Either we have to surrender to Krishna voluntarily or we will be forced to surrender but eventually everyone has to surrender to Krishna, the Supreme Lord.
When a person surrenders to his enemy then he loses all his glory. The surrender is too painful for him. But when one surrenders to the will of the Lord then the surrender is not painful but it’s joyful. It brings joy to both – the Lord and the one who surrenders to him.
Every one of us has to surrender to the Lord at some point in time. The decision is ours. We have to decide when we want to surrender. If we do not surrender to Krishna willingly then at the time of death we will be compelled to surrender to him. And that surrender is terrible.
Krishna is very sweet but in the form of death is extremely fearful.
Krishna’s fearful form
Arjuna personally witnessed that terrifying form of Krishna when he saw how people were entering into his mouth and dying helplessly. Arjuna was seeing Krishna’s gigantic all destroying Universal form.
He saw people rushing into Krishna’s fearful mouth. Sometimes their heads were being crushed by his teeth while entering into the mouth. Seeing this Arjuna was aghast and terrified.
He said, “I see all people rushing full speed into Your mouths, as moths dash to destruction in a blazing fire.” Bhagavad Gita 11.29
Arjuna pleads with Krishna to come back to his two-handed sweet form. The Supreme Lord accepts his request and shows him his beautiful form.
“When Arjuna thus saw Kṛṣṇa in His original form, he said: O Janārdana, seeing this humanlike form, so very beautiful, I am now composed in mind, and I am restored to my original nature.” Bhagavad Gita 11.51
So, we have to decide if we want to surrender to sweet Krishna who is the darling of all the brajvasis, or do we want to surrender to all devouring fear personified Krishna in the form of death.
Krishna tells how to surrender to him
In the material world surrender means accepting defeat. But here surrender means accepting the ultimate reality. It’s like a rebellious child surrendering to his father. When a child surrenders to his father then his father not only accepts him with open arms but also forgets and forgives his all-previous mistakes.
Attaining Krishna is not difficult because the Lord himself tells us how we can get his grace.
He says, “My dear Arjuna, he who engages in My pure devotional service, free from the contaminations of fruitive activities and mental speculation, he who works for Me, who makes Me the supreme goal of his life, and who is friendly to every living being – he certainly comes to Me.” Bhagavad Gita 11.55
Like a loving father, Krishna is waiting for us with his open arms to embrace us. We just need to turn towards him and say – Krishna I am yours. Now you are the goal of my life. Please accept me.
Krishna will surely accept us because he never rejects anyone who surrenders to him.
But if we fail to surrender to Krishna then we should be ready to see in the form of death.
Three Reflections
- If we do not surrender to Krishna willingly then at the time of death we will be compelled to surrender to him.
- Arjuna saw people rushing into Krishna’s fearful mouth. Sometimes their heads were being crushed by his teeth while entering into the mouth.
- We have to decide if we want to surrender to sweet Krishna or fear personified Krishna in the form of death.
Ask Yourself
- Am I ready to surrender to Krishna as per Krishna’s wishes?
Action Item
- Everyday say to Krishna, “I am yours. Please accept me.”
