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BHAGAVAD-GITA IN ESSENCE

Part 4 - THE CHARAM-SLOKI: The Essence of Surrender (1!""#

$%s&anatha C! Tha'ura and a)ade*a $%d+a,husana cons%der th%s *erse the%nnac)e of the ha.a*ad-.%ta &here a)) the %nstruct%ons f%na))+ cu)/%nate!Lord Krsna here .%*es H%s u)t%/ate %nstruct%on to Ar0una! In one sense %n th%s*erse Lord Krsna %s ne.at%n. &hat He has sa%d re*%os)+ %n the a)) ha.a*ad-.%ta!

sarva-dharman parityajya / mam ekam saranam vrajaaham tvam sarva-papebhyo / moksayisyami ma sucahsar*a-dhar/an--a)) *ar%et%es of re)%.%on2 ar%t+a0+a--a,andon%n.2 /a/--unto

Me2 e'a/--on)+2 sarana/--for surrender2 *ra0a--.o2 aha/--I2 t*a/--+ou2sar*a--a))2 ae,h+ah--fro/ s%nfu) react%ons2 /o'sa+%s+a/%--&%)) de)%*er2/a--do not2 sucah--&orr+!TRA3SLATIO3

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliveryou from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.Sr%)a Pra,huada &r%tes %n h%s Purort: 3o& %n su//ar%5%n. ha.a*ad-.%ta

the Lord sa+s that Ar0una shou)d .%*e u a)) the rocesses that ha*e ,eene6)a%ned to h%/2 he shou)d s%/)+ surrender to Krsna!

There are t&o aths to Krsna consc%ousness .%*en %n the ha.a*ad-.%ta: theath of .radua) e)e*at%on ,+ 'no&)ed.e and the ath of %//ed%ateuncond%t%ona) surrender! In 1!"" Sr% Krsna dec)ares that the ath of uncon-d%t%ona) surrender %s the ,est for %n th%s &a+ one atta%ns a)) erfect%on &%thoutsearate effort!

7uote fro/ Sr%)a Pra,uada: 8%rst of a)) one ,eco/es 0nana*an2 then he

surrenders to $asude*a! Sar*a-dhar/an ar%t+a0+a /a/ e'a/ sarana/*ra0a! Th%s %s one rocess! Another rocess %s +ou ,eco/e a de*otee of$asude*a then 0nana *a%ra.+a &%)) auto/at%ca))+ co/e!

Sr%)a Pra,huada here %s .%*%n. an e6a/)e fro/ t&o *erses %n the ha.a-*ad-.%ta one %s th%s chara/-s)o'% and the other one %s on 9!1!

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S "!1!1 "Although not having fully realized Krsna, persons ho haveeven once surrendered completely unto !is lotus feet and ho have becomeattracted to !is name, form, ualities and pastimes are completely freed ofall sinful reactions, for they have thus accepted the true method ofatonement. #ven in dreams, such surrendered souls do not see $amaraja orhis order carriers, ho are euipped ith ropes to bind the sinful."

Th%s %s a *er+ c)ear state/ent! Krsna sa+s %n the chara/-s)o'% ;I &%)) rotect+ou fro/ a)) s%nfu) react%ons do not fear;! Here %t sa+s that one /a+ not e*en

,e a fu))+ rea)%5ed de*otee ,ut %f he %s s%ncere)+ surrendered to Krsna then he&%)) not see the +a/adutas e*en %n drea/s!

To surrender to Krsna e*en ,efore ha*%n. rea)%5ed H%/ %s %tse)f the suer%or

ath of 'no&)ed.e ,ecause Krsna %s the .oa) of a)) cu)t%*at%on of 'no&-)ed.e! One &ho s%/)+ surrenders to Krsna ,e.%ns h%s s%r%tua) )%fe at theo%nt of fu)) 'no&)ed.e!

