Krishna says (in Gita18.66) "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you

Question

I have two questions
Why do we not surrender unto Krishna.
and
How to surrender unto Krishna.

Answer 1

Why do we not surrender unto Krishna?

Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me.
PURPORT
It is said in Bhagavad-gita that simply by surrendering oneself unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality Krishna one can surmount the stringent laws of material nature. At this point a question arises: How is it that educated philosophers, scientists, businessmen, administrators and all the leaders of ordinary men do not surrender to the lotus feet of Sri Krishna, the all-powerful Personality of Godhead? Mukti, or liberation from the laws of material nature, is sought by the leaders of mankind in different ways and with great plans and perseverance for a great many years and births. But if that liberation is possible by simply surrendering unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then why don't these intelligent and hard-working leaders adopt this simple method?

The Gita answers this question very frankly. Those really learned leaders of society like Brahma, Siva, Kapila, the Kumaras, Manu, Vyasa, Devala, Asita, Janaka, Prahlada, Bali, and later on Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, Sri Caitanya and many others -- who are faithful philosophers, politicians, educators, scientists, etc. -- surrender to the lotus feet of the Supreme Person, the all-powerful authority. Those who are not actually philosophers, scientists, educators, administrators, etc., but who pose themselves as such for material gain, do not accept the plan or path of the Supreme Lord. They have no idea of God; they simply manufacture their own worldly plans and consequently complicate the problems of material existence in their vain attempts to solve them. Because material energy (nature) is so powerful, it can resist the unauthorized plans of the atheists and baffle the knowledge of "planning commissions."

The atheistic planmakers are described herein by the word dushkritinah, or "miscreants." Kriti means one who has performed meritorious work. The atheist planmaker is sometimes very intelligent and meritorious also, because any gigantic plan, good or bad, must take intelligence to execute. But because the atheist's brain is improperly utilized in opposing the plan of the Supreme Lord, the atheistic planmaker is called dushkriti. which indicates that his intelligence and efforts are misdirected. . .

Sri Yamunacarya Albandaru of South India said, "O my Lord! You are unknowable to persons involved with atheistic principles, despite Your uncommon qualities, features and activities, despite Your personality's being confirmed by all the revealed scriptures in the quality of goodness, and despite Your being acknowledged by the famous authorities renowned for their depth of knowledge in the transcendental science and situated in the godly qualities."

Therefore, (1) grossly foolish persons, (2) the lowest of mankind, (3) the deluded speculators, and (4) the professed atheists, as above mentioned, never surrender unto the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead in spite of all scriptural and authoritative advice. . . .
http://vedabase.net/bg/7/15/en1

"My dear Lord, devotees like Vyasadeva and Narada know You to be the Personality of Godhead. By understanding different Vedic literatures, one can come to know Your characteristics, Your form and Your activities, and one can thus understand that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance, the demons, the nondevotees, cannot understand You. They are unable to understand You. However expert such nondevotees may be in discussing Vedanta and the Upanishads and other Vedic literatures, it is not possible for them to understand the Personality of Godhead." (Stotra-ratna 12)
http://vedabase.net/bg/7/24/en1

How to surrender unto Krishna?

Again His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) answers in the purport:

The process of surrender to Krishna is described in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (11.676):
anukulyasya sankalpah
pratikulyasya varjanam
rakshishyatiti visvaso
goptritve varanam tatha
atma-nikshepa-karpanye
shad-vidha saranagatih

According to the devotional process, one should simply accept such religious principles that will lead ultimately to the devotional service of the Lord. One may perform a particular occupational duty according to his position in the social order, but if by executing his duty one does not come to the point of Krishna consciousness, all his activities are in vain. Anything that does not lead to the perfectional stage of Krishna consciousness should be avoided. One should be confident that in all circumstances Krishna will protect him from all difficulties. There is no need of thinking how one should keep the body and soul together. Krishna will see to that. One should always think himself helpless and should consider Krishna the only basis for his progress in life. As soon as one seriously engages himself in devotional service to the Lord in full Krishna consciousness, at once he becomes freed from all contamination of material nature. There are different processes of religion and purificatory processes by cultivation of knowledge, meditation in the mystic yoga system, etc., but one who surrenders unto Krishna does not have to execute so many methods. That simple surrender unto Krishna will save him from unnecessarily wasting time. One can thus make all progress at once and be freed from all sinful reactions.
http://vedabase.net/bg/18/66/en1

Answer 2

Refreshing! Thanks for this question? I have been morning a lack of variety.

