Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 512 pages
- Published by: Oxford University Press, USA November 19, 1998
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0192835769
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0192835765
-
Book Dimensions:
7.5 x 5 x 0.8 inches
- Weighs: 4 ounces
Product Review
"This new edition and translation of twelve choice Upanisads with a biasic Introduction and Bibliography fills a void in the availability of Hindu primary sources for the classroom. Its compactness and clarity of the presentation of the individual Upanisads make it a must for any class on Hinduism or Oriental Religious-Philosophies."--Jose C. Nieto, Juniata College
"With his previous work on the renouncer, there is no better qualified scholar to offer a new translation of the Upanisads. An informative introduction and useful notes frame an outstanding and readable interpretive translation of many of the primary texts."--Carl Olson, Allegheny College
"Olivelle's translation is truly masterful. Anyone who thinks we didn't need another translation of the Upanisads should compare this elegant, scholarly version with any other translation. This is the best, and with it Olivelle takes his place in the pantheon of great translators of the Sanskrit tradition."--Richard Lariviere, University of Texas at Austin
"These lucid translations of the major upanisads, with great introduction and useful detailed notes make a great contribution to the study of ancient religions literature. Students of Indian culture will make good use of these up-to-date interpretations."--William J. Jackson, Indiana University
"Easy to follow and well-explained."--L. G. Tewari, Sonoma State University
"Finally! The translation we have been waiting for--a clean, modern, authentic, honorable, and readable rendering of the principal Upanisads. Olivelle's text is a great boon to students and teachers of Hinduism."--Stuart Smithers, University of Puget Sound
Product Description
In the first major English translation of the ancient Upanisads for over half a century, Olivelle's work incorporates the most recent historical and philological scholarship on these central scriptures of Hinduism. Composed at a time of great social, economic, and religious change, the Upanisads document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions. The introduction and detailed notes make this edition ideal for the non-specialist as well as for students of Indian religions.
Reader Reviews
Some caveats have to apply here. For one, the challenge of rating a book like this with stars is obvious; who am I to pass judgment on such ancient literature? Or the translation, since I don't read the original language? With that in mind, I confine my review to the style in which it is rendered for the novice. The Upanishads are not an easy read, and I have seen them done in verse format and in paragraph format; the latter is used here. I find it more readable, but others prefer verse. Whether you will like this translation depends largely on your preference in this area. It does have (parenthesizations) after many words showing the original word, which helps a lot when learning to define terms like 'prana' and 'upanishad'... e.g., "... show me the hidden teaching (<i>upanisad</i>)...". This not only helps the reader to learn the meanings of these difficult-to-render terms, but points up the challenges involved in translation. I found the foreword helpful in setting up a historical and cultural backdrop for the Upanishads. A good half of the work is taken up by a single Upanishad (the Brhadarayanka), but that was probably inevitable. What I would have liked to have seen was a little more interpretation. As a novice reader of the Upanishads, it was really a struggle to understand what they meant in context, and I never did make head or tail out of much of it. A section at the end of each chapter (or some well-placed footnotes) would have gone far to make the work accessible to those for whom the cultural reach was a bit lengthy.
Comment | |
(Report this)
Search for books at
