The Gita according to Gandhi 175

The Gita according to Gandhi -Mahadev Desai

NOTE ON THE TRANSLATION Some of these attempted derivations are fanciful and the attempt to justify the choice in each context is often forced. It is obvious that in some cases at any rate the author had to consider the exigencies of the metre. The reader need not tax himself over the meanings of these words. For ready reference I collect here the various names (with their meanings wherever they are obvious and non-controversial) of Krishna and Arjuna: Krishna Arjuna 1. Achyuta (Unfailing) 1. Kaunteya (Son ofKunti) 2. Keshava 2. Pandava (Son of Pandu) 3. Govinda 3. Partha (Son of Pritha or Kunti) 4. Janardana 4. Bharata (Descendent of Bharata) 5. Madhusudana (Slayer of Madhu) 5. Gudakesha 6. Arisudana (Slayer of foes) 6. Dhananjaya 7. Keshinisudana (Slayer of Keshin) 7. Kurunandana (Scion of Kurus) 8. Madhava 8. Kurushreshtha (Best of Kurus) 9. Purushottama (Supreme Being) 9. Kurusattama ( „ ) 10. Vasudeva (Son of Vasu- deva, Allpervading) 10. Bharatarshabha (Best of Bharatas) 11. Vishnu (All-pervading) 11. Bharatashreshtha ( „ ) 12. Hari 12. Bharatasattama ( „ ) 13. Varshneya (Descendent of Vrishni) 13. Parantapa (Tormentor of foes) 14. Yadava („ „ Yadu) All these I have retained in the original, but the numerous attributive or descriptive titles I have translated.