Swami Venkatesananda

This book is humbly offered at the feet of H.H. Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, Founder, Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India, whose life illustrated the Eternal Truths of the Bhagavad Gita.

Grateful Thanks Are Offered To:

H.H. Sri Swami Chidananda, President D.L.S. Rishikesh, India.

H.H. Sri Narasimhulu, D.L.S. Rishikesh, India.

H.H. Sri Swami Lakshmi Ananda, Founder: Sivananda Ashram, West Australia.

Devotees of Swami Venkatesananda who contributed to the production of the previous editions: Swami Lakshmi Ananda and Venkataramani for editing; Kalyani McAlister, Chandra Liebman and Janaki McKenzie for typing; Priya Hart, Radha Hoare, Joyce Wilcock, Swami Sushila Ananda, Swami Ananda Devi, Valerie De Vos, Colin Silk, Priya Gilbert, Shubash and Damyanti Rama, Trevor Smallbone, Jill Woods, Satya Buys, Damyanti Gajjar, Joan Vaughan, Yolanda Desai, Tracy Fincham, Rasheda Daniels and Samantha Van Breda for proof-reading.

Swami Lakshmi Ananda for her work and contributions to Swami Venkatesananda’s legacy.

Swami Sushila Ananda for her work and contributions to Swami Venkatesananda’s legacy and advice.

Swami Ambikananda for proofing the Sanskrit for the new edition, as well as for her general advice and assistance.

Swami Vidyananda for all the production work in creating the new digital edition used on this website and in overseeing many devoted workers who assisted him to make this new digital edition possible:

Bhaktipriya Uren, Carla Pinheiro, Devi Harker, Etienne Moorcroft, Judy Tobler, Nayna Manga, Noxolo Mthimkulu, Piera Abbott, Uma Edwards, Vani Mataji for proof-reading the current edition. Vani Mataji for logistical support.

Worshipful Offering At The Feet Of Gurudev Swami Sivananda

It has always bordered on the miraculous. Gurudev blessed me and sent me overseas in 1961 and I have been asked to speak, speak and speak to all sorts of audiences in several countries. Before I stand up on the platform and after I get down from it I have always been skeptical of my worthiness to be there. But I have always experienced an inner transformation the moment I offer the prayer to the guru: Gurudev took over. It was he who spoke and I have always been the first listener.

I am nothing. It is Gurudev who has carried on his own mission: that it has been through this particular instrument is a blessing upon it. In the process the instrument itself has been chastened, purified and in spite of its unworthiness, glorified. But, no-one should ever forget that all glory, all praise, should be offered to Gurudev.

May his light shine forever in our hearts.

Editor’s Note

While in Mauritius in September 1982, Swami Venkatesananda began to revise his book of the translation and commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā – ‘The Song of God’ as daily readings. His objective was to expand and clarify the commentaries as well as to include many new ideas. I was visiting Mauritius at that time and Swamiji gave me the blessing of editing the work.

As an introduction, he wished to include a condensation of the talks-series on the Bhagavad Gītā which he had delivered to students of the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy, Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India, between November 1981 and January 1982. This was prepared and edited by Swami Lakshmi Ananda. Swamiji himself completed the editing.

On December 2nd 1982, Swamiji entered into Mahāsamādhi. He had worked on the revision till the page for May 3rd and it was left to me to continue. In order to do this, material was taken from Swamiji’s latest talks on the Gītā in which he had expressed many novel and revolutionary ideas.

Swamiji’s inspiration has been the guiding light all along, and I sincerely hope that the final result is in accordance with what he envisaged. Any shortcomings are due entirely to inadequacy on the part of the editor.

Finally, all of us involved in the production of this book, as well as devotees the world over, join to offer our deepest gratitude to beloved Swami Venkatesanandaji for his intense dedication, infinite patience and boundless love and guidance. Thank you, Swamiji, for pointing the way.

– Venkataramani

Note On Gender Pronouns

Swami Venkatesananda spoke equally to both men and women, and his use of the masculine pronouns ‘he’ and ‘him’ does not exclude the feminine. It is, in fact, shorthand for ‘human being’! He did not feel it necessary to distinguish between male and female, and the editor has continued the tradition in this publication.