SARANAGATI

The Sastras proclaim that Saranagati is easy to perform and no one is debarred from performing it by reason of his birth, age or sex. It does not stand in need of any extra external aids and is finished in a moment. It has also the additional advantage of having the power to yield any fruit one desires and at any time one chooses at once or later.

Saranagati or the Doctrine of Self surrender is the upaya which has been taught by Sri Krishna to Arjuna in the battle-field of Kurukshetra. One can appreciate the greatness of this upaya only when one understands the particular setting in which it was taught, which we shall presently describe.

The two armies of the Pandavas and the Kauravas have been arranged in battle-array ready to begin the fight the moment the signal is given. The conches are blown and drums sounded to rouse the enthusiasm of the warriors. Arjuna thinks for a moment and wants to have a view of the warring forces. So he orders Krishna who has undertaken to be his charioteer in the battle to drive his chariot and station it between the two forces standing in array. Krishna does so and asks him to survey the opposing ranks. Arjuna looks round and to his eyes all of them are only loving kinsmen and respectable Acaryas. He is overcome by mixed feelings of affection, sorrow and fear; affection for the kinsmen; sorrow that he is going to be the agent for the destruction of so many of them; and fear that he is bringing hell upon himself by killing so many for the sake of power and wealth. He is upset and confused. He is upset and confused. He throws aside the bow and arrows and falls at the feet of Sri Krishna requesting him to advise and guide him. Krishna smiles at the strange behaviour of the brave warrior Arjuna in the battle-field, especially before the very eyes of the enemies.