Bhagavad-gītā 18.62
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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tam
—
unto Him
Demonstrative. With eva: unto Him alone. The verse points specifically to the Īśvara of the previous verse — the Paramātmā in the heart — and says: surrender to *this* one.
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śaraṇam gaccha
—
surrender, go for shelter
Imperative phrase from the synonyms list. The literal command. Earlier verses have suggested śaraṇa; this one *commands* it. The verb gam — go, move toward — has the active-pilgrim energy.
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sarva - bhāvena
—
in all respects
Instrumental compound. Not partial, not conditional. Sarva — all. The mood, the intelligence, the body, the future — all of them surrendered together.
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tat - prasādāt
—
by His grace
Ablative compound. The mechanism. Peace and abode are *granted* — they are not extracted. Prasāda is the Lord's free offering, not the disciple's reward.
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śāntim
—
peace
Accusative. With parām: the supreme peace. The verse promises both this inner condition and the outer destination (sthānam). The two gifts come together by His grace.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
| Sanskrit | IAST | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| तम् | tam | तद् (pron. (pronoun)) acc.sg. (accusative singular)m. | Him |
| एव | eva | ind. (indeclinable) | alone |
| शरणम् | śaraṇam | शरण (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) | refuge |
| गच्छ | gaccha | √गम् impv. 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) | go! |
| सर्व-भावेन | sarva-bhāvena | tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) ins.sg. (instrumental singular)m. | with whole being |
| भारत | bhārata | भारत (m.) voc.sg. (vocative singular) | O scion of Bharata |
| तत्-प्रसादात् | tat-prasādāt | tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) abl.sg. (ablative singular)m. | by His grace |
| पराम् | parām | परा (adj.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)f. | supreme |
| शान्तिम् | śāntim | शान्ति (f.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) | peace |
| स्थानम् | sthānam | स्थान (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) | abode |
| प्राप्स्यसि | prāpsyasi | प्र + √आप् fut. (future) 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) | you will attain |
| शाश्वतम् | śāśvatam | शाश्वत (adj.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)n. | eternal |
A living entity should therefore surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s heart, and that will relieve him from all kinds of miseries of this material existence. By such surrender, not only will one be released from all miseries in this life, but at the end he will reach the Supreme God. The transcendental world is described in the Vedic literature ( Ṛg Veda 1.22.20) as tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam. Since all of creation is the kingdom of God, everything material is actually spiritual, but paramaṁ padam specifically refers to the eternal abode, which is called the spiritual sky or Vaikuṇṭha. In the Fifteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ: the Lord is seated in everyone’s heart. So this recommendation that one should surrender unto the Supersoul sitting within means that one should surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa has already been accepted by Arjuna as the Supreme. He was accepted in the Tenth Chapter as paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma. Arjuna has accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the supreme abode of all living entities, not only because of his personal experience but also because of the evidence of great authorities like Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsa.
This verse explains the purpose of the knowledge just revealed: take shelter of that Lord. You will attain the cessation of vidyā and avidyā (parāṁ śāntim) and then you will attain My eternal place Vaikuṇṭha (śāśvataṁ sthānam). This surrender to the antaryāmī is for worshippers of the antaryāmī (Paramātmā) whereas the worshippers of Bhagavān surrender to Bhagavān, which will be explained later. [Note: The direct process of bhakti and realization of Bhagavān are described in verse 65 and 66.] This is the opinion of some concerning this verse. “My Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is my guru, and gives me instructions which are beneficial for my bhakti. I surrender unto Him.” In this way, a person will think. Uddhava says: naivopayanty apacitiṁ kavayas taveśa brahmayusāpi kṛtam ṛddha-mudaḥ smarantaḥ yo’ntar-bahis tanu-bhṛtām aśubhaṁ vidhunvan ācārya-caittya-vapuṣā sva-gatiṁ vyanakti O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features—externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul—to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You. SB 11.29.6
Therefore surrender to the Lord (tam) with body, mind and all other elements (sarva bhāvena). Then what happens? You will attain the eternal place (śāśvatam sthānam), with absence of all suffering (parām śāntim), the abode of the Lord glorified in the śrutis as tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam. That person (tam) is none other than I, your companion. This has been stated by Me before with sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ: I, Kṛṣṇa, am seated in everyone’s heart. (BG 15.15) It has also been stated by you and accepted by the devas and ṛṣis with the statement paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma: You (Kṛṣṇa) are the supreme brahman and the supreme form. (BG 10.12) I have also showed that to you directly in showing you the universal form. Therefore remain fixed in My teachings.
This 'sarva‑bhavena bharata' is also mentioned in Chapter Fifteen, Text 19: 'Yo mam evam asammudho/ janati purusottamam/sa sarva‑vid bhajanti mam/ sarva‑bhavena bharata' ‑ "Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything. He therefore engages himself in full devotional service to Me, O son of Bharata." 'Sarva‑vid', 'he knows everything', 'bhajanti mam', therefore because of his knowledge, 'he worships Me', how? 'Sarva‑bhavena bharata', in all respects ‑ that is surrender. Surrender doesn't mean that one surrender something and holds back something else ‑ that is not surrender, nor that so‑called surrender ever blossom into prema or love. One has to surrender in all respects and then that will blossom, grow into prema‑bhakti.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura writes: “Some say that taking shelter of the Supersoul as de-
scribed here is meant only for worshipers of the Supersoul, whereas taking shelter of the Personal-
ity of Godhead is later going to be mentioned as appropriate for the worshipers of Godhead.
