When life spins beyond our control, when events unfold that we never wished for, when we feel the sharp sting of disappointment or loss, a question often rises in our hearts: “Why did God allow this to happen?” In such moments, we forget that behind the tapestry of our worldly experiences is a divine artist — our eternal caretaker, Shree Krishna, who orchestrates everything for our highest good.
But to truly realize this, we must understand one essential truth: the key to a divine life lies in surrender. And what is surrender? Is it bowing at a temple, reciting holy mantras, or donning a tilak on our forehead? While these can be expressions of devotion, surrender is far more profound. According to Swami Mukundananda, it is a state of consciousness — a complete internal shift, a letting go of ego and control, and embracing divine will.
Swamiji lays out six foundational principles that define the path of surrender, guiding us to experience divine grace and get closer to God. Let’s explore these six steps deeply, along with the wisdom and stories Swamiji shares, so that we too may open our hearts and receive the boundless love of Shree Krishna.
1. Anukulyasya Sankalpaha – Desire What God Desires
The first and foremost mark of true surrender is Anukulyasya Sankalpaha, which means aligning our desires with the will of God. This is the foundational step in the journey of Bhakti — to yearn for nothing except that which pleases the Lord.
Swami Mukundananda often emphasizes that a true devotee does not treat God as a wish-fulfilling entity, but rather seeks to fulfill God’s wish. If we truly consider ourselves the eternal servants (dasas) of God, then it becomes not only our duty but our greatest joy to desire what He desires.
Swamiji illustrates this beautifully through the life of Mirabai, the saintly devotee of Shree Krishna. She sang with utter surrender:
“If Shree Krishna makes me laugh, I will laugh;
If He makes me cry, I will cry.”
Her heart had merged with God’s will so completely that she no longer possessed any independent desire. Her joy, sorrow, and existence itself were surrendered to the Lord's divine will.
From the Bhagavad Gita
Lord Krishna emphasizes this principle in the Bhagavad Gita (18.66):
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
“Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”
Here, Shree Krishna does not ask Arjun to do as he wishes, but to surrender fully to God’s will, even if it means going to war against his own relatives. This is the transformation of desire — from personal inclinations to divine obedience.
From the Ramayana
Consider the example of Bharat, the younger brother of Lord Ram. When Kaikeyi’s boons led to Lord Ram’s exile, Bharat was devastated. Yet, when he met Lord Ram in the forest and tried to convince Him to return, Lord Ram lovingly explained that fulfilling their father's promise was His duty.
Bharat could have insisted, but instead, he aligned his will with Lord Ram’s. He took Lord Ram’s sandals, placed them on the throne, and ruled Ayodhya not as king, but as a servant of the Lord, awaiting His return. Bharat did not act out of personal ambition, but out of devotion to Ram’s will.
From the Mahabharata
During the Mahabharata war, when Karna was offered the kingdom by Lord Krishna in exchange for switching sides, Karna respectfully declined. However, contrast this with Draupadi, who demonstrated surrender to the Lord’s will during her disrobing in the Kaurava court.
Initially, she tried to save herself by her own efforts, but when she raised her hands in complete surrender to Krishna, He miraculously saved her honor. In that moment of helplessness, her desire shifted — from controlling the situation to trusting God's plan.
From the Puranas
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, we find the story of Prahlad Maharaj, the young saintly devotee of Lord Narayan. Though tormented by his demon father, Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad never asked God to destroy his enemy. Instead, he simply prayed:
"O Lord, if You desire my protection, let it be so. If You desire I suffer, let that be so too — Your will is my refuge."
This complete surrender of personal agenda, even in the face of death, shows how Prahlad's only desire was to please God, not to seek his own comfort.
Self-Reflection:
To walk the path of Anukulyasya Sankalpaha, we must constantly ask:
- Am I clinging to my personal desires, or seeking God's will?
- Am I trying to mold God to my expectations, or molding myself to His plan?
The servant never imposes his will on the Master. Rather, the servant finds deep joy in obedience, even when it demands sacrifice. This inner transformation — where our personal desires dissolve into God’s will — marks the first turning point of true surrender.
2. Pratikulyasya Varjanam – Reject Desires Contrary to God’s Will
If we truly desire what God desires, it naturally follows that we avoid what He doesn’t wish for us. This is the second principle: do not pursue what is against God’s will.
But how do we know what God wants or doesn’t want? Swamiji guides us: Seek knowledge from the scriptures and the Guru. Through wisdom, we understand that God does not want us to indulge in irresponsibility, harmful habits, or sense gratifications that take us further away from Him.
When we suffer, our instinct is to question and complain: “Why me, O God?” But when joy comes, we rarely ask, “Why did I receive this happiness?” Such questioning is selective and reveals an underlying attachment to our own will, not God’s.
True surrender is to accept pain and pleasure alike — as God’s will and grace. The moment we resist suffering and ask "why", we are going against God’s will. Surrender means doing our duty sincerely and leaving the results to God.
