What the scriptures say about surrender

What do the scriptures say about surrender?

The texts call it śaraṇāgati (शरणागति). Handing oneself over is Arjuna's first move as a student and Krishna's last word, and Rama's vow to Vibhishana. They set it against ego, fear and worry.

285 verses
28 stories
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Krishna

तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत । तत्प्रसादात्परां शान्तिं स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम् ॥

tameva śaraṇaṃ gaccha sarvabhāvena bhārata | tatprasādātparāṃ śāntiṃ sthānaṃ prāpsyasi śāśvatam ||

Take refuge in Him alone with your whole being, Bharata. By His grace you will attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.

Bhagavad Gita 18.62

Surrender in the texts' own words

Verses that show it in a person, or name it outright.

Seer
अजात इत्येवं कश्चिद्भीरुः प्रपद्यते । रुद्र यत्ते दक्षिणं मुखं तेन मां पाहि नित्यम् ॥
ajāta ityevaṃ kaścidbhīruḥ prapadyate | rudra yatte dakṣiṇaṃ mukhaṃ tena māṃ pāhi nityam ||
Knowing you as the Unborn, someone afraid comes to you for refuge: Rudra, with that kind, southern face of yours, protect me always.
Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.21
Seer
यो ब्रह्माणं विदधाति पूर्वं यो वै वेदांश्च प्रहिणोति तस्मै । तं ह देवं आत्मबुद्धिप्रकाशं मुमुक्षुर्वै शरणमहं प्रपद्ये ॥
yo brahmāṇaṃ vidadhāti pūrvaṃ yo vai vedāṃśca prahiṇoti tasmai | taṃ ha devaṃ ātmabuddhiprakāśaṃ mumukṣurvai śaraṇamahaṃ prapadye ||
He who first brings forth Brahma and hands him the Vedas: to that God, who lights up the understanding of the self, I, longing for freedom, go for refuge.
Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.18
Names first person longing to be free going for refuge. our reading
Arjuna
एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः । त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥
etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ | tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate ||
Krishna, please cut away this doubt of mine completely. No one but you can remove it.
Bhagavad Gita 6.39
King Brihadratha
सोऽहमित्येतद्विधेऽस्मिन्संसारे किं कामोपभोगैर्यैरेवाश्रितस्यासकृदिहावर्तनं दृश्यत इत्युद्धर्तुमर्हसीत्यन्धोदपानस्थो भेक इवाहमस्मिन्संसारे भगवंस्त्वं नो गतिस्त्वं नो गतिः ॥
so’hamityetadvidhe’sminsaṃsāre kiṃ kāmopabhogairyairevāśritasyāsakṛdihāvartanaṃ dṛśyata ityuddhartumarhasītyandhodapānastho bheka ivāhamasminsaṃsāre bhagavaṃstvaṃ no gatistvaṃ no gatiḥ ||
In such a world, what use is the enjoyment of desires, when one who feeds on them is seen to return here again and again? Please lift me out. In this world I am like a frog in a dark well. Sir, you are my way, you are my way.
Maitri Upanishad 1.7
Names you as my way, my way. our reading
Krishna
तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत । तत्प्रसादात्परां शान्तिं स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम् ॥
tameva śaraṇaṃ gaccha sarvabhāvena bhārata | tatprasādātparāṃ śāntiṃ sthānaṃ prāpsyasi śāśvatam ||
Take refuge in Him alone with your whole being, Bharata. By His grace you will attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.
Bhagavad Gita 18.62
Krishna
दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया । मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ॥
daivī hyeṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā | māmeva ye prapadyante māyāmetāṃ taranti te ||
This divine power of mine, made of the three qualities, is very hard to get past. Those who take refuge in me alone cross beyond it.
Bhagavad Gita 7.14
Ram
सकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद्ब्रतं मम॥
sakṛdeva prapannāya tavāsmīti ca yācate| abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo dadāmyetadbrataṃ mama||
Whoever comes to me even once and says 'I am yours', asking for shelter, I give freedom from fear, from every being. This is my vow.
Valmiki Ramayana · Yuddha Kanda

How it grows, step by step

Sequences the texts state outright, in their own order.

Arjuna's collapse

Bhagavad Gita 1.28-30; 1.47; 2.6-8

Seeing his own people, Arjuna is overcome and his limbs fail. He drops the bow and sits down in grief. He cannot tell which course is better. Confused about what is right, he asks to be taught.

Arjuna
अर्जुन उवाच कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् । दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥
arjuna uvāca kṛpayā parayā’’viṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt | dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam ||
Arjuna said: Krishna, when I see my own people standing here, eager to fight, I am overcome with pity and sorrow.
Bhagavad Gita 1.28
Arjuna
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति । वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati | vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate ||
My limbs give way, my mouth is parched, my body trembles and my hair stands on end.
Bhagavad Gita 1.29-30
Sanjaya
सञ्जय उवाच एवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् । विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥
sañjaya uvāca evamuktvā’rjunaḥ saṃkhye rathopastha upāviśat | visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: Having spoken this on the battlefield, Arjuna sank down on the seat of the chariot, letting fall his bow and arrows, his mind overwhelmed by grief.
Bhagavad Gita 1.47

Knowing, trust, love

Ramcharitmanas, Uttar Kand 89-90 (Gita Press)

knowledge
Faith
love
Surrender
Contentment
Peace

Without knowing there is no trust. Without trust there is no love. Without love devotion does not hold. No one finds rest without contentment. A boat does not move without water.

Kakbhushundi
जानें बिनु न होइ परतीती। बिनु परतीति होइ नहिं प्रीती॥ प्रीति बिना नहिं भगति दिढ़ाई। जिमि खगपति जल कै चिकनाई ॥
jāneṃ binu na hoi paratītī| binu paratīti hoi nahiṃ prītī|| prīti binā nahiṃ bhagati diṛhāī| jimi khagapati jal kai cikanāī ||
Without knowing his greatness, no trust forms; without trust, no love; and without love, devotion is not firm, just as, king of birds, oil does not stay on water.
Ramcharitmanas · Uttar Kand
Kakbhushundi
कोउ बिश्राम कि पाव तात सहज संतोष बिनु। चलै कि जल बिनु नाव कोटि जतन पचि पचि मरिअ ॥
kou biśrām ki pāv tāt sahaj saṃtoṣ binu| calai ki jal binu nāv koṭi jatan paci paci maria ||
Can anyone find rest without natural contentment, friend? Can a boat move without water, though you strain and wear yourself out with a million efforts?
Ramcharitmanas · Uttar Kand

The chariot that wins

Ramcharitmanas, Lanka Kand 80 (Gita Press)

Ram
सौरज धीरज तेहि रथ चाका। सत्य सील दृढ़ ध्वजा पताका॥ बल बिबेक दम परहित घोरे। छमा कृपा समता रजु जोरे ॥
sauraj dhīraj tehi rath cākā| satya sīl dṛṛh dhvajā patākā|| bal bibek dam parahit ghore| chamā kṛpā samatā raju jore ||
Valour and patience are the wheels of that chariot; truth and good conduct are its firm flag and banner. Strength, discernment, self-control and kindness to others are its horses, yoked with the reins of forgiveness, compassion and evenness of mind.
Ramcharitmanas · Lanka Kand

The illnesses of the mind

Ramcharitmanas, Uttar Kand 121-122 (Gita Press)

Kakbhushundi
मोह सकल ब्याधिन्ह कर मूला। तिन्ह ते पुनि उपजहिं बहु सूला॥ काम बात कफ लोभ अपारा। क्रोध पित्त नित छाती जारा ॥
moh sakal byādhinha kar mūlā| tinha te puni upajahiṃ bahu sūlā|| kām bāt kaph lobh apārā| krodh pitta nit chātī jārā ||
Delusion is the root of all diseases, and from it spring many pains. Desire is the wind, greed the endless phlegm, and anger the bile that keeps the chest burning.
Ramcharitmanas · Uttar Kand
Kakbhushundi
ममता दादु कंडु इरषाई। हरष बिषाद गरह बहुताई॥ पर सुख देखि जरनि सोइ छई। कुष्ट दुष्टता मन कुटिलई ॥
mamatā dādu kaṃḍu iraṣāī| haraṣ biṣād garah bahutāī|| par sukh dekhi jarani soi chaī| kuṣṭa duṣṭatā man kuṭilaī ||
Possessiveness is ringworm and envy is the itch; the swings of elation and dejection are throat ailments. The burning you feel at another's happiness is consumption, and malice and a crooked mind are leprosy.
Ramcharitmanas · Uttar Kand

What it heals

The states the texts set it against.

Ego Fear Worry Guilt Being wronged Confusion Grief Loneliness

Practices that grow surrender

Verses that give something to do, today or in the hard moment.

Krishna
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥
patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyaṃ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati | tadahaṃ bhaktyupahṛtamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ||
Whoever offers me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering of love from the pure-hearted I accept.
Bhagavad Gita 9.26
Shows devotion as what makes the gift. our reading
The seers
भर्गो विश्वसमर्चितं यदिह ते ह्यास्ते दयासागर ! तन्नो बुद्धिमहर्निशं गणपते ! शक्तचा स्वया सत्वरम । संरक्ष्यासत एव कर्मनिवहात् सत्कर्मणि प्रेरयेत् सियाऽलङ्कृतवामपार्श्व ! भगवस्त्वां सन्नमामो वयमा ॥
bhargo viśvasamarcitaṃ yadiha te hyāste dayāsāgara ! tanno buddhimaharniśaṃ gaṇapate ! śaktacā svayā satvarama | saṃrakṣyāsata eva karmanivahāt satkarmaṇi prerayet siyā’laṅkṛtavāmapārśva ! bhagavastvāṃ sannamāmo vayamā ||
Ocean of compassion, Ganapati: may your radiance, which the whole world worships, by its own power quickly guard our minds, day and night, from wrong action, and urge them to good action. Blessed one, with Siddhi at your left side, we bow to you.
Dheesh Gita 7.27
Shows namamah, we bow. our reading
Bhishma
प्राणकान्तारपाथेयं संसारोच्छेदभेषजम् / दुःखशोकपरित्राणं हरिरित्यक्षरद्वयम्॥]
prāṇakāntārapātheyaṃ saṃsārocchedabheṣajam / duḥkhaśokaparitrāṇaṃ harirityakṣaradvayam||]
Provisions for the wilderness of life, medicine that cuts the bonds of the world, rescue from sorrow and grief: the two syllables 'Ha-ri'.
Mahabharata, Shanti 46.127
Shows remembering the name. our reading
Markandeya
सर्वेषामेव भूतानां पिता माता च माधवः / गच्छध्वमेनं शरणं शरण्यं कौरवर्षभाः
sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṃ pitā mātā ca mādhavaḥ / gacchadhvamenaṃ śaraṇaṃ śaraṇyaṃ kauravarṣabhāḥ
Madhava is the father and the mother of all beings. Go to him for refuge, best of the Kurus; he is the refuge.
Mahabharata, Vana 192.56
Tulsidas
कुंद इंदु सम देह उमा रमन करुना अयन। जाहि दीन पर नेह करउ कृपा मर्दन मयन ॥
kuṃd iṃdu sam deh umā raman karunā ayan| jāhi dīn par neh karau kṛpā mardan mayan ||
Fair as the jasmine and the moon, beloved of Uma, home of compassion, who loves the lowly: may the destroyer of Kama show me grace.
Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 1 (sortha 4)
Shows an opening prayer for grace. our reading
Tulsidas
राम नाम मनिदीप धरु जीह देहरीं द्वार। तुलसी भीतर बाहेरहुँ जौं चाहसि उजिआर ॥
rām nām manidīp dharu jīh deharīṃ dvār| tulasī bhītar bāherahuṁ jauṃ cāhasi ujiār ||
Tulsi says: if you want light both inside and outside, place the name of Ram like a jewelled lamp on the threshold of your tongue.
Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 1.19 (doha 1)
Shows the name kept at the threshold of the tongue. our reading
Tulsidas
भायँ कुभायँ अनख आलस हूँ। नाम जपत मंगल दिसि दसहूँ॥ सुमिरि सो नाम राम गुन गाथा। करउँ नाइ रघुनाथहि माथा ॥॥
bhāyaṁ kubhāyaṁ anakh ālas hūṁ| nām japat maṃgal disi dasahūṁ|| sumiri so nām rām gun gāthā| karauṁ nāi raghunāthahi māthā ||||
Said with love or without it, even in irritation or laziness, repeating the name brings good in all ten directions. Remembering that name, I bow my head to Raghunath and begin his story.
Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 1.26 (chaupai 1)
Saying the name as one is. our reading
The ancestors (pitris)
विहारिन् ! विभो ! भक्तचेतोनिकेते शरण्यं किलैकान्ततस्त्वां व्रजामः । यथा नो भवेदत्र कल्याणमाशु तदेवाधुना देव ! शम्भो ! विधेहि ॥
vihārin ! vibho ! bhaktacetonikete śaraṇyaṃ kilaikāntatastvāṃ vrajāmaḥ | yathā no bhavedatra kalyāṇamāśu tadevādhunā deva ! śambho ! vidhehi ||
Dweller in the shrine of devotees' hearts, all-pervading one, we come to you alone for refuge. Do now, divine Shambhu, whatever will quickly bring us good here.
Shambhu Gita 7.53
Ekantatas, refuge in you alone. our reading

People who lived it

Someone in the scriptures came to this, and the story shows how.

From the Gita
Krishna and Arjuna on Arjuna's faint-heartedness
Krishna challenges Arjuna's despair. Arjuna admits he is confused about what is right, cannot tell which choice is better, and asks Krishna to teach him.
Admitting you don't know and asking for help is where clarity begins.
From the Gita
Action with devotion: surrender
Krishna urges Arjuna to offer all action, warns that ego will only trip him, tells him to reflect fully and then choose, and finally to take refuge in him alone and not grieve.
Reflect fully, choose freely, and set down the fear.
From the Mahabharata
Markandeya and the child on the banyan leaf
At the end of an age, the sage Markandeya drifts alone over a flooded world and sees a radiant child on a banyan branch. The child draws him inside his body, where he sees all the worlds, then asks if he has been resting, tired. Narayana explains he showed himself because he saw Markandeya's distress. Markandeya tells the Pandavas that this child is Krishna, sitting with them.
When everything you knew is underwater, you have not been forgotten; you are being held.
From the Ramayana
The brothers meet at Chitrakoot
Bharat walks barefoot to Chitrakoot and falls at Ram's feet; Ram lifts him into his arms. Ram learns his father has died and grieves. When the queens arrive, Ram goes first to Kaikeyi, who caused it all, falls at her feet and comforts her, blaming no one.
Forgiveness can mean going first to the person who hurt you and putting them at ease.

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Questions people ask

What is the Sanskrit word for surrender?

Śaraṇāgati (शरणागति). Surrender, taking refuge, devotion.

Which Bhagavad Gita verse speaks about surrender?

Bhagavad Gita 18.62: Take refuge in Him alone with your whole being, Bharata. By His grace you will attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.

Verses, translations and stories come from the Wisdom library, read with the traditional commentaries. A line marked stated in the text is a link the verse or a named commentator makes; our reading is Wisdom's own reading of the verse.