Questions around duty, fear, love, purpose and finding meaning in uncertain times remain as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Addressing these contemporary dilemmas through the timeless dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, spiritual author Om Swami has released his new book, The Bhagavad Gita Retold: Timeless Questions for a Modern World.
Published by Harper Faith, an imprint of HarperCollins India, the book offers a contemporary retelling of the Bhagavad Gita, presenting its teachings through around 30 existential questions that continue to shape everyday life.
Rather than treating the Gita solely as an ancient philosophical text, Om Swami brings the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna into a modern context, exploring questions related to purpose, fear, duty, love, loss and the self.
The book was launched by Om Swami at an event in New Delhi on October 4.
“The Bhagavad Gita has spoken to humanity for centuries, yet the questions it addresses remain deeply relevant to our lives today,” Om Swami said. He added that the book attempts to bring the Gita’s wisdom closer to the questions faced by people in contemporary life and hopes it serves as a companion for readers seeking clarity, courage and a deeper understanding of themselves.
Ridhima Kumar, Senior Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins India, said the Gita’s wisdom “is as relevant today as it has always been”. She said The Bhagavad Gita Retold seeks to make its teachings accessible by presenting them in clear and simple language, particularly at a time marked by “noise and uncertainty”.
The book begins with the familiar setting of the Kurukshetra battlefield, where warrior Arjuna lowers his bow, torn between his duty and his love for those on the opposing side. Krishna’s response to Arjuna’s crisis forms the basis of the Bhagavad Gita.
In Om Swami’s retelling, this ancient dialogue is presented as a mirror to the doubts and conflicts of modern life. The book explores whether the questions people struggle with today are fundamentally different from those confronted by Arjuna thousands of years ago.
According to the publisher, the book is intended not merely as a retelling of the Gita but as a practical guide to finding clarity, courage and inner peace in an uncertain world.
Om Swami is known for his books on spirituality and wellness. The reclusive monk has also written several bestsellers and is associated with the Sadhana app, which offers meditation and spiritual practices.
