I have four questions regarding the word prapannam, which is one of the Sanskrit words meaning “surrender.”
1. What are the reasons and results of surrender?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
First, let us give a very simple definition of “surrender”. Surrender means to dedicate body, mind, and one’s very self to the service of Krishna, leaving aside all other intentions or places of shelter.
The reason for surrender is that the condition of surrender is our natural position. The reason for surrender is to restore our health or well-being instead of continuing in the diseased or material condition.
Another reason for surrender is to respond to – or reciprocate with – Krishna’s deep affection for His parts and parcels along with His earnest loving call for them to turn to Him. e.g., iṣṭo ’si me dṛḍham iti (BG 18.64)
The result of surrender is that our original consciousness in connection with Krishna becomes restored.
2. Does surrender keep increasing day by day?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Surrender may or may not increase day by day. Submission may be strong one day and subside the next day. Everything depends upon one’s sense of purpose or intention — a sankalpa to make that connection with Krishna or not.
3. Is there any maximum degree in surrender? Will surrender only happen when we reach some maximum value of surrender and it becomes an eternal state?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Yes, there are degrees of surrender, but a maximum degree of surrender is never attained.
For example, the devotees in the spiritual realm are all perfect.
At the same time, we can also speak of perfect, more perfect, most perfect. The residents of Vrindavan are said to be most perfect, and amongst the residents of Vrindavan, the gopis are fully surrendered or intense in their selfless love — beyond even any other personality within the Vrindavan associates of Krishna
There is not a threshold or maximum degree of surrender. The spiritual world is not static but dynamic. Dynamic means always increasing as well as being variegated in its nature.
4. Does surrender become an eternal steady state?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Yes. But that steadiness is, again, ever-increasing, with a mood of coming closer and closer and closer to Krishna.
