The Gita - A Theory of Human Action

Book Details:

• Title: Interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita

• Author: Dr. S.S. More

• Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 1990

• ISBN: 9788170302227

• Pages: 216

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 23 cm x 15 cm

• Weight: 340 gm

About the Author:

Dr. S.S. More holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Ancient Indian History and Culture from Poona University. He is a lecturer in Philosophy and has contributed several critical essays on the cultural history of India. His works, primarily published in Marathi, have earned appreciation from scholars, and he has written various papers on philosophical topics, which have been widely respected by intellectuals.

Book Description:

Dr. S.S. More’s Interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita challenges traditional interpretations of the Gita by offering a fresh perspective on the text, particularly focusing on the first chapter. The book examines how the Gita's philosophical insights can be understood not in isolation, but as deeply interconnected with the Mahabharata, which serves as the backdrop for Arjuna’s dilemma.

Dr. More critiques the conventional approach of isolating Arjuna's problem from Krishna's solution and argues that traditional interpretations ignore the context of Arjuna's dilemma, presenting the text in a disjointed manner. Instead, he proposes that the Gita must be understood within the larger narrative of the Mahabharata, as the Gita's teachings are an essential part of resolving Arjuna's moral and existential crisis.

This book emphasizes the Gita's relevance as a philosophical treatise on human action, particularly social action, and challenges the metaphysical interpretations that have traditionally been attached to it. By rejecting the Prasthanatrayi tradition and embedding the Gita within the Mahabharata’s philosophical framework, Dr. More makes a case for understanding the Gita as a coherent, consistent response to the moral dilemmas of human life.

Introduction:

The introduction provides a detailed explanation of how Dr. More’s research was inspired by dissatisfaction with existing interpretations of the Gita. He argues that these interpretations fail to properly address Arjuna’s dilemma, often treating it as either irrelevant or inadequately answered by Krishna. The book suggests that the Gita’s true significance lies in its ability to address the complex social and philosophical problems of human action, emphasizing that these problems cannot be satisfactorily explained merely through metaphysical frameworks.

The first chapter of the Gita is crucial to understanding this theory of human action, and Dr. More advocates for interpreting it in light of the Mahabharata’s broader narrative, thus providing a more holistic understanding of both the Gita and the Mahabharata.

Conclusion:

Dr. More’s Interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita is an insightful and thought-provoking work that re-contextualizes the Gita’s teachings. By situating it within the Mahabharata and focusing on Arjuna's actual problem, the book offers a more integrated understanding of the text, allowing readers to appreciate the Gita's relevance to the moral and philosophical challenges of human life.