Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856 – 1920) has written on the Bhagavad Gita, with an elaborate introduction and translated the verses with notes. This book is known as Srimad Bhagavad Gita Rahasya – Karmayoga Shastra written originally in Marathi. It has been translated into many Indian languages. Interpretation of Bhagavad Gita by Bal Gangadhar Tilak has been translated into many Indian languages and also into English, and is commonly known as Tilak’s Gita Rahasya. Bal Gangadhar Tilak draws from Hindu scriptures, while discussing the meaning and the content of the Gita, and its overall teaching.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak emphatically maintains that the Bhagavad
Gita is primarily a scripture of practical and moral philosophy, a discourse on
the desireless and disinterested performance of duty.
Tilak contends that such interpretations of the Gita that
give importance to jnana (knowledge), moksha (liberation), or bhakti (devotion)
for communion with God, and looks upon the karma marga (the path of action) as subordinate
or subservient are rather unwarranted. Indeed, jnana and bhakti are helpful adjuncts
that promote the Gita’s doctrine of karma yoga. Tilak’s interpretation of the
Gita is especially important for improving life in the world through selfless
performance of dutiful actions with spiritual virtues and values, free from the
bias of otherworldly or unworldly accentuations. Consequently, the Gita has
come to be regarded as not only relevant to active life of man in the world but
even exceedingly valuable for actively promoting the good of human welfare in
all its dynamic dimensions. According to Tilak, the Bhagavad Gita advocates the
performance of action in the world even after the seeker has achieved the
highest union with the Supreme Deity by jnana or bhakti.
Tilak’s interpretation of the Gita inspires a person towards
the path of karma yoga in all spheres of life and stimulates a sense of self
discipline and action leading to heroic dignity of excellence in thought,
feeling and conduct, including self sacrifice, if necessary, for the society,
nation and dharma.