Behind Krsna's Smile

Examines Krsna's hint of laughter (prahasann iva) in the Bhagavadgita, its interpretations in the Vedanta commentarial tradition, and its significance in Krsnaite iconography and literature.Behind Krsna's Smile offers a wholly original perspective on the celebrated Bhagavadgita, or 'Song of God.' The book investigates Krsna's hint of laughter (prahasann iva) in Bhagavadgita 2.10, which is generally understood to be the turning point of the famous poem, signaling the outpouring of his grace and teaching to Arjuna. Remarkably, it is from this verse that Sankara and other leading theologians begin to write their commentaries. In addition to exploring the momentousness of Krsna's hint of laughter and its impact on the poem's central teachings, Behind Krsna's Smile provides a crucial interpretation of Krsna's prahasann iva in the Vedanta commentarial tradition, from Sankara up to modern times. The book also considers the meanings of the stock phrase prahasann iva in the larger epic framework of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Moreover, the book offers the first comprehensive review of the significance of Krsna's smile in Krsnaite iconography and literature, demonstrating that there is a unified canon bringing together the literary and performative dimensions of Krsna's hint of laughter.