18.66 – Whatever karma may get us to, Krishna will get us through
Accidents, diseases, atrocities – when we see such tragedies befall people around us, we may become fearful: “What if something like that happens to me? Why do such things happen?”
To help us overcome such insecurities, Gita wisdom strengthens us with philosophical insight and devotional inspiration.
The Gita’s philosophical insight is that whatever happens to anyone is due to that person’s past karmic deeds, from either this life or previous lives. Though we may not know the exact correlation between specific actions and their corresponding reactions, the broad understanding of the causal connection between action and liberation is heartening. It liberates us from resentment and fills us with hope – no matter how bleak my present, I have the power to shape a bright future by making wise choices.
The Gita’s devotional inspiration comes by understanding that Krishna doesn’t stand aloof, but stands abreast – ready and eager to help us. The Bhagavad-gita concludes with the proclamation (18.66) that Krishna protects us from all sinful reactions if we just accept that protection by surrendering undeviatingly to him. He grants us strength to face whatever karmic reactions come upon us. He gives us the wisdom to make the right choices, no matter how complex and confusing the consequences of our past karma. To receive what he is offering us, we need to tune our consciousness by cultivating his devotional remembrance and harmonizing our will with his will.
When we thus surrender to Krishna, making wise choices no longer appears to be a solitary struggle; it becomes an empowering exercise for building our willpower muscles by tapping the power of Krishna. The strength coming from this exercise enables us to progress through life’s reversals with the supreme confidence that whatever karma may get us to, Krishna will get us through.
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18.66 – Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.