# Behind Kṛṣṇa's Smile: The Lord's Hint of Laughter in the Bhagavadgītā And Beyond - Hardcover

by **Antonio Rigopoulos** (Author), **Gianni Pellegrini** (Author)

_Behind Kṛṣṇa's Smile_ offers a wholly original perspective on the celebrated _Bhagavadgītā_, or "Song of God." The book investigates Kṛṣṇa's hint of laughter (_prahasann iva_) in _Bhagavadgītā_ 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 Śaṅkara and other leading theologians begin to write their commentaries. In addition to exploring the momentousness of Kṛṣṇa's hint of laughter and its impact on the poem's central teachings, _Behind Kṛṣṇa's Smile_ provides a crucial interpretation of Kṛṣṇa's _prahasann iva_ in the Vedānta commentarial tradition, from Śaṅkara up to modern times. The book also considers the meanings of the stock phrase _prahasann iva_ in the larger epic framework of the _Mahābhārata_ and _Rāmāyaṇa_. Moreover, the book offers the first comprehensive review of the significance of Kṛṣṇa's smile in Kṛṣṇaite iconography and literature, demonstrating that there is a unified canon bringing together the literary and performative dimensions of Kṛṣṇa's hint of laughter.

**Number of Pages:** 332

**Dimensions:** 0.75 x 9 x 6 IN

**Publication Date:** October 01, 2024

## Details

- **Price:** 177.84 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 177.84 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Behind Kṛṣṇa's Smile: The Lord's Hint of Laughter in the Bhagavadgītā And Beyond - Hardcover

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