7uote fro/ Sr%)a Pra,huada: Therefore the &ho)e &or)d %s confused!The+ do not 'no& &here to reose the )o*e! That the+ do not 'no&! There-fore Krsna %s can*ass%n.: sar*a-dhar/an ar%t+a0a /a/ e'a! ;Co/e here )o*eMe %ncrease +our attach/ent for Me! E*er+th%n. &%)) ,e a)) r%.ht!; Other&%se %t%s s%/)+ *a.ue! Sra/a e*a h% 'e*a)a/! S%/)+ &aste of t%/e!

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Sr%)a Pra,huada %s ?uot%n. th%s *erse fro/ Sr%/ad-ha.a*ata/ dhar/ahs*anusth%tah u/sa/ *%s*a'sena-'athasu +ah! Th%s *erse %s sa+%n. ;%f +ouare fo))o&%n. dhar/a and +et!!! *%s*a'sena-'athasu +ah notada+ed +ad%rat%/ +ou are not de*e))o%n. a taste (rat%/# for hear%n. a,out the Sure/ePersona)%t+ of =odhead then sra/a e*a h% 'e*a)a/ %t %s 0ust a &aste of t%/e!

In a *erse rec%ted ,+ Sar*a,hau/a hattacar+a descr%,%n. the .)or%es of Sr%Ca%tan+a Mahara,hu %t sa+s *a%ra.+a-*%d+a-n%0a-,ha't%-+o.as%'sartha/e'ah urusah uranah Lord Ca%tan+a has co/e to de)%*er to the hu/an racethat &h%ch has ,een )ost for a )on. t%/e %n h%stor+! And %t /ent%ones threeth%n.s *a%ra.+a (rea) renunc%at%on# *%d+a (transcendenta) 'no&)ed.e# andn%0a-,ha't%-+o.a! ha't%-+o.a /eans de*ot%ona) ser*%ce and n%0a /eanssec%f%c ,ha't%-+o.a not to so/e *a.ue =od &ho %s ,e+ond the c)ouds &ho&e don;t 'no& &here He %s and He )oo's )%'e! 3%0a /eans sec%f%ca))+ to

Krsna! Th%s %s the ,ened%ct%on of Sr% Ca%tan+a Mahara,hu!

The other rocesses of dhar/a e6)a%ned %n the ha.a*ad-.%ta are ,aseduon ,ho.a (en0o+%n. searate)+ fro/ Krsna# or t+a.a (renounc%n. searate)+fro/ Krsna#!

Krsna %n the ha.a*ad-.%ta !B9 sa+s: +at 'aros% +ad asnas% +a0 0uhos%dadas% +at +at taas+as% 'aunte+a tat 'urus*a /ad-arana/ "%hatever youdo, hatever you eat, hatever you offer or give aay, and hateverausterities you perform & do that, ' son of Kunti, as an offering to Me".

Here Sr%)a Pra,huada %nd%cates Krsna %s e6)a%n%n. to the 'ar/%s ho& to,eco/e a de*otee! And for the +o.%s there the )ast *erse of the "th Chater ofha.a*ad-.%ta +o.%na/ a% sar*esa/!!!8or the 0nan%s there the *erse ofha.a*ad-.%ta 9!1 ,ahuna/ 0an/ana/ ante!!! These *erses are %nd%cat%n. tothose &ho are 'ar/%s 0nan%s or +o.%s ho& the+ can ,eco/e de*otees ,+fo))o&%n. the%r rocesses! If the+ do not surrender to Krsna then these

rocesses are ,ased uon ,ho.a en0o+%n. searate)+ fro/ Krsna or t+a.arenounc%n. searate)+ fro/ Krsna!

7uote fro/ Sr%)a Pra,huada: Krsna sa+s: sar*a dhar/an ar%!!! ou ha*e to

.%*e u th%s ,ho.a dhar/a and t+a.a dhar/a! Sar*a dhar/an ar%t+a0a! ouare no& en.a.ed %n t&o '%nds of dhar/a! So/e,od+ 'ar/%s the+ are

,ho.a ,ho.a dhar/%! The+ &ant to en0o+! And t+a.% the+ &ant to renounceth%s ,ho.a! So ,oth of these &%)) not he) +ou! ho.a-t+a.a! Then &hat>Se*a! ou ha*e to ta'e the dhar/a of se*a! That %s ,ha't%! Krsna-se*a! 8orKrsna +ou can accet an+th%n.! That %s!!! %t /a+ aear ,ho.a! Dust )%'ePrah)ada Mahara0a Prthu Mahara0a the+ &ere '%n.s *er+ ou)ent '%n.s!

