66. Samarpan or Sangharsh

There are two ways of living. One is ‘sangharsh’ -struggle and the other ‘samarpan’, which means surrender. Samarpan is not a helpless surrender like the surrender of the defeated in the war, it’s surrender with awareness and active acceptance. Struggle is to be ahead of others; to have more than what is given to us; to have something different from what we have. On the other hand, samarpan is gratitude for every living moment.

Krishna says that “one lives in vain if one rejoices in the senses and doesn’t follow the wheel in motion” (3.16). It’s a life of struggle for someone on the path of satisfying these senses, which can never be satisfied. This struggle brings tension, worry and misery which is living in vain. 

Krishna explains the wheel of existence using the example of rain (3.14). Rain showcases the wheel of selfless action of water which evaporates and rains selflessly. Such selfless action is the source of supreme power (3.15). Following the wheel of selfless actions is the life of surrender which makes us joyful and gives us bliss.

Krishna says, “the man who rejoices in the self (atma-rathi), is satisfied with self (atma-tript) and is content with self alone, for him no duty exists” (3.17).  This is life independent of senses where one doesn’t have separate desires from that of existence. It’s pure acceptance of whatever comes our way while performing selfless actions. For him there is no interest in what is done or what is not done, nor does he depend upon any being for any object (3.18). In this eternal state there is neither desire nor duty.

Content with self is a common thread in the Gita which is also rejoicing in the self and satisfied with self. When one is content with the self, there are no complaints or comparisons about our entitlements and capabilities.