Publisher's Synopsis
The Hindu tradition does not have a central holy book like the Bible or Koran, but the text that comes closest is the Bhagavad Gita, which is translated in English as The Song of God. As part of a spiritual tradition known for its massive epics and metaphysical expositions, the Gita lays out the essential aspects of Hindu philosophy in a mere 700+ verses. It has been extracted from the Mahabarata, the longest Hindu epic, but except for the first chapter, the Gita does not develop the story in the Mahabarata, nor does it share its general style and focus. The backdrop for the Gita is a battlefield during the Mahabarata War, which is dated around 1000 BC, against which is presented an intense spiritual conversation between a famous warrior, Arjuna, and Lord Krishna, in the form of his charioteer. Bart Marshall has translated numerous spiritual texts, including a highly revered version of Ashtavakra Gita.
