Reddit reviews Bhagavad-Gita As It Is (Paperback)

>Well, that's what written in Gita.

No, it isn't. At least not in the verse that you've mentioned. What you've quoted from the website is not a translation of the Gita, but Madhvacharya's Commentary on it. I happen to disagree completely with Madhvacharya's interpretation of these verses.

I am quoting the literal translations of this verse in context. You can judge for yourself.

Bhagavat Gita- Chapter 1, Verse 32-45

> O Govinda, of what avail to us are a kingdom, happiness or even life itself
when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed on this
battlefield? O Madhusudana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers,
maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives
are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, why
should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me? O
maintainer of all living entities, I am not prepared to fight with them even in
exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. What pleasure will we derive
from killing the sons of Dhrtarastra? (Verse 32-35)

> Sin will overcome us if we slay such aggressors. Therefore it is not proper for
us to kill the sons of Dhrtarastra and our friends. What should we gain, O
Krsna, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing
our own kinsmen? (Verse 36)

>O Janardana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no
fault in killing one’s family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can
see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin? (Verse 37-38)

> With the destruction of dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished,
and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion. (Verse 39)

> When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krsna, the women of the
family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant
of Vrsni, comes unwanted progeny. (Verse 40)

> An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the
family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such
corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and
water are entirely stopped. (Verse 41)

> By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise
to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare
activities are devastated. (Verse 42)

>O Krsna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that
those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell. (Verse 43)

> Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts.
Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own
kinsmen. (Verse 44)

> Better for me if the sons of Dhrtrashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me
unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield. (Verse 45)

Taken in context, the verse 41 is about the perils of war within family and degradation of family values. There is no mention of caste or untouchability at all in these verses.

Edit: All translations are copied verbatim from Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's "Bhagavad-Gita As It Is". I would've copied the translations from the website you have given itself, but the translations there are in image format. You can check for yourself that their translation has the same meaning as the one I have provided.

I had a good version a few years ago but can't find it. Just look for a version that is translated by accredited academics (usually more than one 'author'). Avoid versions like the one that is distributed by the Hare Krishnas (as much as I like their food) because it has a lot of additional commentary and contextual translation errors that affect the message.

EDIT: Avoid this one LINK and get something like this LINK. Some of the core philosophy is strikingly similar to the teachings of Jesus.

I am reading the version with commentary by
Swami Pravhupada. What I like of his edition is that for each verse it contains the original text in Sanskrit, then the literal translation (word by word), then the English translation, then a reading of its meaning. You can find it for cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Paperback-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131349/ref=pd_aw_sbs_14_2_nodl/145-1434239-9930102?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0892131349&pd_rd_r=a2933406-f581-424b-b966-91fae30634c3&pd_rd_w=bgFca&pd_rd_wg=d6ecr&pf_rd_p=af6838ce-fb64-489e-8573-27e11ad9cf20&pf_rd_r=8SZER766A2RXECWSCQTN&psc=1&refRID=8SZER766A2RXECWSCQTN

The Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu bible ,at least the version I have. It's full of visionary artwork.
https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Paperback-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131349

Lately when I travel I've been finding these... it's kind of a refreshing change:

https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Paperback-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131349/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=Bhagavad-Gita&qid=1570175403&sr=8-7

Apparently set up by a Hindu version of the Gideons:

http://www.motelgita.org/

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/12/hindu-holy-book-coming-to-a-nightstand-near-you/

I'd argue that having the Holy Bible in Masonic Heirloom Edition, the Thomas Jefferson Bible, and the Tanakh is redundant.

Also not sure why the Koran gets a special shiny gold cover while most of the rest are in cheap paperback form.