Characteristics of Fully Surrendered Devotee

To be a devotee means to be surrendered, but to be a "fully" surrendered devotee implies a specific, exalted state of consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda elucidates that full surrender is not a vague sentiment but a rigorous spiritual standard characterized by six distinct qualities. A fully surrendered devotee lives in a state of complete dependence on Kṛṣṇa, free from anxiety and personal ambition. Such a soul is protected by the Lord in all circumstances and is considered extremely rare in this material world.

The Six Symptoms of Surrender

The process of surrender, or śaraṇāgati, is scientifically analyzed in the scriptures. Śrīla Prabhupāda lists six specific symptoms that qualify a devotee as fully surrendered. These are not optional steps but the very definition of a surrendered life.

1. Acceptance: The devotee accepts everything favorable for transcendental loving service.

• One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics: (1) The devotee has to accept everything that is favorable for the rendering of transcendental loving service to the Lord.

2. Rejection: The devotee strictly rejects everything unfavorable to the Lord's service, also known as renunciation.

• (2) He must reject everything unfavorable to the Lord’s service. This is also called renunciation.

3. Faith in Protection: The devotee is firmly convinced that "Kṛṣṇa will give me protection" and that no one else can protect them.

• (3) A devotee must be firmly convinced that Krsna will give him protection. No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly convinced of this is called faith.

4. Acceptance of Maintainer: The devotee depends solely on Kṛṣṇa for maintenance, knowing He is the only master.

• (4) He (the devotee) should not think that he is being protected by a demigod. He should depend only on Krsna, considering Him the only protector.

5. Self-Surrender: The devotee has no independent desires; they act and think only as Kṛṣṇa desires.

• (5) Self-surrender means remembering that one’s activities and desires are not independent. The devotee is completely dependent on Krsna, and he acts and thinks as Krsna desires.

6. Humility: The devotee is meek and humble.

• (6) The devotee is meek and humble.

Peace and Fearlessness

A natural result of this full surrender is profound peace. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares the surrendered devotee to a child who feels completely safe in the presence of their parents. Because the devotee knows that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller and protector, they are not agitated by the dangers of the material world. Even in the face of death or difficulty, they remain calm, knowing that the Lord is in charge.

• A devotee is peaceful because he is fully surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thinks of himself as completely helpless; just as a child feels complete peace in depending on the parent, so a devotee is completely peaceful, for he depends on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
• A devotee never claims to be very powerful himself; instead, he fully surrenders to the lotus feet of Krsna, being confident that in all dangerous conditions Krsna will protect His devotee.
• In this material world there are dangers at every step, but they are not meant for devotees who have fully surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord.

Freedom from Karma

One of the most powerful benefits of full surrender is immunity from sinful reactions. As promised in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66), Kṛṣṇa delivers the surrendered soul from all sins. Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that a fully surrendered Vaiṣṇava is completely out of the range of material infection. This protection applies even to those of low birth; if they fully surrender, they and their families can be purified.

• In Bhagavad-gita 18.66 Krsna says - Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear - Thus a fully surrendered, sincere devotee immediately receives relief from all kinds of sinful reactions.
• In the last word of the Bhagavad-gita the Lord asserts that one who surrenders fully unto Him is protected from all sins by the grace of the Lord.
• If a candala, a lowborn person, is a devotee and has fully surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord, he can purify his entire family.

Direct Guidance from the Lord

The fully surrendered devotee does not need to speculate or rely on their own intelligence. Kṛṣṇa personally gives them direction from within. This is the stage of buddhi-yoga, where the Lord provides the intelligence by which the devotee can advance and return to Him. Devotees like Brahmā and Arjuna act only on these indications from the Lord, making their activities wonderful to behold.

• When a living entity is fully surrendered, he is under the direct protection of Krsna, and Krsna gives him all intelligence by which he can advance in spiritual realization.
• After repeated attempts and failures, he fully surrenders to the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lord then gives him directions, and, attaining happiness, he forgets all material engagement.
• Devotees like Brahma and Arjuna do not do anything on their own account, but as fully surrendered souls they always await indications from the Lord; therefore they attempt to do something which appears very wonderful to ordinary vision.

Examples of Full Surrender

History provides shining examples of such devotees. Bali Mahārāja surrendered everything—his possessions, his kingdom, and his own self—despite the warnings of his spiritual master. Haridāsa Ṭhākura remained fixed in chanting the holy name even when tested by the personified illusory energy. Their lives demonstrate that full surrender means remaining steady in service regardless of the external situation.

• Bali Maharaja fully surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not tolerate being defamed for cheating a brahmana-brahmacari. Being quite alert in regard to his reputation, he thought deeply about how to prevent being defamed.
• The illusory energy personally came to test Haridasa Thakura, but herein (CC Antya 3.250) she admits her defeat, for she was unable to captivate him. How is this possible? It was because Haridasa Thakura, fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Krsna.

Conclusion

A fully surrendered devotee is rare. After many, many births of spiritual practice, one finally comes to the point of realizing that "Vāsudeva is everything" and surrenders fully. Such a mahātmā is the most fortunate person in existence, for they have secured the direct protection and love of the Supreme Lord. As Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sings, the mood of such a devotee is one of total resignation, giving the Lord the full right to protect or destroy.

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