Danger of Not Surrendering to Kṛṣṇa

Surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the ultimate conclusion of all Vedic knowledge. However, many people, including scholars, scientists, and even religionists, avoid this direct step. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that "not surrendering to Kṛṣṇa" is not merely a difference of opinion—it is a dangerous path that keeps the soul locked in the cycle of birth and death. This article examines the severe consequences of refusing to accept the shelter of the Lord.

Verdict of Scripture

Śrīla Prabhupāda does not mince words when describing the unsurrendered soul. Citing the Bhagavad-gītā (7.15), he explains that anyone who does not surrender to Kṛṣṇa falls into one of four condemned categories: duṣkṛtinaḥ (miscreants), mūḍhāḥ (gross fools), narādhamāḥ (lowest of mankind), and māyayāpahṛta-jñānāḥ (those whose knowledge is stolen by illusion). This classification applies regardless of one's material education or social standing. If one is not surrendered, they are, by definition, a "rascal."

• In Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.15), the distinction between Vaisnava and avaisnava is enunciated: Anyone who is not surrendered to Krsna is a most sinful person - duskrti, a rascal - mudha, and the lowest of men - naradhama.
• Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.15): Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me.
• Never mind he is M.A., Ph.D., D.A.C. or whatever he may be. But we take him first-class rascal, that's all, because he has not surrendered to Krsna. This is the test.

Stolen Knowledge

Why do intelligent people refuse to surrender? Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that their knowledge has been plundered by the illusory energy, māyā. A scholar may write elaborate commentaries on the Gītā, but if he concludes that one should surrender to the "unborn truth" within Kṛṣṇa rather than Kṛṣṇa Himself, he is misleading himself and others. Such so-called knowledge is useless because it does not lead to the ultimate goal. True knowledge must result in the understanding that "Vāsudeva is everything."

• One famous scholar wrote in his commentary on the Bhagavad-gita that one does not have to surrender to Lord Krsna or even accept Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but that one should rather surrender to - the Supreme within Krsna.
• If one does not know who God is, who Krsna is, and if one does not surrender to Him, then where is the question of knowledge? But if a rascal claims that "I am a man of knowledge," what can be done.
• We find so many learned scholars, they do not surrender to Krsna, then what is their position? Krsna says: "Yes, mayaya apahrta-jnana." They are learned, so-called learned, but their knowledge has been taken away by maya.

Cheating Religion

Śrīla Prabhupāda defines "real religion" as surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Anything else is kaitava-dharma, or cheating religion. Whether it is a secular philosophy, a demigod worship ritual, or an impersonal spiritual practice, if it does not advocate direct surrender to the Supreme Person, it cannot save the follower. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam kicks out all such cheating religions to establish the supreme dharma of surrender.

• Actual philosophy is this: the religion means surrender to Krsna. Anything else which does not surrender to Krsna, that is not religion. That is rejected in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo (SB 1.1.2): all cheating religion is rejected.
• One who has not surrendered to Krsna does not know the true principle of religion; otherwise he would have surrendered.
• The scholarly demons misguide the masses of people by directing them to surrender not to the Personality of Godhead but rather to the impersonal, unmanifested, eternal, unborn truth .

Consequence: Continued Suffering

The most tangible danger of not surrendering is the continuation of material suffering. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Kṛṣṇa is the only one who can release us from the laws of nature. If we say, "I don't surrender to Kṛṣṇa," we are immediately taken charge of by māyā. This means we remain subject to birth, death, old age, and disease. There is no protection for the unsurrendered soul; they are buffeted by the waves of material nature without an anchor.

• If you do not surrender to Hari, then you cannot get release from these four principles of material life, namely birth, death, old age and disease. You cannot get.
• If you say that "Don't care for the government laws." You may say, but you have to take care. Similarly, you may say that, "I don't surrender to Krsna," then maya is there immediately, she takes charge.
• Otherwise (if we don't surrender to Krsna), in the name of happiness, we shall continue to suffer miserable conditions.

Conclusion

Not surrendering to Kṛṣṇa is not an act of independence; it is an act of self-destruction. It shuts the door to the spiritual world and locks the soul in the material prison. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda offers hope: "If you like, you can make your life successful within a moment simply by surrendering." The choice is ours—to remain a "rascal" suffering in māyā, or to become a "mahātmā" under the protection of Kṛṣṇa.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Not Surrendering to Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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