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The a*%dh%!!! The *%dh%-ur*a'a ho&> Dust as the=an.es &ater %s f)o&%n. auto/at%ca))+ to&ard the sea s%/%-)ar)+ +our de*o-

t%ona) ser*%ce )%'e that auto/at%ca))+ &%thout an+ chec'!!! Then +our )%fe %serfect!

In the Se*enth Chater %t &as sa%d that on)+ one &ho has ,eco/e free fro/a)) s%nfu) react%ons can ta'e to the &orsh% of Lord Krsna! Thus one /a+ th%n'that un)ess he %s free fro/ a)) s%nfu) react%ons he cannot ta'e to thesurrender%n. rocess! To such dou,ts %t %s here sa%d that e*en %f one %s not freefro/ a)) s%nfu) react%ons s%/)+ ,+ the rocess of surrender%n. to Sr% Krsna he%s auto/at%ca))+ freed! There %s no need of strenuous effort to free onese)ffro/ s%nfu) react%ons!

Surrender%n. to Krsna destro+s s%n at %ts *er+ roots!

7uote fro/ Sr%)a Pra,huada: Th%s these four '%nds of sta.es of s%nfu)act%*%t%es %n stoc' a)/ost fruct%f%ed /an%fest a)) the sta.es of s%nfu)act%*%t%es can ,e %//ed%ate)+ nu))%f%ed! ecause %t %s assured ,+ Krsna: aha/t*a/ sar*a-ae,h+o /o'sa+s%a/%! It %s not %/a.%nat%on! If &e ,e)%e*e %n the

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&ords of Krsna then there %s no ?uest%on of den+%n. th%s fact! Krsnaersona))+ sa+s aha/ t*a/ sar*a-ae,h+o /o'a!!! Sar*a-ae,h+o! The'utastha ha)on/u'ha rara,dha e*er+th%n.! It ,eco/e %//ed%ate)+nu))%f%ed! S%/)+ ,+ th%s rocess ,+ surrender%n.!

These 'utastha ha)on/u'ha and rara,dha are three of the four sta.es ofs%n! The f%rst sta.e %s ,h%0a or seed! The seeds of s%n are %n our heart! Ta'e ,+%nstance the se6ua) des%re! Se6ua) des%re %s a resu)t of s%nfu) des%res %n the for/of seeds stored %n the heart! In a +oun. ch%)d there %s no such des%re ,ut theseeds are there %n the heart! hen the ch%)d reaches u,ert+ then 'utastha %t

,e.%ns to de*e))o! hen the seed srouts and starts to .ro&! A +oun.,o+ doesn;t 'no& &h+ ,ut sudden)+ f%nds ,eaut%fu) .%r)s to )oo' at! Then thefru%t ,e.%ns to .ro& ha)on/u'ha! The fru%ts of en0o+e/ent ,eco/es/an%fested! And then rara,dha or the resu)t of tast%n. that fru%t!

Those are the four sta.es of s%n! + surrender%n. to Krsna these four sta.esare erad%cated!

A c)ear e6a/)e of &hat th%s /eans &e f%nd %n the Maha,harata! In the ,att)eof Kuru'setra Sr% Krsna ad*%sed the Panda*as to ta'e unfa%r /eans todefeat the Kaura*as! In th%s &a+ the Panda*as ,ro'e the codes of dhar-/afor a 'satr%+a! 8or e6a/)e %t &as Krsna &ho ad*%sed h%/a to ,ra'e thet%.hs of

