3 - Interlinear Oral Traditions in Modern Bali: Identity in Pepaosan Translations of the Bhagavad-Gītā

The interlinear art of pepaosan is a unique phenomenon in the rich cultural landscape of Bali, Indonesia. This tradition, which consists of a person singing a line of a sacred text (in Old Javanese or Sanskrit) and a translator interpreting each line (to Balinese or Indonesian), reflects ancient local customs as well as newer global and social changes. This intricate fusion culminates in the pepaosan of the Bhagavad-Gītā, a pivotal Hindu scripture sung in Sanskrit and translated “interlinearly” into Indonesian. This research explores how the language used in the translations mirrors contemporary personal and cultural identities in the region. 
By closely examining translations derived from various sources, including the Bhagavad-Gītā Menurut Aslinya and state-approved school textbooks, the study reveals how linguistic choices and shifts in meaning are tied to ideological nuances in Balinese Hinduism. Through this exploration, we can gain a deeper understanding of how these translations reflect the social identities and ideologies of the different communities in Bali.