Gita 18.62
Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत | तत्प्रसादात्परां शान्तिं स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम् ||६२||
tam eva śaraṇaṁ gaccha sarva-bhāvena bhārata | tat-prasādāt parāṁ śāntiṁ sthānaṁ prāpsyasi śāśvatam ||62||
In essence: Take refuge in Him alone with your whole being—by His grace you shall attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "'Tam eva'—Him ALONE. Why so exclusive? Can't we take refuge in multiple sources?"
Guru: "Dividing refuge divides trust. If you partly depend on wealth, partly on status, partly on God—when crisis comes, which foundation will hold? The Gita insists on exclusive refuge not because God is jealous but because partial surrender is ineffective surrender. The heart given wholly transforms; the heart given partially remains torn."
Sadhak: "'Sarva-bhavena'—with whole being. How is this possible while living normal life?"
Guru: "It's an inner orientation, not an external situation. You live normal life—work, family, responsibilities—but the FOUNDATION of all this is divine refuge. The businessman goes to work with his whole being offered to Krishna. The mother raises children with her whole being surrendered. External roles continue; internal foundation transforms."
Sadhak: "What exactly does 'taking refuge' mean practically?"
Guru: "Three aspects: trust (believing the Lord is capable and willing to protect), dependence (actually relying on Him rather than self-effort alone), and abandonment (giving up the illusion of control). Practically: in decision-making, ask for guidance and follow it. In difficulty, turn to Him first, not last. In success, attribute to His grace, not personal skill."
Sadhak: "'By His grace'—so even after surrender, we depend on grace? Can grace be earned?"
Guru: "Grace cannot be earned—that would make it wages, not grace. But grace can be invited through surrender. It's like opening a window doesn't create sunlight, but it allows light to enter. Your surrender doesn't create God's grace; God's grace is always flowing. Surrender removes the blockages that prevent reception."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Before the day begins, make the offering explicit: 'Lord, I take refuge in You alone, with my whole being. Whatever this day brings, You are my foundation. By Your grace, may I experience peace and move toward the eternal.'
When challenges arise and the mind wants to problem-solve through ego, pause: 'I turn to You first. I'm not handling this alone. I offer this situation to You and ask for guidance.' This isn't passivity—you still act—but the foundation is refuge rather than ego-control.
Assess the day's refuge: 'When did I genuinely rest in divine shelter? When did I slip back into self-reliance as ultimate foundation?' Notice without judgment. Each day, the habit of sharanagati deepens. Over time, refuge becomes the constant background of life.