Category Archives: Shruti Gita

Shruti Gita – Review by Dr. G. Gangadharan Nair

Shruti Gita

True to the dictum “itihaasa puranaabhyam vedam samupabrumhayet” (Veda is to be expanded by Itihasa and Purana) the Bhagavata mahapurana teaches the spiritual ideas of the vedic literature by adding stories to make them attractive. The Bhagavata itself states that it is the fruit mixed with nectar falling from the heavenly Veda-tree coming through the mouth of sage Shuka. The 10th skandha of this Purana describes the Supreme Lord’s advent (avataara) as Krishna with devotional descriptions of His activities in childhood, youth and later life.

Shruti Gita under review here is the English translation of the 94th chapter of Bhagavata (chapter 87 in the Gita press edition) and its commentary by Sri Madhvacharya, also known as Ananda Tirtha. The book contains:

  • Translation into English of all the 50 shlokas of the 94th chapter, including translation of the corresponding sruti passages.
  • Translation into English of the corresponding Sanskrit commentary in Bhagavatha Tatparya Nirnaya (BTN) of Sri Madhwacharya.
  • Translation into English of the supporting commentary by H.H.Srimad Vijayadhwaja Tirtha
  • Supporting commentary by Sri Bannanje Govindacharya from the book ‘Sarvamula granthaah’

V.M.Pai’s translation is a blessing for the reader to understand well the Vedastuti which is a narration by Shuka in answer to a question by King Parikshit towards the end of his life. Parikshit wanted to know how the Vedas described the indefinable, attribute-less Brahman emanating in innumerable forms. The answer has 27 slokas paraphrasing the ideas of 26 passages from the Vedic literature (like Shandilya Sruti, Aitareya Upanishad, Ishavasya Upanishad, Rigveda, Shvetaashvataara Upanishad, Brahadaaranyaka etc). We are fortunate to read the shrutis in original here without any labour to search for them in the vast Vedic literature. Pai has helped the English reader who has no access to the wonderful Sanskrit commentary by Aananda Tirtha to have a taste of it.

I am full of admiration for Sri Pai, who, in spite of his being a technologist, evinces so much interest in spirituality and Bhagavata. I would recommend the book to the Acharyas who make discourses on the Bhagavata and the thousands of devotees who listen to them.

As published in Journal of Sukrtindra Oriental Research Institute Issue September 2014, Pages 140-142

About V.M.Pai – Author of Shruthi Gita

Shruti Gita
Pai maama, as he is fondly called, is a key member of GSB Samaj in Bangalore and in Kashi Math. He is actively involved in all Samaj activities, and being a senior member of the various committees, he works with the team in providing scholarships to students, helping in employment opportunities, or in computer training, health check-up camps, etc.,
The octogenarian,(he is 81 now) Sri VM Pai has been the master-mind behind the Sanskrit classes held at Kashi math. Around 100 students have learnt Sanskrit from here.  He setup a library at Kashi math , Bangalore, benefitting all the spiritual aspirants to go through a wide variety of books from different philosophies.  He started Madhva navami celebrations at the math premises making everybody know our parama guru, sri Madhacharya.
He takes Sri Bhagavata classes at math or at his home if math is occupied.  He has brought out a book on the 11th canto of Srimad Bhagavata in English with commentaries from Madhvacharya’s Tatparya Nirnaya and has now come up with this Shruthi Gita work in English based again on 94th chcapter of 10th canto of Bhagavata. He is now working with Purna prajna vidya peeta (under Pejawar seer’s guidance) translating into English, Madhvacharya’s works on Bhagavadgita.
A multi-faceted personality that he is, Sri VM Pai, has written slokas in Sanskrit on Lord Vedavyasa and on HH Sri Sudhindra Tirtha swamiji. He has written few songs and composed music to these songs, and released an album (Bhaktimala) sung by Sri Shankar Shanbhogue ji.

The book is priced Rs.200. Those who are interested in having a copy, may please send me a mail at (prabhugirish@yahoo.com)

Shruti Gita – an English translation of 94th chapter of the 10th canto of Sri Bhagavata

Shruti Gita

A new book ‘Shruti Gita – an English translation of 94th chapter of the 10th canto of Sri Bhagavata’, based on Sri Madhvacharya’s Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya, was released recently.

This book is authored by Sri VM Pai, and published under ‘Srimad Bhagavata Prakashana Trust’.

The book is priced Rs.200. Those who are interested in having a copy, may please send me a mail at (prabhugirish@yahoo.com).

Below are few snippets about the work:
“Summarized in twenty seven  shlokas of this chapter and is a veritable treasure dealing with the excellences of the Supreme Lord, and forms the essence of the entire veda, Purana and Upanishads extracted by Sanaka and others, the ancient seers in the lineage and under the shelter of Brahma. These 27 shlokas expound as many srutis appearing in the different samhitas of the veda.
According to Sri Madhwacharya, Bhagavan Vedavyasa, out of compassion codified the essence of the srutis in these 27 sholkas and placed them in this massive 10th Skanda of Srimad Bhagavatham, so that they are available to the discerning and qualified aspirant reader.
The present work comprises of
  • Translation into English of all the 50 shlokas of the 94th chapter, including translation of the corresponding srutis.
  • Translation into English of the corresponding Sanskrit commentary in Bhagavatha Tatparya Nirnaya (BTN) of Sri Madhwacharya.
  • Translation into English of the supporting commentary by H.H.Srimad Vijayadhwaja Teertha Swamiji of Pejavar Adhokshaja Math.
  • Supporting commentary by Sri Bannanje Govindacharya from the book ‘Sarvamula granthaah’ pertaining to Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya”
Sri Bannanje Govindacharya says about this work  “Shruthigeetha is not only the cream of Bhagavata but the cream of all the Vedas, just like the fifteenth chapter of Bhagavad Gita. It is a very difficult task to translate this Shruthigeetha which is full of deep philosophical thoughts into any other tongue! Sri V.M.Pai has studied the text with Madhvacharya’s bhashya and has somehow successfully translated it into a foreign tongue, i.e. English“