*Srimad-Bhagavad Gita by Swami Swarupananada

[Anne Terri]

Srimad-Bhagavad Gita
by Swami Swarupananada
Advaita Ashrama
Mayavati, Almora, Himalayas
1909

In this version, the Sanskrit is not included, and is for English study, as well as linking to future Study Guides within

the Hinduism section of God's Living Bible - The Third Testament - Research Library.

Sister Nivedita - (Margaret Elizabeth Nobel) Translator

The Srimad - Bhagavad Gita, is the most reliable translation of the Bhagavad-Gitta, to match Sanskrit to English, however it is under debate, as to whether it has been written by Sister Nivedita, also known as Margaret Elizabeth Nobel. It dates from the early 20th century. There is controversy over a Gita translation by a woman, and one who was not from India.

Margaret Elizabeth Nobel, was a social worker, author, teacher and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. Margaret met him in London in the year 1895. Three years later, she traveled to Calcutta in India. In Belur, between March and April 1898 Swami Swarupananda taught Sister Nivedita Bengali and Hindu religous texts every day. It was under his guidance, in Almora, she began to read the Bhagavad Gita. It is written this inspired her to attempt serious meditation.The Swami Vivekananda gave her the name Nivedita, which means 'Dedicated to God'. This was when she made a vow known as Brahmacharya, on March 25, 1898. It is written, 'She gave her all to India', which is her epitaph.


Swami Swarupananda (1871 - 1906)

Manastic Disciple of Swami Vivekananda (who set up the Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati near Almora 1899)
First president of Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, near Almora.
Advaita Ashrama (a branch of a religious monastic order known as Ramakrishna Math which was setup by Swami Vivekananda after being taught by his guru Sri Ramakrishna)

Preface To The First Edition of Swami Swarupananda's Bhagavad-Gita

Swami Swarupananda, the first president of the Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, and late editor of the Prabuddha Bharata, compiled the present edition of the Bhagavad-Gita with the collaboration of his brother Sannyâsins at Mayavati, and some of the Western disciples of Swami Vivekananda. The manuscripts were begun in 1901, and were ready for the Press by the end of 1903, but through unavoidable circumstances the publication was delayed. It was only after the passing away of Swami Swarupananda that the work was brought out in monthly instalments in the Prabuddha Bharata, and this work is now presented to the public in convenient book form, after being carefully edited and enlarged with additional comments.


The object of the compiler was to make accessible to the Indian public who are educated in English but have a limited knowledge in Sanskrit, and also to the Western world, an edition of the Celestial Gita, in which they will feel sufficient interest to follow the original text, and thus create a taste for the study and interpretation of holy Sanskrit literature. How far the compiler has been successful in his object can be gleaned from the following pages. His thoughtful comments following the commentaries of the great Acharyas, and illuminating

sidelights thrown on intricate places, will, we trust, be of much help to the study of the Gita, especially to a beginner. An elaborate Index has been subsequently added.

A word of explanation as to the paraphrase is necessary here: Though the literal meaning of each word is given, yet to avoid the awkwardness of language and confusion of sense to a beginner, the equivalents of case terminals of such words as are used to qualify some other words in the sentence, are omitted in most cases.
We hope this edition will meet a much-felt want, not only in India but in all English-speaking countries.

The Editors and Publishers

Written by

Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, Himalayas -On October 18, 1909

The Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita, the English translation with commentary by Swami Swarupananda, is in the public domain in the United States, due to its publication before 1923. Link To Author and Translator: Swami Swarupananda and Sister Nivedita

Srimad-Bhagavad Gita
by Swami Swarupananada
Advaita Ashrama
Mayavati, Almora, Himalayas
1909