Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita (Devanagari: भगवद्गीता, IAST: bhagavad-gītā, lit. "God's song"), often referred to as the Gita, is an important text on Yoga philosophy. It is a discussion between the Indian prince Arjuna and Krishna at the start of the Kurukshetra battle, as told in the Mahabharata epic. It discusses various important concepts such as three different forms of yoga (karma, jnana, bhakti yoga) and dharma.

English translations and commentaries

I have read various translations and commentaries of the Gita and will discuss these in further detail below.

Edwin Bryant

Edwin is presently working on a translation of the Bhagavad Gītā with a commentary based on the insights of the principle traditional commentators (viz, in the same vein as theYoga Sūtras commentary). The Gītā‘s teachings in many ways serve as a link between those of the Yoga Sūtras and those of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa in the Bhakti Yoga volume, and upon completion will conclude Edwin’s vision of a Trilogy of Yoga texts offered to scholars, students, practitioners, and the intellectually curious.

Eknath Easwaran

Eknath Easwaran's translation and commentary of the Gita is available in a shorter book and in a larger volume spread across three books:

• The Bhagavad Gita (shorter book, 294 pages): this was my first introduction to the teachings of the Gita. It consists of a general introduction to the Gita, as well as a short introduction to each chapter. Then, the English translation is given without the original Sanskrit or a commentary per verse. The translation is highly readable and insightful, I recommend this version if your reading the Gita for the first time.
• The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living (three books, 1378 pages): I am still reading this book (65% done). This is a great version if you'd like to read one verse per day. For each verse, there is a commentary given by Easwaran which is usually based on a short story from his own life. It is sometimes slightly repetitive, but if you read one verse a day, that is not a problem. Easwaran's commentary provides insights in how you can apply the teachings of the Gita in a practical way. It doesn't include the Sanskrit.

Winthrop Sargeant

The Bhagavad Gita by Winthrop Sargeant includes the Sanskrit, separate meanings for each of the individual words and a translation. I have not yet read this edition.

Paramahansa Yogananda

Yogananda's commentary on the Gita, God Talks With Arjuna is divided into two books (1263 pages) and includes the Sanskrit, a translation in English and an extended commentary for each verse. The commentary is unique in the sense that it focuses on a raja yoga approach: Yogananda assigns each of the characters to a specific part of the mind. I found it interesting but it didn't speak to me as much as other commentaries, I have read it for ~30% but may pick it up again at a later time. If you like other works by Yogananda, then this is a good version to study for you.