A friend recently e-mailed me a portion of the Gita...a very tiny portion yet deeply meaningful. I was struck at the continuity with Budhism. Very beautiful.

Always something to learn from one another. Some grea t posts here I see to. Gaz...always a pleasure. Particularly informative today. The issue of time span and translation is always there isn't it? No matter where you go. It is really important to scrutinize and discuss that along the way.

There are strong universal elements aren't there? What if the names were all changed in all religious texts? Would there be some serious repetition? I am not saying there would not still be some pages that stand out as unique, but the continuity would be striking wouldn't it?!

I surrendered to the Divine so long ago I have foregotton when. I just said to the Divine...I don't trust haumanities words only you from which I sprung before my mother and my father. Take me as I am and I will do my very best to be the best I can be and more! Paraphrased of course I don't remember what I said litterally but you get the idea! I left out the part about trying to awaken the world...that's a tough one. First I have to be awake! LOL! Oh smile please!

;-D ROAR!

I do all right for a work in progress!

Peace me harties! xox

Answer 3

Great question, highlighting just how important interpretation is in all things.

I would also question the use of the word 'surrender', mostly because I respond poorly to any inference that 'weakens' the 'power'of the recipient.

I think that it's our job, just as much as Lord Krishna's, to re-empower each other, and ourselves, in the path to remembering who we truly are.

It is just exactly the stealing of people's personally 'power' that has made the whole business of religion turn into something so repugnant.

Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu, is an avatar of Brahma, and who are we ?

Answer 4

we do not surrender to the Lord Krishna because of the lack of knowledge . it will take time depends upon the karmas. secondaly surrender unto Lord Krishna means , whatever you do , do it for Lord Krishna

Answer 5

The mind makes to much noise. Practise being still in the mind and Truth or Krishna will be revealed. ~ : )

Answer 6

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज ।
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ॥१८- ६६॥
"Setting aside all meritorious deeds (Dharma), just surrender completely to My will with firm faith and loving contemplation. I shall liberate you from all sins. Do not grieve." (B.G., Chapter 18, Verse 66)

Here Dharma is not religion, but it is "meritorious deeds"
Your wrong translation leads to wrong interpretation.
Remember that when Krishna told this there were no other religions,

Answer 7

The following are the lines of he vrse 66 of the 18th teaching:

"Relinquising all sacred duties to me ,
make me your onlyrefuge ;
do not grieve,
for I shall free you from all evils "

It mus be understood that the whole and main teaching of the gita is that one should perfom his duties withot fear or favour and without attacement to the fruits of acion as sacrifice to God .The sacrifice mentioned throughout the Gita is perfomance of duty and itis clerly repeated all over.
so here also Krsihna tells Arjuna to relinquish allvhis sacred duties to him making him his only refuge .That is to perfom his sacred duty as a warrior as a sacrifice to god maj=king god onlly as his only refuge .he tells him not to grieve as he has to fiht his gandfathers , teachers cousins etc and kiil hem in the battle field .since he is peforning his duty as an offering to god , he shall e free from all evils . he willnt be considerd as doing any evil in killing his own kins man in h bttle field .these verses should be read and intrpreted in the context in which hhtey are told and not out of context .
The very essence of gits is what is god
What is he duty of people of the four classes
How they shoud performtheir duty
What ar to be condidered in the perfomance of one's duty and what are not toi be considered .
wha is he purpose of life
what happens to the body and soul of man afer deah and what is resurrection
How to focus one's mind on his purpose through the yogas
What yoga is suitable for people of diffent levels of understanding
there was no religion of any sort at the time the gita was
propounded by Vyasa .and there is no reference to any religion in the whole of 'gita .
Religion was unknown to Lord Krsihna and Vyaasa .
Mere belief inLord Krihna or any God willnt deliver anyone from the cycles of birth and death.gita says tha one';s karma alone will freee one from the cycles of birth and death.
there is no deliverance in Hinduism. the word will e a misapplicaion for anying in the hindu religion and no soul could eer exis independently and all souls merge with the paramatma .
so intrpret every verse in the context in which it is told .and in the light and spirit of he entire philosophy .

Answer 8

The exact translation is like this " Forsaking all other dharmas (duties) , remember Me alone; I will free thee from all sins ( accruing from nonperformance of those lesser duties). Do not grieve!

What I understand is that find solace in God and only God.

Answer 9

>> Why do we not surrender unto Krishna
Why would I surrender to a false god? Why not surrender to the true God Jesus Christ, the true God who became flesh, that he might be a true sacrifice for our sins, that we might be saved from death. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Answer 10

nice ques. i m starring it.