
The book opens with a reverent invitation to discover the Bhagavad‑Gītā, presenting it as a rare blend of poetry, philosophy, and devotional song. Its author guides listeners through the ancient battlefield scene that frames the text, while highlighting the poem’s enduring relevance for modern seekers of wisdom. The early chapters lay a clear foundation, explaining how the Gītā emerged from the Vedic world and why it continues to captivate educated readers across cultures.
From this base, the work turns outward, drawing surprising connections between the Gītā’s teachings and the moral ideas of Plato, the ethical vision of Virgil, and the compassion of the Christian gospel. By juxtaposing Eastern and Western traditions, the author invites listeners to contemplate shared values such as duty, devotion, and the search for inner truth. The comparative approach is scholarly yet accessible, making the first act a lively dialogue between two great spiritual legacies.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (157K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Calcutta: Thacker, Spink & Co., 1903.
Credits
Andrew Sly, MFR, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.)
Release date
2024-02-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1861–1929
A Scottish missionary-scholar who spent much of his career in Calcutta, he wrote influential studies of Hinduism and modern Indian religious life. His work helped shape how many English-language readers first encountered Indian religions in the early 20th century.
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