The Song Celestial; Or, Bhagavad-Gîtâ (from the Mahâbhârata) / Being a discourse between Arjuna, Prince of India, and the Supreme Being under the form of Krishna

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

2388

Title

The Song Celestial; Or, Bhagavad-Gîtâ (from the Mahâbhârata) / Being a discourse between Arjuna, Prince of India, and the Supreme Being under the form of Krishna

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Sir Edwin Arnold's poetic translation of the Bhagavad-Gita presents a profound dialogue between Prince Arjuna and the deity Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Blending Sanskrit philosophy with lyrical English verse, this work explores duty, the nature of the soul, and the path to divine union, offering timeless wisdom for seekers of spiritual truth.

Summary up to 500 words

Set on the sacred plain of Kurukshetra, *The Song Celestial* presents the epic dialogue between Prince Arjuna and his divine charioteer, Krishna, who is the Supreme Being. As the armies of the Kauravas and Pandavas prepare for a great battle, Arjuna is overcome by despair upon seeing his kinsmen, elders, and friends arrayed as enemies. He refuses to fight, fearing the moral corruption and spiritual ruin that would result from slaughtering his own family. In response, Krishna guides Arjuna from the 'Book of Distress' to the 'Book of Deliverance,' revealing profound philosophical truths. Krishna teaches that the eternal soul is indestructible and that the physical body is merely a transient garment. He explains that true action must be performed without attachment to its results, a concept known as *karma yoga*. Krishna reveals his cosmic form, declaring himself the source of all existence, the Vedas, and the very essence of life and death. He asserts that devotion to the Supreme, regardless of one's caste or past, leads to eternal peace. The narrative transitions from Arjuna's initial grief to his ultimate realization of his duty as a sacred obligation. The text systematically outlines various paths to liberation, including knowledge, renunciation, self-restraint, discernment, service, and devotion. Rendered in flexible blank verse by Sir Edwin Arnold, this translation captures the sublime aspirations and pure piety of the original Sanskrit poem. It makes complex Brahmanic doctrines accessible to Western readers while preserving the dignity of the source material, harmonizing action with spiritual surrender and offering a comprehensive philosophy that remains a prevailing belief in India.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2388.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg2388.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-05 04:27 UTC

Categories

• Religion
• Poetry