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re)%.%ons the+ ha*e no %nterest %n the ast%/es of the Lord! In fact that &ou)d/a'e the/ *er+ affra%d: %f Krsna .oes out %n the forest &%th the .o%s and %f I&ant to sa+ a ra+er at that t%/e He &ont )%sten to /e He &%)) ,e *er+ ,us+!Th%s %s not a '%nd of =od that I &ant to &orsh%! I &ant a =od &ho %s 0usts%tt%n. u there and has noth%n. e)se to do e6cet )%sten to /e! The+ &ant a'%nd of =od &ho %s the%r ser*ant! Th%s %s the oos%te of th%s *erse +ousurrender to Me and .%*e u an+ other )an

Sar*a-dhar/an ar%t+a0a /a/ e'a sarana/ *ra0a: ;ou ha*e /anufacturedso /an+ rasca)do/ %n the na/e of re)%.%on! =%*e u a)) th%s nonsense!S%/)+ surrender unto Me!; Th%s %s &anted! ut Krsna 'no&s that ;If I sa+ tothe rasca)s Surrender unto Me he;)) ta'e other&%se!; A ,%. scho)ar sa+s ;Ohth%s %s too /uch soh%str+!; Krsna %s de/and%n.: ;S%/)+ surrender unto /e!;And the co//entor co//entator %s re/ar'%n. ;Oh th%s %s too /uch!;

As one re?u%res no re)%/%nar+ 'no&)ed.e to surrender to Krsna s%/%)ar)+one re?u%res no re)%/%nar+ ur%t+ or %et+!

7uote fro/ Sr%)a Pra,huada: So &%thout ,e%n. a*%tra &%thout ,e%n.%ous &%thout ,e%n. free fro/ conta/%nat%on of /ater%a) act%*%t%es no,od+can aroach Krsna! That;s a fact! ut Krsna %s so '%nd that He orders thatJE*en %f +ou ha*e .ot so/e 'a/ana so/e des%re /ater%a) des%re st%)) +oucan ta'e she)ter uon Me!; Sar*a-dhar/an ar%t+a0+a! Jou do not ta'eshe)ter of an+th%n. e)se! S%/)+ deend on Me!; Sar*a-dhar/an ar%t+a0+a

/a/ e'a sarana/ *ra0a! Jou ha*en;t .ot to deend on an+th%n. e)se! I &%)).%*e +ou rotect%on!; So &e ha*e to ta'e fa%th %n the &ords of Krsna and %nch(s%c# our co/)ete fa%th and de*ot%on at the )otus feet of Krsna!

. !GB "' son of (rtha, those ho ta)e shelter of Me, though they be ofloer birth&&omen, vaisyas *merchants+ and sudras *or)ers+&&canattain the supreme destination."

S 11!14!1 "My dear ddhava, if My devotee has not fully conuered hissenses, he may be harrassed by material desires, but because of his

unflinching devotion for Me, he ill not be defeated by sense gratifica&tion."

Sr%)a Pra,huada cont%nues %n h%s Purort to the . 1!"": The rocess ofsurrender to Krsna %s descr%,ed %n the Har%,ha't% *%)asa (11!"9"#:anu'u)+as+a san'a)ah rat%'u)+as+a *ar0ana/ ra's%s+at%t% *%s*aso .otrt*e*arana/ tatha at/a-n%'sea-'aran+e sad-*%dha sarana.at%h!

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Dust as the four %te/s of . 1!" ta'e %nto account the n%ne rocesses ofde*ot%ona) ser*%ce .%*en %n the sastra so the /ethod of surrender ad*%sed %n1!"" ta'es %nto account the sad-*%dha sarana.at% (s%6fo)d /ethod ofsurrender# .%*en %n the sastra!

