18.66 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 18, Verse 66

Bhagavad Gita verse 18.66 presents what many scholars consider the essence of Krishna's teachings, the culmination of his spiritual instruction to Arjuna. In the original Sanskrit, Krishna declares: "sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja; ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ," which translates to "Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear."This verse appears at a critical juncture in the Bhagavad Gita. After presenting detailed instructions about various spiritual paths and duties, Krishna offers what can be understood as the ultimate solution to Arjuna's dilemma. Throughout the Gita, Krishna had been instructing Arjuna to simultaneously engage in devotion while fulfilling his material duty as a warrior (karm yog). Now, in this pivotal verse, Krishna reverses this teaching by suggesting Arjuna can renounce all material duties and simply surrender to God (karm sanyās).The first part of the verse—"abandon all varieties of dharmas"—doesn't mean Krishna is advocating irresponsibility or dismissing righteous action. Rather, he's inviting a profound shift in perspective. The word "dharma" encompasses duties, religious obligations, and righteous paths. Krishna is asking Arjuna to transcend external, mechanical adherence to dharma and instead embrace the supreme dharma of unconditional surrender to the Divine.When Krishna says "mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja" (surrender unto Me alone), he's suggesting a complete reorientation of identity and purpose. According to Śrī Sanātana Goswami's commentary, this means "become fixed in me alone." It involves giving up nitya and naimittika karmas (obligatory regular and occasional duties prescribed by scripture) altogether. This isn't about merely surrendering the fruits of action, but rather a complete surrender of the separate self that performs actions.The second half of the verse contains Krishna's reassurance: "I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear." This addresses the natural concern that abandoning prescribed duties might lead to negative consequences or sin. Krishna promises to personally absolve Arjuna from all sins and liberate him from material existence. The Sanskrit word "mokṣayiṣyāmi" expresses Krishna's personal commitment to free the surrendered soul from karmic reactions, guilt, and ultimately from fear itself.The final phrase "mā śucaḥ" (do not fear) reveals the compassionate nature of Krishna's instruction. He recognizes the fear and anxiety that might come with complete surrender. When we give up our sense of control and our attachment to prescribed duties, we naturally fear what might happen. Krishna addresses this by telling Arjuna not to worry—divine protection will be provided.This verse is often considered the essence of the Bhagavad Gita's teachings. It shifts the emphasis from complicated spiritual practices and meticulous adherence to dharma to a simple yet profound act of surrender. It suggests that while various religious duties and spiritual disciplines have their place, the ultimate spiritual practice is to surrender completely to the Divine with faith and love. According to some commentaries, this verse represents the direct path to spiritual realization, bypassing more gradual or complicated approaches.