Someone else, however, may say, ‘The same Śrī Kṛṣṇa who is my worshipable Deity is also my
spiritual master. He is teaching me bhakti-yoga and giving me helpful instructions that lead to the
development of bhakti-yoga. I take shelter of Him. That same Kṛṣṇa is indeed the Supersoul within
Bhagavad Gita Notes
me. May He kindly impel me in all activities. I take shelter of Him.’ Such a devotee constantly
thinks in this fashion.”
Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa explains Kṛṣṇa’s words thus: “‘You should in all ways take shelter of
that Supreme Lord, the Supersoul, with the activities of your body and so on. You will achieve the
supreme peace, characterized as release from all kinds of distress, and also the eternal abode, the
personal residence of the Lord, glorified in such śruti statements as tad viṣṇoù paramaā padam.
That Supreme Lord is none other than Me, your friend. This is proven by My previous statements,
such as: “I am situated in everyone’s heart.” It is also proven by your agreement to this in your own
statements made in accordance with the authority of Devarṣi Nārada and others, such as: “You are
the Supreme Absolute Truth, the supreme abode,” and by the empiric evidence of your vision of
the universal form. Therefore you should follow My instructions.’”
18.62 तम् to Him? एव even? शरणम् गच्छ take refuge? सर्वभावेन with all thy being? भारत O Bharata? तत्प्रसादात् by His grace? पराम् supreme? शान्तिम् peace? स्थानम् the abode? प्राप्स्यसि (thou) shalt obtain? शाश्वतम् eternal.Commentary Do total and perfect surrender to the Lord. Do not keep any secret desires for silent gratification. Desire and egoism are the two chief obstacles that stand in the way of selfsurrender. Kill them ruthlessly.Run to the Lord for shelter with all thy being for freeing thyself from the troubles? afflictions and sorrows of Samsara. Take the Lord as the sole refuge. Then by His grace? thou shalt obtain supreme peace and attain to the supreme? eternal Abode.
- BG 18 62-64 - Chaitanya Charan Prabhu - Mumbai 2013.MP3
- BG 18 62 - Amal Bhakta Prabhu - Los Angeles 2013-12-01
- BG 18 62 - Amala Bhakta Prabhu - ISKCON Los Angeles 2012-09-02
- BG 18 62 - Bhakta Phelelani Prabhu - ISKCON Radhadesh 2013-06-14
- BG 18 62 - Gopal Krishna Goswami - Banaras 2008-01-19 Hindi
- BG 18 62 - Gopal Krishna Goswami - New Delhi 2007-12-09 Hindi
- BG 18 62 - Prahladananda Swami - 2011-08-17
- BG 18 62 - Prahladananda Swami - ISKCON Radhadesh 2011-08-17
- BG 18 62 - Prahladananda Swami - Radhadesh 2011-08-17
- BG 18 62 - Sankarsana Prabhu - Taveuni Fiji 2007-01-16
- Priya Valabha Mataji BG 18-62 Hindi
- Akinchana Krishna Pr BG 18-62 Tamil - Goal of Life - ISKCON Vellore
- Balaram Shakti Pr BG 18-62-65 - 2020
- SDAP BG 18-62 - 2007-01-16 Taveuni Fiji
- Shubha Krishna Pr BG 18-62-63 Hindi
- Amal Bhakta Sw BG 18-62 - Sunday Feast Lecture - 2012-09-02 Los Angeles
- Amal Bhakta Sw BG 18-62 - Sunday Feast Lecture - 2015-01-04 Los Angeles
- Amal Bhakta Sw BG 18-62 - Sunday Feast-Importance of Surrender - 2013-12-01 Los Angeles
- BCS Hindi BG 18-62-64 - Purna Samarpan - 2011-10-02 Ujjain
- Bhakti Vikas Sw BG 18-62 - Genuine and Duplicitious Surrender - 2014-11-27 Salem
- Bhakti Vikas Sw BG 18-62 - Applying shastric principles in varying situations
- Bhakti Vikas Sw BG 18-62 - Srila Prabhupada%27s Challenge - 2012-12-23 Salem
- GKG Hindi BG 18-62 - 2007-12-09 New Delhi
- GKG Hindi BG 18-62 - Thanks Giving Ceremony - 2014-02-17 Kharghar
- GKG Hindi BG 18-62 - 2008-01-19 Banaras
- JAS BG 18-62 - 2020-01-28 ISKCON Salem
- PrahladAnS BG 18-62 - 2011-08-17 Radhadesh
- PrahladAnS BG 18-62 - Fully surrender to Krishna and achive peace - 2023-10-20 ISKCON Slovenia
- PrahladAnS BG 18-62 - Cant Hear Cant Surrender - 2011-08-17
- 2017-12-14 BG 18-62 - Kesi Daman Pr ISKCON Vrindavan
- Take this verse as direct address to you.
- Adopt the surrender posture explicitly.
- Trust the promise of peace and abode.
- What does 'utterly' look like in my surrender?
- Where am I still 'mostly' surrendered?
A wave that turns back to face the ocean and lets itself be received. So is the soul in this verse — surrendering not to a doctrine, not to a discipline, but to the personal Lord seated in the heart, and finding eternal peace in the embrace.
Vibhīṣaṇa left Rāvaṇa's court and crossed the ocean to Rāma's camp with empty hands and no army. Tam eva śaraṇam gaccha — surrender utterly. Rāma accepted him at once and ultimately gave him Laṅkā itself, śāśvatam.
The verse's compressed formula was Vibhīṣaṇa's lived path: full surrender, grace flowing back, peace and an eternal abode. The Bhāgavatam holds him up as a model of just this verse.
My note
Source: vedabase.io