The Bhagavadgîtâ, with the Sanatsugâtîya and the Anugîtâ — SBE Vol. 8 (trans. K. T. Telang, 1882)
The translator’s English as printed (K. T. Telang). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
Schlegel draws attention to one other circumstance regarding the text of the Gita, which is also highly interesting, namely, that the number of the stanzas is exactly 7oo. Schlegel concludes that the author must have fixed on that number deliberately, in order to prevent, as far as he could, all subsequent interpolations¹. This is certainly not unlikely ; and if the aim of the author was such as Schlegel suggests, it has assuredly been thoroughly successful. In the chapter of the Mahabharata immediately succeeding the eighteenth chapter of the Gîtâ, the extent of the work in slokas is distinctly stated. The verses in which this is stated do not exist in the Gauda or Bengal recension, and are doubtless not genuine. But, nevertheless, they are interesting, and I shall reproduce them here. ‘Kesava spoke 620 slokas, Arguna fifty-seven, Sañgaya sixty-seven, and Dhṛitarâshṭra one sloka; such is the extent of the Gita. It is very difficult to account for these figures. According to them, the total number of verses in the Gita would be 745, whereas the number in the current MSS., and even in the Mahabharata itself, is, as already stated, only 700., I cannot suggest any explanation whatever of this discrepancy.
In conclusion, a few words may be added regarding the general principles followed in the translation contained in this volume. My aim has been to make that translation as close and literal a rendering as possible of the Gita, as: interpreted by the commentators Sañkarâkârya, Sridharasvâmin, and Madhusûdana Sarasvati. Reference has also been frequently made to the commentary of Râmânugakarya, and also to that of Nîlakaṇṭha, which latter forms part of the author’s general commentary on the Mahabharata.
tional view of the Gita—a view in consonance with that which we have been led to by the facts and arguments contained in this Introduction.
1 P, xl (Lassen’s ed.)
2 Sankara’s commentary states in so many words that the Gita he used contained only 700 slokas. 107
Schlegel draws attention to one other interesting circumstance regarding the text of the Gita: the number of stanzas is exactly 7oo. Schlegel concludes that the author must have chosen that number deliberately, to prevent subsequent interpolations as far as he could¹. This is certainly not unlikely; and if that was indeed the author's aim, it has assuredly been thoroughly successful. In the chapter of the Mahabharata immediately following the eighteenth chapter of the Gîtâ, the extent of the work in slokas is explicitly stated. The verses making this statement do not appear in the Gauda or Bengal recension and are doubtless not genuine. Even so, they are interesting, and I shall reproduce them here. 'Kesava spoke 620 slokas, Arjuna fifty-seven, Saṅgaya sixty-seven, and Dhṛitarâshṭra one sloka: such is the extent of the Gita.' These figures are very difficult to account for. According to them, the total number of verses in the Gita would be 745, whereas the number in the current MSS., and even in the Mahabharata itself, is, as already stated, only 700. I cannot suggest any explanation whatever of this discrepancy.
In conclusion, a few words may be added about the general principles followed in the translation in this volume. My aim has been to make that translation as close and literal a rendering as possible of the Gita, as interpreted by the commentators Sañkarâkârya, Sridharasvâmin, and Madhusûdana Sarasvati. I have also frequently consulted the commentary of Râmânugakarya, and that of Nîlakaṇṭha, the latter forming part of the author's general commentary on the Mahabharata.
tional view of the Gita—a view in consonance with that which we have been led to by the facts and arguments contained in this Introduction.
1 P, xl (Lassen's ed.)
2 Sankara's commentary states in so many words that the Gita he used contained only 700 slokas. 107