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Every tradition, side by side
Pick the commentary tradition you follow (for example Advaita, Krishna Bhakti or the traditional reading of Sridhara Swami and the Gita Press). It is shown first, with the others side by side and none ranked.
Thirteen classical Sanskrit commentaries are shown today, among them Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Madhvacharya, Vallabhacharya, Sridhara Swami, Abhinavagupta and Madhusudana Saraswati, each with its author and tradition. Modern translations and commentaries are in preview, pending permission from their rights holders. No tradition or teacher is ranked above another.
| Tradition | In brief | Authors | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advaita Vedanta | Non-dual: the Self and Brahman are one Adi Shankaracharya's reading, the oldest surviving full commentary: knowledge (jnana) of the one Self frees us; action done without attachment purifies the mind for that knowledge. | Sri Anandgiri, Sri Dhanpati, Sri Madhusudan Saraswati, Sri Neelkanth, Sri Shankaracharya, Swami Gambhirananda | Partly available |
| Dvaita (Madhva) | Lord and soul are eternally distinct Madhvacharya's reading: Vishnu is supreme and independent; liberation is by His grace through devotion and right knowledge. | Sri Jayatirtha, Sri Madhvacharya | Available |
| Krishna Bhakti (Gaudiya Vaishnava) | Loving devotion to Krishna as the Supreme Person The Chaitanya tradition's reading, known worldwide through A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: the Gita culminates in pure devotion to Krishna. | A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada | |
| Kashmir Shaiva | Recognition of the Self as Shiva-consciousness Abhinavagupta's Gitartha Sangraha, reading the Gita through the non-dual Shaiva tradition of Kashmir. | Sri Abhinavagupta | Partly available |
| Modern translators | Clear verse-by-verse English and Hindi Twentieth-century translations for today's readers, such as Swami Sivananda, Shri Purohit Swami, Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Tejomayananda. | Dr. S. Sankaranarayan, Shri Purohit Swami, Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Sivananda, Swami Tejomayananda | |
| Shuddhadvaita (Pushti Marga) | Pure non-dualism and the path of grace Vallabhacharya's reading: Krishna is the whole of reality; loving devotion by grace (pushti) is the highest path. | Sri Purushottamji, Sri Vallabhacharya | Available |
| Traditional (Sridhara and the Gita Press tradition) | The devotional middle path read in homes across India Sridhara Swami's Subodhini, honoured by many traditions for balancing knowledge and devotion, and Swami Ramsukhdas's Hindi Sadhak Sanjivani published by Gita Press. | Sri Sridhara Swami, Swami Ramsukhdas | Partly available |
| Vishishtadvaita (Sri Vaishnava) | Qualified non-dualism: souls and world as the body of Narayana Ramanujacharya's reading: devotion (bhakti) and surrender to the Lord, with knowledge and action as its supports. | Sri Ramanuja, Swami Adidevananda, Vedantadeshikacharya Venkatanatha | Partly available |
Availability follows the rights status of each source. A tradition marked pending permission is not available to read yet.