly book,
yet has a direct personal meaning for all--a powerful combination.
Dr. Jerry M. Chance, Chairman,
Department of Philosophy and Religion,
Florida A & M University, U.S.A.
The publications of the Bhaktivedanta
Book Trust are very valuable documents and will no doubt become
classics for the English reader of Indian religious literature.
Click on the links below to view listings of Institutions of Higher
Learning, Public Libraries and Private Libraries and Others worldwide
who have placed orders for whole sets of Srimad-Bhagavatam
and/or Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita by His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. These lists are by no means
complete.
The
Bhaktivedantas
The Bhaktivedanta Book
Trust - Krishna Books 
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
Srimad-Bhagavatam
Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita
