Acyutānanda: What is meant by absolute surrender? How are we to satisfy ourselves having done so?
Prabhupāda: Absolute surrender means anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (Brs. 1.1.11). I am surrendering to Kṛṣṇa to get this benefit—that is conditional surrender. I surrender to Kṛṣṇa without any motive—that is absolute.
- anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
- jñāna-karmādy anāvṛtam
- ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
- śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā
- (Brs. 1.1.11)
No motive. That is required. If I think that I shall get some benefit—that is business. That is not bhakti. That is taught by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu māṁ
- marma-hatāṁ karoty vā adarśanān
- yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo
- mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ
- (CC Antya 20.47)
"You can treat me like anything. You can make me brokenhearted by Your absence. Still You are my Lord." That is unconditional surrender.