3. Rākṣhiṣhyatīti Viśhvāsaḥ – Have Firm Faith That God is Protecting You
Faith is the antidote to fear. The third step in surrender is to believe — deeply and without a doubt — that God is always protecting us.
Swamiji shares a powerful analogy: a child held by their father over a deep well may laugh with joy, unaware of danger, because of unshakable trust in their father’s protection. Likewise, we are in God’s hands — what need do we have to fear?
He tells the story of a ship captain who remained calm amidst a sea storm. When his wife asked how he could be so fearless, he demonstrated his trust by placing a sword at her neck and asking if she felt afraid. She said no, because she trusted him. The captain responded, “In the same way, I trust that God holds this ship. Why should I be afraid?”
When we surrender, worry disappears. Fear stems from the ego that tries to control outcomes. Surrender is letting go of control and fully trusting in the divine plan.
4. Goptṛitva Varanam – Accepting God as the Sole Maintainer
Gratitude is a hidden gem on the spiritual path. The fourth key is to see everything — big or small — as God’s grace and to feel profound gratitude for it.
Swamiji draws our attention to the air we breathe. We take oxygen for granted until we see a patient struggling for breath. Who gave us this oxygen? Who made the soil yield food, the sun shine, the rivers flow? It is all divine grace.
Even the food we eat is God’s technology in action. Swamiji humorously notes how no lab in the world can turn mud into a potato or tomato. Yet the earth does it daily. So, what is food if not prasad — sacred gift?
Ingratitude is a sign of ego. A grateful heart, on the other hand, recognizes the divine hand behind every blessing. Gratitude elevates the soul and opens us up to receive more grace.
5. Ātma-nikṣhepaḥ – Giving Up the Sense of Ownership
The fifth principle is to relinquish the sense of “mine.” The moment we were born, we brought nothing. When we leave, we’ll take nothing. So what, truly, is ours?
Swamiji shares the legendary story of King Raghu, ancestor of Lord Ram. After giving away all his possessions in a yajna, he donned a beggar’s attire and went to seek food. When people praised his generosity, he rebuked them, saying, “Raghu has given nothing — it all belonged to God.”
The illusion of ownership is one of the deepest barriers to surrender. By offering everything to God — wealth, time, relationships, even our talents — we rise above ego and reclaim our spiritual identity as divine instruments.
To say, “This is not mine, it’s His” is a mark of deep surrender.
6. Kārpaṇye – Surrender the Pride of Having Surrendered
Even after performing great acts of devotion or sacrifice, if we think, “I am so surrendered,” we fall into the trap of pride. This final step in surrender is the most subtle: to surrender the pride of having surrendered.
Swamiji often reminds us: Even the ability to surrender is not ours. It is God’s grace.
A devotee once said, “God, the only thing I truly have to offer you is my ego. Please accept even that.” True humility is not self-deprecating but self-forgetting — where the ego dissolves and only God remains in our heart and mind.
This is the ultimate surrender, where we become empty vessels, fit to be filled with divine love and wisdom.
The Reward of True Surrender – Divine Grace
Why go through these six steps of surrender? Because surrender invites God’s grace, which is far more powerful than the law of karma.
Swamiji emphasizes this crucial point: As long as you have not surrendered, you are bound by karma. But the moment surrender takes place, grace intervenes and burns the karma of countless lifetimes.
There is a profound verse in the Bhagavatam:
“tat te’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇo... bhunjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam”
– He who patiently endures the fruits of past karma and continues to serve God with devotion, that soul becomes an heir to God’s divine property.
The spiritual journey, then, is not about acquiring more, but about surrendering more — more of ego, of control, of judgment, and of fear. And as we let go, we realize that Shree Krishna truly knows what’s best for us.
Conclusion: Let Shree Krishna Take the Reins
Life is an ocean, sometimes calm, sometimes stormy. But if Shree Krishna is at the helm, we can rest easy. The six principles of surrender are not a burden but a liberation. They free us from anxiety, from the pressure to control everything, and open us up to boundless grace.
As Swamiji says, surrender is not an external ritual — it is an inner transformation. It begins with a shift in desire and ends in complete humility.
Let us remember:
- Desire only what He desires.
- Reject all contrary desires.
- Have unshakable faith in His protection.
- Feel grateful for all His graces.
- Give up the sense of “mine.”
- And finally, surrender even the pride of surrender.
When we walk this path, the Lord walks with us. His grace flows into our lives like a river of divine nectar, dissolving the burdens of the past and opening the doors to spiritual joy.
So today, surrender a little more. Trust a little deeper. Love a little purer.
And let Shree Krishna take care of the rest.
“Tere karam mein kami nahi, tu Kareem hai. Qasoor mera hai, jeedhan ummid wadhu hai.”
There is no shortcoming in Your grace, O Lord. The fault is mine — I still haven’t prepared my heart fully to receive You.
Let us prepare it now. Let us surrender. Let us shine. 🌸
