Reddit reviews Bhagavad-Gita: The Song of God

I am a former grad student who studied Sanskrit and the Bhagavad Giitaa to some extent, I'm sorry to say that there is no "best" translation. Translations are written either by academics or Indian Pandits (religious scholars) and each translator injects bias into the translation. That is not bad, just the way it is.

Any text that exists from the Christian Bible to written laws to my comment here to the Bhagavad Giitaa are all subject to individual interpretation and understanding based on their own life context. This is called hermeneutics.

First, the biggest favor you can do for yourself is use your Google-fu and get a basic familiarity with the Sanskrit language in terms of the alphabet as rendered in the familiar Roman script that we are using here. By studying and practicing the pronunciation of the vowels and consonants and memorizing verses you like you will be able to recite verses in the Sanskrit language. Recitation from text and later from memory is the fundamental practice for studying in the traditional manner.

Check this recite along out and see if it works for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHI4kPvFv1A

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita

This is a lovely rendering of a commentary on the Giitaa - lovely on account of the vivid imagery used.

https://www.amazon.com/Jnaneshwars-Gita-Jnaneshwari-Swami-Kripananda/dp/0911307648

https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Song-God-Swami-Prabhavananda/dp/0451528441/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0451528441&pd_rd_r=KV9FPE1E4EVJSA663SGG&pd_rd_w=8ga9Q&pd_rd_wg=pL3W7&psc=1&refRID=KV9FPE1E4EVJSA663SGG

I've read a few translations, and they vary from attention to technical detail (dry, but original) to poetic stanzas (beautiful, but more translated liberty). For the latter, I'd highly recommend the Prabhavananda/Isherwood's translation. Added benefit of an introduction by Huxley (a genuine psychonaut, Doors of Perception is excellent).