Which Version of the Bhagavad Gita to Choose?
Choosing the right translation of the Bhagavad Gita can be a transformative step on your spiritual journey. Across centuries, illuminated Swamis and scholars have offered unique commentaries on this sacred text, tailoring its profound messages to distinct historical contexts and human temperaments.
Guided by the insights of Pedro Nonell, a leading Spanish authority on the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta philosophy, , and Swami Vivekananda, this guide uncovers the layers behind different interpretive lenses. Whether you are pulled toward dynamic, selfless action or deep intellectual study, finding the right framework will allow God to illuminate your path to inner peace.
Historical Interpretations & Commentaries of the Bhagavad Gita
Reflection by on versions of the Bhagavad Gita.
The last part of the Vedas makes up the Vedanta (“End of the Vedas”), and is considered the highest Vedic teachings. In Chapter 15, verse 15 of the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna (the incarnation of knowledge) tells Arjuna that “He is the author of Vedanta.”
The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras (which are very difficult to interpret) make up the triple canon of Vedanta philosophy. Among them, the Bhagavad Gita is the most accessible and practical, representing the essence of the Vedas, Vedanta, and Hinduism.
Understanding the Wisdom and Voice of the Swamis
In Hinduism, there is no central authority; there is no equivalent of a Pope or a Vatican. defined Hinduism, or rather Sanatana Dharma (the eternal religion) as:
These Swamis, throughout history, have made their own interpretations of the Bhagavad Gita, so there are as many “Gitas" as there have been commentators.
For Swami Sarvapriyananda (monk of the Ramakrishna Order):
“Surely the oldest, most extensive and profound commentary
available of all is that of Adi Shankara (788-820), although it included
comments from previous commentators, it was written within the framework of the Advaita Vedanta (non-dualistic) philosophy. 300 years later Ramanuja wrote his beautiful commentary on the Bhagavad Gita explaining it in the philosophical
framework of Vashishtha Advaita Vedanta (qualified monism). 200 years later Madhva wrote his own commentary on the framework of dualistic Vedanta.
Some scholars criticize that Shankara's version tries to explain the Bhagavad
Gita within the framework of Advaita Vedanta, stating that the principles of the Bhagavad Gita do not fully fit a dualistic view.
But the Bhagavad Gita cannot particularly fit into any of these frameworks since it is the origin of all these systems, the commentaries came after the Bhagavad
Gita. That is, the harmonizing essence of the Bhagavad Gita allows all these philosophical frameworks to be included. Great Swamis have created their own
philosophical systems within the framework of the Bhagavad Gita, and all of them
are valid, we cannot say one is false and the other true.
And so until today. Swami Abedananda, who founded the New York Vedanta Society
at the behest of Swami Vivekananda, also made an extensive and insightful
commentary, although it is difficult to find in English. Swami Ranganath Ananda
ji who was the 13th president of the Ramakrishna order, wrote an extensive three-volume commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.
There are comments in many Indian languages, and of course in English, Spanish
or French. Yale University held a month-long camp in 2018 to collect all English
translations of the Bhagavad Gita. And more commentators will come
Summarizing:
- There are commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita that are more accessible than others, some are introductory, and others go much deeper into its teachings
- The commentator can follow any of the Vedantic philosophies (dual, non-dual, qualified monism) defining the focus of the commentary
I would dare to add another factor. In the Bhagavad Gita, the four paths or Yogas are mainly exposed: the Path of action (Karma Yoga), the Path of Devotion (Bhakti) or the Path of Knowledge (Jnana), all of them valid. Thus a commentator may primarily follow one of these paths and therefore reflect it in the approach of his comments.
Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles
NOTE - error in the video. In the audio I said Yoga Sutras and I should have said Brahma Sutras.
Two Distinct Versions of the Gita Explained
We focus on two different editions of the Bhagavad Gita, one that is more accessible and has a Karma Yoga focus, and another that is deeper and has an eminently Jnana (path of knowledge) focus. I have translated both versions into Spanish. These versions are:
1- Bhagavad Gita according to , with comments by Mahadev Desai and Swami Sivananda.
- It is one of the most accessible and understandable versions of the Bhagavad Gita, it is ideal for entering into its profound wisdom
- The focus of this version is based mainly on Karma Yoga, the most accessible path for all humanity, the path of selfless action, of work for the good of humanity
- Gandhi recognized that the strategy of his non-violent struggle to achieve independence from the British Empire, the largest Ahimsa movement in human history, was based mainly on this version of the Bhagavad Gita. Later, this model of Gandhi, based on the Bhagavad Gita, influenced the peaceful independence of many of the English colonies in Africa and Asia. In some way this version of the Bhagavad Gita has outlined, to a greater or lesser extent, our current World
Buy the Book: The Yoga of Wisdom (Spanish) by
Example of Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita
Listen to the Bhagavad Gita Recitation in Spanish
2- Gita Makaranadam by
- It is a version unknown to the West, but recognized as having high educational value in India
- All verses are in Hindi, English and Spanish
- Each of the verses has extensive comments (some up to 4 pages) from the author
- In addition, comments by Swami Vivekananda are included in certain verses
- It also contains profound reflections by Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda or Swami Sarvapriyananda, in several of the verses of this version
- The focus is mainly Jnana (based on knowledge and Vedanta), therefore it is one of the most profound versions of the Bhagavad Gita
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why are there so many versions of the Bhagavad Gita?
A1: The Bhagavad Gita is the foundational essence of Vedanta and structural Hinduism. Because it synthesizes multiple spiritual disciplines, historically independent Swamis and acharyas—such as Adi Shankara, Ramanuja, and Madhva—have written commentary through distinct viewpoints like non-dualism (Advaita) or qualified monism to address the spiritual needs of their times.
Q2: Which version of the Gita does expert Pedro Nonell recommend for beginners?
A2: For those new to the text, Pedro Nonell recommends the version of the Bhagavad Gita according to Mahatma Gandhi, featuring commentaries by Mahadev Desai and Swami Sivananda. This specific translation highlights Karma Yoga (the path of selfless action), making it highly practical, clear, and accessible for modern daily life.
Q3: What makes the Gita Makaranadam version distinct?
A3: The Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda is an advanced, comprehensive translation that focuses heavily on Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge). It contains thorough verse-by-verse breakdowns alongside spiritual reflections from Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, offering a deep dive into Advaita Vedanta.
Conclusion
Navigating the multi-layered commentaries of the Bhagavad Gita reveals that every interpretation serves as a valid path toward the realization of God.
From Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent applications of Karma Yoga to the deep intellectual heights of Swami Vidya Prakashananda’s Advaita reflections, these texts remain living blueprints for modern humanity.
Through translations, lectures, and courses, Spanish expert Pedro Nonell continues to bridge these classical Eastern traditions for global audiences, helping seekers identify the perfect scriptural mirror for their own internal spiritual growth.
Namaste!!!
¿Qué versión del Bhagavad Gita escoger? 
Qual versão do Bhagavad-Gita escolher?.
Course: Bhagavad Gita (according to and comments by Sivananda).
Advanced courses:
Buy the Book: The Yoga of Wisdom (Spanish) by
Book The Yoga of Wisdom (Pedro Nonell):
- I: Bhagavad Gita (Gandhi, in Spanish)
- II: Hinduism, Gita and influence on humanity
- III: Free adaptation in verse of the Bhagavad Gita
Reflections:
Bhagavad Gita recited in Spanish (Pedro Nonell) and Sanskrit (Dr Ghazal Srinivas)
(c) Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell
