Rating: 
Summary: Poorly Translated
Review: To take a representative example of one of Mitchell's translation mistakes, at BhG. 2.47 Mitchell translates the Sanskrit word adhikara as "right," as in "action is your right." While adhikara certainly means this in modern Hindi, the discourse on human rights so prevalent since the European Enlightenment was quite absent when the Gita was written in Sanskrit in the period between the 4th century BCE an the 4th century CE. We find better translations of this word in other recent translations of the Gita (e.g., Zaehner: "business," Sargeant: "jurisdiction"). Zaehner's edition also has the advantage of emphasizing the Sanskrit word te, "your," which is repeated again in the second line of the verse. The point is that for Arjuna, as a Ksatriya (warrior-caste), it is HIS job to act. And it is not simply a right, but an obligation.As for Mitchell's introduction, which is orientalist in the worst sense of the word, I think others on Amazon have said enough. Thankfully, in 20 years Mitchell's boutique translation of the Gita will be out of print and lost in the sands of time, while the translations of more scrupulous scholars will continue to inspire young readers to learn more about India's philosophies.
Rating:
Summary: Poorly Translated
Review: To take a representative example of one of Mitchell's translation mistakes, at BhG. 2.47 Mitchell translates the Sanskrit word adhikara as "right," as in "action is your right." While adhikara certainly means this in modern Hindi, the discourse on human rights so prevalent since the European Enlightenment was quite absent when the Gita was written in Sanskrit in the period between the 4th century BCE an the 4th century CE. We find better translations of this word in other recent translations of the Gita (e.g., Zaehner: "business," Sargeant: "jurisdiction"). Zaehner's edition also has the advantage of emphasizing the Sanskrit word te, "your," which is repeated again in the second line of the verse. The point is that for Arjuna, as a Ksatriya (warrior-caste), it is HIS job to act. And it is not simply a right, but an obligation. As for Mitchell's introduction, which is orientalist in the worst sense of the word, I think others on Amazon have said enough. Thankfully, in 20 years Mitchell's boutique translation of the Gita will be out of print and lost in the sands of time, while the translations of more scrupulous scholars will continue to inspire young readers to learn more about India's philosophies.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: Very well written. Makes it very easy for a person not familiar with Indian mystic and philosophical culture to understand this great book.
Rating:
Summary: Mitchell does it again!
Review: Was the previous reviewer reviewing the book or the review? As with his Tao Te Ching, Mitchell takes a classic and reinterpts it in modern English. There's the saying that classics that are not in their original language need to be retranslated every few generations (aka - The Little Prince) and I agree. Mitchell presents the Bhagavad Gita so that it is clear for an American audience while at the same time keeping it's essence.
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous
Review: What are you guys talking about? This translation is stunningly poetic. I have read three different versions of the Gita, including the overhyped Bhagvad Gita As It Is(which, by the way, isn't really as it is)
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