Bhagavad-gītā's Whole Instruction Is to Surrender to Kṛṣṇa
The teachings gathered in this category point again and again to the same conclusion: the living being becomes happy only by following Kṛṣṇa's instruction. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Bhagavad-gītā was spoken to bring Arjuna out of material calculation and place him on the spiritual platform of service. This instruction is not limited to Arjuna; it is the universal call for every soul to give up independent plans and act for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. Real liberation, happiness, and welfare begin when one accepts that surrender is the proper use of human life.
Surrender to Kṛṣṇa Is the Final Direction
The conclusion of Bhagavad-gītā is not vague morality or worldly religiosity, but direct surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly points to Kṛṣṇa's final instruction as the essence of the entire scripture. The Lord asks the living being to give up separate plans and take shelter of Him, promising protection from māyā and all sinful reaction. This surrender is the beginning of true happiness because it reconnects the soul with the Supreme Lord.
- Krsna says that "Don't be attracted by pious activities; neither go down to abominable condition of life. Simply capture Me." Mam ekam saranam vraja. That is the whole instruction of Bhagavad-gita..
- Krsna says that "You surrender to Me, and you'll be free from maya." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sara . . . aham tvam (BG 18.66): "I'll give you protection." Mam eva ye prapadyante (BG 4.11). The same thing, whole instruction, is there.
- Ultimately He (Krsna) said that "You are My very dear friend. Therefore I am disclosing to you the most confidential knowledge." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam (BG 18.66). This is the whole instruction.
- Why you have created so many rascaldom, politics and economics and this and that? So many things are encumbered. Please come to Me. You'll be happy. - This is the whole instruction of Bhagavad-gita.
Act for Kṛṣṇa Instead of the Self
The whole instruction of Bhagavad-gītā turns work into spiritual life by changing the purpose of action. One should not act independently for personal sense satisfaction, because such action keeps the living being bound and dissatisfied. When the same energy is used for Kṛṣṇa, even difficult duties can become devotional service. This is why Arjuna was instructed to fight, not for his own ambition, but as an instrument in the Lord's mission.
- If he acts individually then he will never be happy. But if you act Krsna consciously, then you will be happy. That is the whole instruction of Bhagavad-gita.
- Our the whole instruction of Bhagavad-gita is that: You should not act for yourself; you should simply act for Krsna. So even fighting for Krsna, or even doing something still abominable for Krsna.
- We do not disapprove of any activities of the world provided the result is given to Krishna. That is the whole instruction of the Bhagavad Gita.
- Krsna appeared for the mission of diminishing the burden of the world, and Arjuna was assisting Him by fighting on His behalf. Arjuna personally declined to fight, and the whole instruction of the Bhagavad-gita was given to Arjuna to engage him in the fight.
Vedic Instruction Solves Material Bondage
The Vedic scriptures are meant to deliver the living being from the suffering caused by material existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that intelligent human life should inquire how to escape karma-bandhana, the knot of repeated action and reaction. This instruction must be taken seriously before death comes, because the human form is the opportunity to solve the problem of repeated birth and death. Bodily welfare may have some value, but the ultimate welfare activity is to serve the interest of the soul.
- It is said kovida: one must be intelligent to select, "What is my next life? How I can get out of?" That is the whole instruction of the Vedas, how we can get out of these clutches of karma-bandhana, the knot of karma, one after another.
- Such kind of welfare activity concerning the body, like hospital and so many other things, they are good undoubtedly, but the ultimate goal is to see the interest of the soul. That is the whole Vedic instruction.
- The whole Vedic instruction is just to deliver all suffering humanity from the threefold miseries of material existence. That is the aim and object of Vedic civilization.
- The whole Vedic instruction is like that - Now you utilize this form of life to make a solution of this problem. Before death comes, you make a solution. Don't die like cats and dogs.
Pure Consciousness Leads Back to Godhead
The goal of Bhagavad-gītā is to awaken the living being from contaminated consciousness to pure consciousness. Mukti is not emptiness or inactivity, but freedom from material contamination and restoration of one's spiritual identity. When one understands Kṛṣṇa and acts in relationship with Him, the path back to Godhead opens. The whole instruction is therefore both practical and ultimate: awaken pure consciousness, accept Kṛṣṇa's shelter, and return to the Lord's eternal association.
- Mukti means liberation from the contaminated consciousness of this material world and to become situated in pure consciousness. And the whole instruction, instruction of Bhagavad-gita, is targeted to awaken that pure consciousness.
- Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti. This is the invitation. Mam eti: "He comes back to home, back to Godhead." This is the whole instruction of Bhagavad-gita.
- We have come from God; we again go back to God if we simply understand Krsna, or God. This is the whole instruction of the Bhagavad-gita.
- Whole instruction is that all sleeping members of the human society, they should take advantage of this Krsna consciousness movement and willingly they should accept. Then there will be immediate effect and everyone will be out of the clutches of maya.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the whole instruction of Bhagavad-gītā and the Vedic literature is to bring the living being back under the shelter of Kṛṣṇa. Independent plans, bodily welfare, and material calculations cannot give permanent happiness, because they do not solve the bondage of karma and repeated birth and death. By surrendering to Kṛṣṇa, acting for His satisfaction, and awakening pure consciousness, the soul becomes free from māyā and returns to its real life. This is the practical and final message given for Arjuna and for all human society.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Whole Instruction. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.