Reimagining Bhgavatam

Book excerpt: ver since Sir W Jones translated Kalidasa's Sakuntalam into English (1789), many scholars from the West have shown interest in Indian Sanskrit literature. By 1847, 607 works had been translated. Among them, the Gita is one of the most translated works. The Gita and Bhagavatam are the essence of the Vedas, the ancient Indian texts of knowledge. While the 700-sloka Gita is written as a discourse to one who wants to choose his duty and duty, the 14094-sloka Bhagavata is described as a discourse to a ruler who is to die in seven days. Like the Gita, translations of the Bhagavatam are not widely available; Whatever is available, they are like a religious work, not like this book. This book is a collection of easy-to-read stories that does not qualify to be called a literary or religious work. The Bhagavatam, which is believed to have been written before the beginning of the Christian era, contains ancient thoughts on Indian science and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts such as the Mahabharatam and the Ramayanam. In this book, the entire Bhagavatam is condensed into eighty stories divided into two parts along with explanatory notes and a glossary at the end. Every care has been taken to preserve the key message in the Bhagavata - Learning, empathy and dispassion as essentials for a happy life.