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Q17
(IAS/2001)
History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Ancient and classical literature
Answer Verified
Who amongst the following Englishmen, first translated Bhagavad-Gita into English ?
Result
Your answer:
—
·
Correct:
B
Explanation
The correct answer is Charles Wilkins (option 2). He produced the first English translation of the Bhagavad-Gita, published in 1785 as 'The Bhagavad Gītā or Dialogues of Kṛiṣhṇa and Arjuna,' and is explicitly identified as the translator on the title page of that first English edition [1]. Wilkins’ rendering was the first direct translation from Sanskrit into English and marked a major cultural milestone that opened the Gītā to European intellectuals; his work was influential and widely circulated under the patronage and encouragement of contemporaries such as Warren Hastings [2]. This translation established the basis for subsequent European-language versions and scholarly engagement with the text.
Sources
- [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 113
- [2] https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/charles-wilkins-he-turned-their-gaze-to-sanskrit/article30298306.ece
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