Bhagavad Gita 18.62 — Take Refuge in Him Alone with Your Whole Being
तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत ।
तत्प्रसादात्परां शान्तिं स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम् ॥ १८.६२ ॥
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Take refuge in Him alone with your whole being, O Bharata. By His grace you will attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tam | Him |
| eva | alone |
| śharaṇam | refuge, shelter |
| gachchha | go, take |
| sarvabhāvena | with your whole being, with every aspect of yourself |
| bhārata | O descendant of Bharata |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tatprasādāt | by His grace |
| parām | supreme |
| śhāntim | peace |
| sthānam | abode, state |
| prāpsyasi | you will attain |
| śhāśhvatam | eternal |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tam | Him | tatprasādāt | by His grace |
| eva | alone | parām | supreme |
| śharaṇam | refuge, shelter | śhāntim | peace |
| gachchha | go, take | sthānam | abode, state |
| sarvabhāvena | with your whole being, with every aspect of yourself | prāpsyasi | you will attain |
| bhārata | O descendant of Bharata | śhāśhvatam | eternal |
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
In this verse, Lord Krishna draws the conclusion from all that He has said. He asks Arjuna to take refuge in the Lord alone, with his whole being, and promises that by His grace Arjuna will attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.
Essence
The invitation to surrender
This is one of the most tender verses of the Gita. After explaining the nature of action, ego, and the Lord within, Lord Krishna now makes a direct invitation. It is the natural response to everything that has been said.
Tam eva śaraṇaṁ gaccha (take refuge in Him alone): The word śaraṇa means shelter, refuge, protection. Having seen that the ego cannot control everything, and that the Lord dwells in the heart, the sensible course is to turn to Him for shelter. The word eva means alone, only, which points to wholehearted dependence.
Sarva-bhāvena (with your whole being): The surrender is not partial. It involves every aspect of the person, including thoughts, feelings, intentions, and actions. Half-hearted surrender keeps one foot in the ego, whereas sarva-bhāva means offering everything.
Bhārata (O descendant of Bharata): Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna by his noble lineage, reminding him of his dignity and capacity.
Tat-prasādāt parāṁ śāntiṁ (by His grace, supreme peace): The first fruit of surrender is deep peace. The restlessness of striving, fearing, and defending oneself gradually falls away.
Sthānaṁ prāpsyasi śāśvatam (you will reach the eternal abode): The ultimate fruit is the eternal state, beyond all change and loss.
What surrender really means
Surrender in the Gita is not weakness or passivity. Arjuna is not asked to stop acting. He is asked to give up the burden of ego, the belief that everything depends on him alone, and to act from a place of trust. It is in fact an act of great strength, since it takes courage to let go of control.
This verse prepares the ground for the culminating teaching that follows near the end of the chapter.
Message for Everyday Life (The Relief of Letting Go)
Many of us are exhausted from trying to control everything. We believe that if we let go even slightly, things will fall apart.
A gentle experiment: Identify one situation in which you are gripping too tightly. Do everything within your power, and then consciously entrust the rest to a larger wisdom, however you understand it. Notice how your body and mind respond to this release.
The invitation to surrender
This is one of the most tender verses of the Gita. After explaining the nature of action, ego, and the Lord within, Lord Krishna now makes a direct invitation. It is the natural response to everything that has been said.
Tam eva śaraṇaṁ gaccha (take refuge in Him alone): The word śaraṇa means shelter, refuge, protection. Having seen that the ego cannot control everything, and that the Lord dwells in the heart, the sensible course is to turn to Him for shelter. The word eva means alone, only, which points to wholehearted dependence.
Sarva-bhāvena (with your whole being): The surrender is not partial. It involves every aspect of the person, including thoughts, feelings, intentions, and actions. Half-hearted surrender keeps one foot in the ego, whereas sarva-bhāva means offering everything.
Bhārata (O descendant of Bharata): Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna by his noble lineage, reminding him of his dignity and capacity.
Tat-prasādāt parāṁ śāntiṁ (by His grace, supreme peace): The first fruit of surrender is deep peace. The restlessness of striving, fearing, and defending oneself gradually falls away.
Sthānaṁ prāpsyasi śāśvatam (you will reach the eternal abode): The ultimate fruit is the eternal state, beyond all change and loss.
What surrender really means
Surrender in the Gita is not weakness or passivity. Arjuna is not asked to stop acting. He is asked to give up the burden of ego, the belief that everything depends on him alone, and to act from a place of trust. It is in fact an act of great strength, since it takes courage to let go of control.
This verse prepares the ground for the culminating teaching that follows near the end of the chapter.
Message for Everyday Life (The Relief of Letting Go)
Many of us are exhausted from trying to control everything. We believe that if we let go even slightly, things will fall apart.
A gentle experiment: Identify one situation in which you are gripping too tightly. Do everything within your power, and then consciously entrust the rest to a larger wisdom, however you understand it. Notice how your body and mind respond to this release.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has invited Arjuna to take complete refuge in Him. In the next verse, He sums up the teaching He has given, calls it more secret than any secret, and, with great respect for Arjuna's freedom, tells him to reflect on it fully and then do as he chooses.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Let go and be held.
Rest in the One who carries all.
Give yourself wholly, not partly.
The last effort is to stop striving alone.
Help arrives when pride departs.
The heart finds home in surrender.
Surrender frees from the burden of control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'tam eva śharaṇam gachchha' (take refuge in Him alone) mean?
What does 'sarvabhāvena' (with your whole being) mean?
What are 'parā śhānti' (supreme peace) and 'śhāśhvatam sthānam' (the eternal abode)?
Does surrender mean giving up effort?
What is the practical message of this verse in one sentence?
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