The words "Shree Krishna, Sharanam Mama” O Lord Krishna, I surrender unto You—are often uttered with ease. But do they truly capture the essence of surrender? Beyond mere words, surrender embodies a state of consciousness that requires deep understanding and commitment. It is not a sign of passive resignation. Rather it is an active and willing alignment of our heart, intellect, and will with that of God.
As we embark on this profound journey of surrender, we find guidance in the sacred scriptures. The verse from Hari Bhakti Vilas (11.676) provides a roadmap for spiritual seekers, outlining the six principles of surrender:
Anukulyasya sankalpaḥ pratikulyasya varjanam
Rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā
Ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ.
But what makes surrender so crucial on the spiritual path? Let us address this question before we delve into each of these principles.
The Indispensability of Surrender
Surrender allows us to transcend the limitations of the mind. Our mind itself is made of Maya, which is God’s energy governing the material world. Maya, by its very nature, binds us by creating attachments, desires, and aversions. These influences manifest as perturbations of the mind ultimately leading to suffering. No matter how intense our efforts—be it through intellectual pursuit, meditation, or austerity—self-effort ultimately falls short in overcoming Maya.
Maharishi Patanjali emphasized that practice of loving God and detachment from the world, are essential for controlling the mind. However, he also taught that these two are inadequate without a third crucial element: surrender to God.
Shree Krishna declares:
दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया
मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ~ Bhagavad Gita Verse 7.14
“My divine energy Maya is very difficult to overcome. But those who surrender unto Me can cross over it easily.” Surrendering to God opens the door to His infinite grace, which guides us beyond the turbulent waves of material existence.
With this understanding, let us explore the principles of surrender.
1. Ānukūlyasya Saṅkalpaḥ—Desire Only in Accordance with God's Desire
Surrender begins when our inner compass shifts from what do I want? to what does God want?
Like Meera Bai said, “If Shree Krishna wants me to laugh, I will laugh. If He makes me cry, I won’t complain. If He ignores me, I won’t mind. If He showers me with affection, I will receive it. Whatever He wishes—but mine is Giridhar Gopal, no one else.”
But why should we conform our desires to God’s?
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revealed: jīvera svarūpa haya kṛiṣhṇera nitya-dāsa “The soul is by nature the servant of God.” (Chaitanya Charitāmṛit, 20.108) [v18]. As God’s servitor, our role is not to chase our own desires but to embrace His, who is our ever-loving, all-knowing Master.
Consider this example. Guru Nanak once asked his disciples to build a well. They obeyed. But after it was built, he instructed them to dismantle it. Despite their doubts about the contradictory order, the disciples followed his command. Then, Gurudev asked them to build it again. This cycle of building and breaking continued six times. Many disciples lost patience and walked away. But one of them continued: Angad.
After the sixth rebuild, Guru Nanak asked him, “Don’t you think I am crazy?” Angad replied, “Of course not, Gurudev. You possess divine wisdom. You know the purpose behind your actions; my role is to surrender.” Moved by his spirit, Guru Nanak entrusted him with the position of leadership and Angad became the second Guru of the Sikhs.
Surrender is thus, not mere acceptance but aligning our will with the will of God.
2. Prātikūlyasya Varjanam – Do Not Desire Against God’s Desire
Whatever we experience—joy or pain, success or failure—is not random. It is a result of our karmas, delivered by God at the appropriate time. Accepting these without resistance is surrender.
People are quick to rejoice when life is smooth and everything goes their way. But when challenges arise, they question, “Why did God do this to me?” This reveals a conditional faith—trusting God only when life is favorable.
We should strive to do our best. But if things still don’t work out as planned, instead of complaining or doubting, we must serenely accept the outcome as divine will. A powerful example is found in the story of the bamboo.
Among all the plants, it became dearest to Shree Krishna. One day, Krishna said to it, “I must cut you down, hollow you, and drill holes into you. It will be painful.”
The bamboo asked, “Is it necessary?”
Krishna replied, “Yes.”
The bamboo surrendered: “Then, my Lord, thy will be done.”
So, Krishna turned the bamboo into His flute and kept it with Him always.
When the Gopis asked the flute how it gained such fortune, it replied, “I became hollow, free of ego and desire. I became His instrument. My Lord could then play any tune He wished through me.”
Acting against His will is a form of forgetfulness—forgetting who we truly are. The soul is a fragment of the God, meant to serve Him. Thus, surrender is to give up all desires, thoughts, and actions that go against God’s will.
3. Āvāsyam Rakṣiṣyatīti Viśvāsaḥ – Have Firm Faith That God Is Protecting Us
God is not a distant creator, but our eternal Father—deeply involved in every detail of our lives. Even worldly parents go to great lengths to care for their children. Why, then, should we question the protection of our divine Father?
Without His constant support, even our basic bodily functions would cease. As Shree Krishna says, “It is I who take the form of the fire of digestion in the stomachs of all living beings.” (Bhagavad Gita 15.14) The very air we breathe is His provision—trees release oxygen, sustaining and purifying life moment by moment. His care is not only abundant but brilliant and automatic. And when surrender is complete, His protection becomes even more direct and miraculous.