7uote fro/ CC Madh+a-)%)a BB!1@@:"'ne ho is fully surrendered is ua&lified ith the si- folloing characteristics. /0 1he devotee has to accepteverything that is favorable for the rendering of transcendental loving

service to the 2ord. 30 !e must reject everything unfavorable to the2ord4s service. 1his is also called renunciation. 50 A devotee must be firmlyconvinced that Krsna ill give him protection. 6o one else can actually

give one protection, and being firmly convinced of this is called faith. 1his)ind of faith is different from the faith of an impersonalist ho ants to

merge into the 7rahman effulgence in order to benefit by cessation ofrepeated birth and death. A devotee ants to remain alays in the 2ord4sservice. In this ay, Krsna is merciful to !is devotee and gives him allprotection from the dangers found on the path of devotional service. 80 1hedevotee should accept Krsna as his supreme maintainer and master. !e

should not thin) that he is being protected by a demigod. !e should dependonly on Krsna, considering !im the only protector. 1he devotee must be

firmly convinced that ithin the three orlds he has no protector ormaintainer other than Krsna. 90 :elf&surrender means remembering thatone4s activities and desires are not independent. 1he devotee is completely

dependent on Krsna, and he acts and thin)s as Krsna desires. ;0 1hedevotee is mee) and humble."+ surrender%n. to Krsna as Krsna;s de*otee th%s doesn;t necessar))+ /eanthat one &%)) )ea*e th%s /ater%a) &or)d at )east r%.ht a&a+! Krsna /a+ ha*eso/e dut+ for h%/ %n th%s /ater%a) &or)d! Protect%on of the Lord does not/ean )%'e the %/ersona)%sts sa+ that +ou .o u to the c)ouds of rah/anthe door %s )oc'ed and +ou are safe there! Protect%on /eans that &e /a+ ha*eto act %n th%s &or)d face so/et%/es stron. oos%t%on ,ut Krsna &%)) a)&a+s

rotect us!

Sr%)a Pra,huada &r%tes on h%s Purort: One shou)d ,e attracted ,+ the,eaut%fu) *%s%on of Krsna! H%s na/e %s Krsna ,ecause He %s a))-attract%*e! One&ho ,eco/es attracted ,+ the ,eaut%fu) a))-o&erfu) o/n%otent *%s%on ofKrsna %s fortunate! There are d%fferent '%nds of transcendenta)%sts--so/e ofthe/ are attached to the %/ersona) rah/an *%s%on so/e of the/ areattracted ,+ the Suersou) feature etc! ,ut one &ho %s attracted to the

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ersona) feature of the Sure/e Persona)%t+ of =odhead and a,o*e a)) one&ho %s attracted ,+ the Sure/e Persona)%t+ of =odhead as Krsna H%/se)f%s the /ost erfect transcendenta)%st! In other &ords de*ot%ona) ser*%ce toKrsna %n fu)) consc%ousness %s the /ost conf%dent%a) art of 'no&)ed.e andth%s %s the essence of the &ho)e ha.a*ad-.%ta!

Fnreser*ed surrender to Krsna %s the /ethod of de*ot%on of the .o%s &hoare the /ost erfect transcendenta)%sts!

S 11!1B!1G-1 "All those hundreds of thousands of gopis, understandingMe to be their most charming lover and ardently desiring Me in that ay,ere unaare of My actual position. $et by intimately associating ith Me,the gopis attained Me, the :upreme Absolute 1ruth. 1herefore, My dearddhava, abandon the

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or%.%na))+ for Krsna! 3%t+a-s%ddha 'rsna-,ha't%! That %s the or%.%na) re/a! ut,ecause &e are %))us%oned that re/a %s ,e%n. a)%ed or used for so /an+/+! Pre/a I ha*e .ot! I ha*e .ot /+ )o*e! That %s a fact! ut I do not 'no&&here to reose that )o*e! That %s /+ /%sfortune! Therefore Krsna sa+s thatsar*a dhar/an ar%t+a0a /a/ e'a sarana/ *ra0a! ;ou ha*e .ot re/a! oua)+ %t to Me! Then +ou;)) ,e ,enef%ted!; Pre/a %s a)read+ there! ou ares%/)+ /%sus%n. %t! Therefore +ou are not ha+! Th%s %s the rocess! Pre/a+ou ha*e .ot! ut +ou are /%sus%n. %t! ut %f +ou ta'e Krsna;s &ord that=%*e +our re/a unto Me!!!

e can su//ar%5e th%s Chara/-s)o'% and the =%ta-rahas+a ,+ c%t%n. th%s*erse: S 11!11!GG My devotees may or may not )no e-actly hat I am,ho I am and ho I e-ist, but if they orship Me ith unalloyed love, then Iconsider them to be the best of devotees."

