Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

The destruction of karma occurs only on full surrender (first sarva dharman parityajya then aham tvam sarva papebhyo)

another verse :

devarsuc0u803 i-bhu363 tu257 pta-nru803 nu803 u257 u109 u769 pitu114 u772 u803 nu803 u257 u109 u769
na kiu324 karo nu257 yam ru803 nu803 u299 ca ru257 jan
sarvu257 tmanu257 yahu803 u347 aranu803 au109 u769 u347 aranu803 yau109 u769
gato mukundau109 u769 parihru803 tya kartam (SB 11.5.41)

Translation : O King, one who has given up all material duties and has taken full shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, who offers shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even ones forefathers who have passed away. Since all such classes of living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one who has surrendered to the Lords service has no need to serve such persons separately.

If full surrender has not occured then the bhakti that is being performed is karma-misra or jnana-misra and not ahaituky apratihata.

Bhakti is known as klesaghni or the destroyer of miseries. This means that one can experience some relief from distress as soon as one devotes himself/herself. But the complete burnout from sinful activities is only possible when surrender is complete.

Now one may ask "When is surrender complete ?"

The Answer : When all its six limbs are present in a person. The six limbs of surrender are given by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura :

dainya, 'e4tma-nivedana, goptrtve varana
avasya raksibe krsna-visv'e4sa, p'e4lana
bhaki-anuk'fcla-m'e4tra k'e4ryera svikara
bhakti-pratik'fcla-bh'e4va varjan'e4ngik'e4ra
sad-anga saran'e4gati hoibe j'e4h'e4ra
t'e4h'e4ra pr'e4rthan'e4 sune sri-nanda-kum'e4ra (Saranagati Intro Song, Verse 3-5)

The six ways of surrender through saran'e4gati are (1) dainya-humility, (2) 'e4tma-nivedana-dedication of the self, (3) goptrtve varana-acceptance of the Lord as ones only maintainer, (4) the consciousness of avasya raksibe krsna-Krsna will surely protect me-which is visv'e4sa (faith) in Krsnas p'e4lana (protection), (5) bhaki-anuk'fcla-m'e4tra k'e4ryera svikara-execution of only those acts favorable to pure devotion, and (6) bhakti-pratik'fcla-bh'e4va varjan'e4ngik'e4ra-renunciation of conduct adverse to pure devotion.Sri Nanda-Kum'e4ra, the youthful son of Nanda Mah'e4r'e4ja, hears the prayers of anyone who takes refuge in Him by this six-fold practice of surrender.

Sinful thoughts may occur till the stage of bhava, but not after that. So complete freedom from sinful reactions occurs after that only.

[quote][cite] hvm:[/cite]
If full surrender has not occured then the bhakti that is being performed is karma-misra or jnana-misra and not ahaituky apratihata.
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Do you have any evidence to it? Does it mean that Narada in his previous birth and King Bharata in his kingly birth were practicing misra bhakti?

For Narada Munis previous life there is evidence :

hantuc0u257 smi'f1 janmani bhavu257 n
mu257 mu257 u109 u769 drasu803 tu803 um ihu257 rhati
avipakva-kasu803 u257 yu257 nu803 u257 u109 u769
durdaru347 o hau109 u769 kuyoginu257 m (SB 1.6.21)

Translation : O Nu257 rada [the Lord spoke], I regret that during this lifetime you will not be able to see Me anymore. Those who are incomplete in service and who are not completely free from all material taints can hardly see Me.

This statement by the Lord indicates that there were some material taints (although as Gaudiya Vaisnavas we dont at all disrespect Srila Narada Muni for any such thing, as he is an acarya in our Sampradaya).

In the case of Bharata Maharaja, SB 5.8.8 says :

tasya ha vu257 enu803 a-kunu803 aka uccair etasmin kru803 ta-niju257 bhimu257 nasyu257 har-ahas tat-posu803 anu803 a-pu257 lana-lu257 lana-pru299 nu803 anu257 nudhyu257 nenu257 tma-niyamu257 hu803 saha-yamu257 hu803 purusu803 a-paricaryu257 daya ekaikau347 ahu803 katipayenu257 har-ganu803 ena viyujyamu257 nu257 hu803 kila sarva evodavasan

Translation : Gradually Mahu257 ru257 ja Bharata became very affectionate toward the deer. He began to raise it and maintain it by giving it grass. He was always careful to protect it from the attacks of tigers and other animals. When it itched, he petted it, and in this way he always tried to keep it in a comfortable condition. He sometimes kissed it out of love. Being attached to raising the deer, Mahu257 ru257 ja Bharata forgot the rules and regulations for the advancement of spiritual life, and he gradually forgot to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After a few days, he forgot everything about his spiritual advancement.

In the purports Srila Prabhupada explains that Maharaja Bharata did not understand that he could never elevate the deer to spiritual consciousness (sreyah) and he tried to provide bodily comfort for the deer (preyah). This was a material conception and caused an obstacle in his perfection of devotional service.

So, in both cases, there was some mixed bhakti (although we should never disrespect them for that. They are the great Puranic personalities and all we can do is fall on the ground and offer them our humble obeisances).

Even Sri Uddhava had some jnana mixed in bhakti until Krishna sent him to Vrindavana to crush his pride. Uddhava had developed some pride due to being a disciple of Brhaspati (the guru having extremely great sastric knowledge).

Krishna is very merciful to His devotees because he doesnt allow them to become proud :

vraja-janu257 rti-han vu299 ra yosu803 itu257 u109 u769
nija-jana-smaya-dhvau109 u769 sana-smita
bhaja sakhe bhavat-kiu324 karu299 hu803 sma no
jalaruhu257 nanau109 u769 cu257 ru daru347 aya (SB 10.31.6)

Translation : O You who destroy the suffering of Vrajas people, O hero of all women, Your smile shatters the false pride of Your devotees. Please, dear friend, accept us as Your maidservants and show us Your beautiful lotus face.

But after going to Vraja, his pride was crushed and he wanted to become a blade of grass. That mood is of suddha-bhakti as Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught (trnad api sunicena)

My understanding is that when one surrenders to Krishna via His pure devotee, it is like pulling the plug out of the fan. The fan will continue to spin for some time but no more new karma is going on. Also, the Lord often interferes with the karma of His devotee. Suppose it is your karma to become a very wealthy man but you take shelter of the Lord and His pure devotee. Out of His causeless mercy Krishna may see to it that you do not become a wealthy man because that would not be favorable to your progress in devotional service.

sarva-dharmuc0u257 n parityajya
mu257 m ekau109 u769 u347 aranu803 au109 u769 vraja
ahau109 u769 tvu257 u109 u769 sarva-pu257 pebhyo
moksu803 ayisu803 yu257 mi mu257 u347 ucahu803

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." BG 18:66