The Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the Indian epic Mahabharata, is one of the most profound spiritual texts ever written. It captures a conversation between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, discussing duty, righteousness, and the nature of reality.
Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation - Stephen Mitchell - Google Books
Stephen Mitchell's version is celebrated for being a "poetic rendition" rather than a strictly literal one. Bhagavad Gita : a new translation - Internet Archive
No article about Mitchell’s Gita is complete without addressing scholarly criticism. Traditionalists argue that by stripping the text of Sanskrit terms and cultural context, Mitchell flattens its complexity.
He uses short, rhythmic lines that make the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna feel immediate.