Here 'no&)ed.e %s not ta'%n. to ,e *er+ %/ortant ,+ Krsna! hat %s %/ortant%s unreser*ed surrender and )o*e and de*ot%on! And then Krsna su)%es a))'no&)ed.e to the de*otee! ut %t /ust a)so ,e o%nted out that Krsna %s notas'%n. us to surrender to H%/ %n so/e %.norant and sent%/enta) &a+! The

rocess of surrender to Krsna as &e a)read+ heard %n the Catur-s)o'% %t,e.%ns ,+ assoc%at%n. &%th Krsna;s de*otees hear%n. fro/ the/ a,out Krsna!Th%s %s ho& one can )earn ho& to surrender to Krsna! It %s on)+ oss%,)ethrou.h Krsna;s de*otees! + hear%n. fro/ Krsna;s de*otees one .ets'no&)ed.e ho& to roer)+ surrender to H%/! Th%s %s an %/ortant o%nt

,ecause there %s /an+ ustarts the aa-sa/rada+as the ,o.us-*a%sna*as

&ho c)a%/ that the+ ha*e )o*e of Krsna the+ ha*e surrendered to H%/ fu))+ sothe+ don;t care for ru)es and re.u)at%ons the+ don;t care for soc%a) o%n%on!The+ are 0ust act%n. %n ure )o*e! And th%s ure )o*e /eans to the/ s%/)+%))%c%t se6!

SRILA PRAHFPA

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effect%*e!; It %s not effect%*e for these .o-'haras! Other&%se %t %s effect%*e! ut %nthe ,e.%nn%n. the+ cannot! Other&%se %n the ha.a*ad-.%ta %t %s )a%n)+sa%d sar*a-dhar/an ar%t+a0+a /a/ e'a! ho %s ta'%n. %t> 3o,od+ %s ta'%n.%t! Therefore %t %s not effect%*e for the .o-'haras! It %s effect%*e for one &ho %sactua))+ hu/an ,e%n. ,ut the+ are not hu/an ,e%n.! The+ are a)) ras-ca)s.o-'haras! Therefore %t %s not effect%*e! If +ou %nstruct a do. ;M+ dear do.

)ease surrender to Krsna; &%)) he do that> So s%/%)ar)+ hu/an ,e%n. &hodoes not surrender he %s no ,etter than the do.! hat %s the d%fference

,et&een do. and th%s hu/an ,e%n. .o-'haras> The cats the do.s the+cannot do %t! And %f +ou hu/an ,e%n.s the+ cannot do a)so then &hat %s thed%fference> Ahara-n%dra-,ha+a-/a%thuna/ ca sa/an+a/ etad asu,h%rnarana/! S%/)+ eat%n. s)ee%n. se6 )%fe and defend%n.! These are co//onth%n.s of the cats and do.s and the hu/an ,e%n.s! The hu/an ,e%n. %ssec%a))+ ,enef%ted &hen he surrenders to Krsna! Other&%se he %s cat and do.!

So Ca%tan+a Mahara,hu 'ne& that these cats and do.s the+ are sode.raded the+ cannot understand &hat %s the /ean%n. of surrender%n. toKrsna! The+ cannot understand! Therefore He sa%d eho ,ah+a a.e 'aha ara:;Th%s %s e6terna)! P)ease sea' /ore so/eth%n. effect%*e!;

That &h%ch Lord Ca%tan+a acceted as effect%*e &as Ra/ananda Ra+a;sstate/ents fro/ the Sr%/ad-ha.a*ata/: one shou)d s%/)+ hear fro/ thede*otees of the Lord! Th%s %s &here true surrender ,e.%ns! One has to )earnthe sc%ence of Krsna consc%ousness fro/ the de*otees and under the%r d%rec-t%on surrender!