Consider this story. A Brahmin from Vrindavan once borrowed money for his daughter’s wedding. Though he repaid it, the moneylender kept a false account and took him to court. With no human witness to defend him, the Brahmin declared, “Shree Bihārījī is my witness.” The judge mocked him but agreed to proceed. The Brahmin prayed before the deity of Bihārījī, weeping and pleading for justice. On the day of the trial, the courtroom called for witness Bihārī to appear.
A man entered the courtroom, wrapped in a blanket. When he removed the covering, the judge was stunned. The mysterious man testified with exact dates and payments the Brahmin had paid and even revealed the hidden ledger’s location. The police verified the details, and the Brahmin won the case. The judge was so deeply moved by the experience that he resigned from his post and dedicated his life to God. He is still remembered as Judge Swami of Haridwar.
Such is divine protection. When surrender is complete, God’s response is unmistakable. So, rest your heart in the assurance—My Lord is protecting me.
4. Tath Prasādāt Eva – Be Grateful for God’s Graces
Imagine a son who, when told to thank his father for raising him, says, “Why should I? He is only doing what his father did for him.” We recognize this as blatant ingratitude. Then how much more tragic is our failure to thank the eternal Father who has done infinitely more for us?
We have received countless priceless gifts from God—life itself, the earth beneath our feet, the air we breathe, the sunlight that guides us, and the water that sustains us. Every moment we exist is by His grace. Even the food we eat is a result of His grace. Whether or not we offer it to Him consciously, it is still prasād—because it originates from Him. A humorous but profound incident illustrates this.
A lady once brought a meal and was asked who made the vegetable. She replied, “I made it.” On further questioning, it turned out she only cooked it—the vegetables were bought by her husband. And who created the vegetables? Not her, not her husband, not the supermarket—but God, who alone possesses the divine technology to turn mud into potatoes and cabbages.
This whole world, this body, this breath—none of it is ours by right. It is all His mercy. When we start recognizing this, the heart naturally fills with deep gratitude for all that God has already given us.
5. Mameti Tyāgo – Give Up the Sense of Proprietorship
Everything in this world is created by God, owned by Him, and will remain long after we are gone. To forget this is ignorance; to remember it is wisdom.
The Kathopaniṣad states:
Mameti bhāvo mṛityuḥ – The feeling of ‘mine’ leads to bondage.
Namameti bhāvo mokṣaḥ – The feeling of ‘nothing is mine’ leads to liberation.
This world constantly reinforces the illusion of ownership—my house, my car, my children, my money—but death exposes the truth. Nothing accompanies us when we leave. As a billionaire once lamented, “I earned diamonds and pearls, but what use? The shroud has no pocket.” Even if it had one, it would burn with the body at the cremation ground.
Everything we possess—our home, our talents, our relationships—ultimately belongs to God. So, surrender means to relinquish false ownership; the illusion that anything belongs to us.
6. Ātma-Nivedanam – Give Up the Pride of Having Surrendered
We must let go of the thought "I am surrendered; therefore, I am superior." Even a good deed, when tainted with ego, loses its merit. The story below illustrates this.
A sadhu performed intense austerities in the Himalayas for twelve years. When divine grace descended upon him, God spoke: “O Sadhu, I am pleased. Ask what you wish—I shall grant it.”
The sadhu replied, “Of course You should give. I have worked so hard. I deserve it.”
Stunned by the Sadhu’s response, God asked, “Are you asking for the reward of your labor, or for My causeless grace?”
The sadhu insisted on his earned reward. Meanwhile, the boulder on which the sadhu sat on began speaking: “O Lord, if this sadhu is settling accounts, then please settle mine too. He sat on me for 12 years. For the next 12, let me sit on him!”
The sadhu realized his folly. No matter how great our effort, God’s blessings are not earned; they are gifts of His love and mercy. True surrender is marked by humility, acknowledging that any good done—was only by divine grace. Hence, even the pride of having surrendered must be renounced. Instead, cultivate the mindset: If I surrendered at all, it was only because God gave me the strength, the wisdom, and the desire to do so.
Conclusion
Surrender is not merely a practice; it is a state of being. It is the realization: I am sadhan-heen. O Lord, my faith, my hope, my refuge—all lie in You alone. Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj says: The world chases those who are sadhan sampanna—wealthy, knowledgeable, prestigious. But God chases after the nirbal—who have realized their own helplessness and placed all faith in His grace.
Sage Vasisht had advised: “Externally, endeavor fully as if it depends on you. Internally, realize that it depends entirely on God's grace.” Until our ego is fully destroyed, we must persevere in practice and detachment. But alongside, nurture the sublime, transforming power of surrender. When the soul surrenders completely, God’s grace flows in—and the impossible becomes possible.
Resources
● Why do YOU need to Surrender to GOD? Story of Draupadi | Swami Mukundananda | Patanjali Yog Sutra
● "OH GOD! WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!" / SURRENDER & THE 6 ASPECTS OF SURRENDER -SWAMI MUKUNDANANDA
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