By Brihat Mridanga Das
If you thought you knew the Bhagavad-gita, think again.
Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is is an endless mine of gems. Prabhupada Priya Devi Dasi, a veteran miner, offers priceless, jewel-like insights through her modern, accessible translations and commentaries, grounded in Prabhupada’s masterpiece. Whether someone is approaching the Gita for the first time, growing as a dedicated practitioner, or sharing its wisdom as a teacher, The Living Gita speaks to every reader.
Prabhupada Priya, a Bhaktivedanta scholar and graduate of the Vrindavan Institute of Higher Education (VIHE), grew up in a Christian home in the US and struggled to connect with the Bible despite her sincere efforts. When she discovered The Living Bible text (a simpler, more conversational paraphrase of the Christian scriptures), however, she could finally grasp its devotional wisdom. Based on her experience, she wanted to offer an easily digestible version of the Bhagavad-gita for those who struggled, as she did, as a child.
For those who already appreciate the Gita and want to hear its timeless wisdom from different angles of vision, The Living Gita will increase one’s appetite to apply and live the Gita. Prabhupada Priya often sheds new light on Srila Prabhupada’s metaphors and presents the same concepts with words and analogies to which readers in 2025 are sure to relate.
Anyone who teaches the Bhagavad-gita will find The Living Gita to be a powerful resource as well. Prabhupada Priya combines related, sequential verses and gives a captivating title to each section (e.g., “When Life Gets Complicated”), which are excellent topics for classes and discussions. What’s more, she clarifies the flow of Krishna and Arjuna’s conversation by adding a short “link” between each section.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/book-review-the-living-gita-a-landmark-in-iskcon-history/
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