God and His Surrendered Souls
The dynamic between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity reaches its perfection when the soul surrenders. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this relationship not as a passive state of subjugation, but as an active, loving exchange where the Lord becomes the personal guardian of the devotee. While God is the general maintainer of all beings, He holds a special, affectionate position for His surrendered souls, offering them immunity from material reactions and direct guidance from within.
Absolute Protection
The most prominent feature of this relationship is the Lord's guarantee of protection. Śrīla Prabhupāda questions why anyone should flatter the wealthy for maintenance when the Almighty Lord is ready to protect the surrendered soul. Śaraṇāgati (surrender) is defined by the firm conviction that "wherever I am, the Lord will protect me." This protection covers all circumstances, ensuring that the devotee is never alone or helpless.
- Are the caves of the mountains now closed, or, above all, does the Almighty Lord not protect the fully surrendered souls? Why then do the learned sages go to flatter those who are intoxicated by hard-earned wealth.
- Saranagati, or surrender, means acceptance or firm belief that wherever the surrendered soul lives he is always protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; he is never alone or unprotected.
- Anyone who is a surrendered soul unto the Supreme is righteous, and he is specifically protected by the Lord in all circumstances.
Lord Takes Charge
When a devotee surrenders, they effectively hand over the reins of their life to Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord "at once takes charge" of such a soul. This means the devotee is relieved of the burden of their past sinful reactions and the anxiety of decision-making. The Lord becomes the caitya-guru, the spiritual master within the heart, dictating what should be done. Thus, all problems are solved simply by acting according to His directions.
- As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (18.66), the Lord at once takes charge of such a surrendered soul and frees him from all the reactions to his sinful acts.
- The Lord takes charge of fully surrendered souls; thus all problems are solved simply by surrendering oneself unto the Lord and acting in terms of His directions.
- One should not take any responsibility on his own but should be a soul surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who will then give him dictation as the caittya-guru, or the spiritual master within.
Freedom from Material Anxiety
Because the Lord takes charge, the surrendered soul is free from the anxiety of maintenance. They do not seek material opulence for sense gratification, nor do they worry about personal or family sustenance. Their only concern is service. This complete dependence is not irresponsibility but a higher state of trust, acknowledging the Lord as the reservoir of all pleasure and the ultimate controller.
- A surrendered soul who fully depends upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not want material opulence for sense gratification.
- In other words, one should not bother about his personal or family maintenance or sustenance. If one is actually surrendered in body and soul, he should always remember that his only concern is to be engaged in the service of the Lord.
- My Lord, You are the controller of formidable strength in three kinds of energy. You appear as the reservoir of all sense pleasure and the protector of the surrendered souls.
Access to Unknowable
God cannot be known by mental speculation or academic research. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is knowable only by the surrendered soul. The vast energies of the Lord and the science of devotional service are revealed to the devotee by the Lord's grace. While non-devotees struggle with their brains and words, the surrendered soul is granted entrance into the understanding of the Absolute Truth.
- In the Upanisads it is clearly said that the Supreme Personality of Godhead can never be known simply by working very hard and taxing the good brain, nor can He be known simply by mental speculation and jugglery of words. The Lord is knowable only by one who is a surrendered soul.
- He (Hamsavatara) also explained unto you (Narada), lucidly, the full science of devotional service, which is especially understandable by persons who are souls surrendered unto Lord Vasudeva, the Personality of Godhead.
Purification Through Distress
Sometimes, it may appear that a surrendered soul is suffering. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that this is not ordinary suffering. To save a surrendered soul from the cycle of repeated birth and death, the Lord may offer them a "little distress" to purify them of any remaining contamination. A learned devotee (vipaścit) sees this not as punishment, but as the Lord's special favor to prepare them for returning home, back to Godhead.
Conclusion
The position of a surrendered soul is the most secure in existence. While the material world is full of dangers and illusory snares, the surrendered soul remains untouched, protected by the Ocean of Mercy. By offering one's body, mind, and household to the Lord, one enters a relationship of eternal safety and friendship with the Supreme Controller.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God and His Surrendered Souls. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.