Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda
The Gita Makaranadam, authored by Swami Vidya Prakashananda, stands as one of the most pedagogically significant commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita in India, yet it remains a hidden treasure in the West.
Recognized for its immense depth and clarity, this work has been meticulously translated into Spanish by Pedro Nonell, a leading Spanish expert on the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, and the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.
This page explores the unique features of this version—including multilingual verses, extensive commentaries, and FAQs—offering a path for seekers to transition from a general understanding to a profound, advanced mastery of the Yoga of Wisdom.
Verses in Hindi, English and Spanish, comments, Gita Makaranadam
The Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda is a version of the Bhagavad Gita practically unknown to the West, but recognized as having high pedagogical value in India. Several Indian experts have highly recommended this magnificent version of the Bhagavad Gita to us. It has been translated into Spanish by .
Swami Vidya Prakashananda's version of the Bhagavad Gita Makaranadam:
- 1- The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency
- 2- Sankhya (Jnana) Yoga
- 3- The Yoga of Action
- 4- The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action
- 5- The Yoga of Renunciation of Action
- 6- The Yoga of Meditation
- 7- The Yoga of Knowledge and Realization of Brahman
- 8- The Yoga of the Imperishable Parabrahman
- 9- The Yoga of Royal and Discriminatory Knowledge
- 10- The Yoga of Divine Glories
- 11- The Yoga of the Universal Form of the Lord
- 12- The Yoga of Devotion
- 13- The Yoga of the Distinction between the Field and the Knower of the Field
- 14- The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Three Gunas
- 15- The Yoga of the Supreme Person
- 16- The Yoga of Distinction of Divine and Demoniac Nature
- 17- The Yoga of the Threefold Faith
- 18- The Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation
Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles
Advanced Training
The Bhagavad Gita Institute's advanced training is based on this version of the Bhagavad Gita, as well as Gandhi's.
- Karma Yoga Course (Path of Selfless Action)
- Bhakti Yoga Course (Path of Devotion)
- Jnana Yoga Course (Path of Knowledge)
- Dhyana Yoga Course (Path of Meditation)
- Master’s in Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta and the Science of Yoga
The Geetha Makarandam is characterized by:
Gita Makaranadam, 
Gita Makaranadam, .
Each of the shlokas is available in Hindi, English and Spanish.
All chapters are available in English or Spanish.
- Hindi
- International Sanskrit Transliteration Alphabet or AITS (Devanagari)
- Translation of the verse into English
- Translation of the verse into Spanish
- Also included is Gandhi's version of this verse
Example of a verse of the Gita Makaranadam:
2- Virtually every verse has an extensive commentary by Swami Vidya Prakashananda.
Example of a commentary by Swami Vivekananda on a verse from the Gita Makaranadam:
3- Comments by Swami Vivekananda
Furthermore, Mr. Babu Amaraneni has added relevant reflections of , and Swami Sarvapriyananda to several of the verses of this version.
Example from a comment by Swami Vivekananda of a verse of the Gita Makaranadam:
4- Each verse has a series of FAQs
In addition, the Gita Makaranadam of Swami Vidya Prakashananda contains for almost all the verses of all the chapters several FAQs (questions and answers) that will undoubtedly help the searcher to understand the key points of each verse.
Example of FAQs about a verse from the Gita Makaranadam:
5- Furthermore, the comments on the Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda include important quotes from many Swamis and Hindu religious works.
References of Swamis: Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Ramanuja, Vasishta, Swami Karmananda, Swami Turiyananda, Swami Brahmananda, Tulasi Ramayan, Patanjali, Vasishta, Swami Sarvapriyananda, Sharat Chandra Chakravarty, Sanatkumara, Anan-dagiri, Sankarananda, Sridhara, Sri Sankaracharya, Adi Shankara, Valmiki.
References to Hindu texts: Vedas, Rig Veda, Mahabharata, Katha Upanishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Ishavasya Upanishad, Aranya Parva, Udyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Vivekachudamani (Adi Shankara), Yoga Vasista (Valmiki), Srimad Bhagavatam, Chandogya, Purva-Mimamsa, Puranas, Rajasuya Yaga, Maha-Nirvana-Tantra, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Markandeya Purana.
Example of reference to the Katha Upanishad on a verse from the Gita Makaranadam:
Comparison (Gandhi vs Swami Vidya Prakashananda)
All the advanced courses and the Master of the Gita Institute are studied based on the Gita Makaranadam of Swami Vidya Prakashananda. As the seeker will discover, studying this version is accessing a much broader and more developed knowledge than that of 's or 's versions, however necessary to understand this advanced training.
Study process each chapter of the Bhagavad Gita:
How to study the Bhagavad Gita
That is, the versions of Gandhi or Swami Sivananda are excellent for having a global vision of each chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. Swami Vidya Prakashananda's version will allow us to delve deeper into the wisdom of each verse of each chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. As the student will perceive, the inspiration of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda is evident throughout this version.
To get an idea of the magnitude of this version, we present below a comparison between the number of pages of each chapter (in PDF format) of Gandhi's version (Sivananda's is similar in number of pages), the English of the Gita Makaranadam and our Spanish translation for training related to Karma Yoga (the number of pages is indicated in the columns)
Comparison of the number of pages:
Except for some chapters such as 2-Sankhya Yoga or 18-Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, in general the length in number of pages of the Gita Makaranadam is double or triple that of Gandhi's version. Due to the particularities of Spanish, the length is slightly longer than the English version.
As an example, if we compare Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga between the two versions, the difference in length can be observed (on DIN-A4 pages):
- Gandhi version: 30 pages
- Swami Vidya Prakashananda Version (English): 78
- Swami Vidya Prakashananda version (Spanish): 90
The shloka III-3 of both versions is compared below:
Version: Bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi versus the Gita Makaranadam:
Version: Bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes the Gita Makaranadam unique?
Unlike standard versions, the Gita Makaranadam provides a comprehensive breakdown of each verse. It includes the original Sanskrit/Hindi, English, and Spanish translations, followed by detailed pedagogical commentaries, FAQs for each verse, and references to major Upanishads and other holy texts.
Who translated this version into Spanish?
The Spanish translation and adaptation are the work of Pedro Nonell, the Director of the Gita Institute. He is a recognized authority on the Bhagavad Gita and the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, specifically the lineages of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.
How does this version compare to Gandhi's Bhagavad Gita?
While Gandhi’s version is excellent for a global overview of the Gita's philosophy, the Gita Makaranadam is significantly more detailed. For example, Chapter 3 is nearly three times longer in the Makaranadam due to the extensive philosophical commentaries and cross-references.
Is this version suitable for beginners?
It is highly recommended for those who wish to move beyond a surface-level reading. Because of its "FAQ" structure for almost every verse, it anticipates the student's doubts, making it an ideal tool for advanced training and deep spiritual study.
Conclusion
The Gita Makaranadam is more than just a translation; it is a complete spiritual roadmap for the modern seeker. By integrating the wisdom of Swami Vidya Prakashananda with the insights of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, Pedro Nonell provides a bridge between ancient Eastern wisdom and the Western mind.
Whether you are studying the path of Karma, Bhakti, or Jnana Yoga, this version ensures that no verse is left without clarity. It serves as the cornerstone of the Gita Institute's Master’s program, proving that when we dive deep into the light of knowledge provided by God through the Gita, our path toward liberation becomes clear and attainable.
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