SURRENDER AND FIGHT
 
In Bhagavad-gita Sri Krsna says, "Surrender completely to Me and I will give you hundred percent protection", while in another verse He tells Arjuna, "Fight for Me, i.e. do all things for Me." Now this has produced confusion as when to fight against anything (of course considering that what we are doing is for Krsna and not for oneself), and when to surrender completely to Sri Krsna? What is the meaning of completely surrendering to Sri Krsna? Surely, we will be protected by Sri Krsna but is it not incorrect that we are escaping from our duties, which God has given to us.
 
In Bhagavad-gita it is stated that the living being (soul) is punished according to the bad deeds done by him (karma). Suppose he is punished by an individual. Now it was God's plan to punish the first individual and it was done by God through the other individual. But why is the second individual again punished by God for the bad deeds which he had done?
 
(Vinay Annam)
 
Our Reply: Bhagavad-gita does not speak of surrender to Lord Krsna and fight against maya as two different activities. With the mood of surrender we are supposed to carry on our duties. Surrender in heart and work. Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita(8.7)
  
  tasmat sarvesu kalesu
mam anusmara yudhya ca
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
mam evaisyasy asamsayah
   

"Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krsna and at the same time continue your prescribed duty of fighting.With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt."
 
When a person becomes firmly convinced about the importance of devotional service, he surrenders unto the Supreme Lord. Complete surrender means surrendering our body, mind, speech-every thing to Lord Krsna. There are six symptoms of surrender: (1) One should perform only those actions favorable for devotional service to Krsna (2) One should give up everything unfavorable for discharging devotional service. (3) One should firmly believe that Krsna will protect one in all circumstances and that no-one is abetter protector than Krsna. (4) One should have the conviction that Krsna is one's maintainer, and one should not take shelter of any demigod for maintenance. (5) One should always remember that one's activities and desires are not independent. In other words, the devotee should feel completely dependent on Krsna, and thus he should act and think as Krsna.desires. (6) One should always think himself the poorest of the poor and feel totally dependent on the mercy of Krsna.
 
 A devotee who follows these six principles of surrender always thinks, "0 Lord, I am Yours in every respect; I am Your eternal servant." In this way a devotee becomes cleansed. 
 
 When we surrender to Lord Krsna and do according to His will,this is the highest duty.No other order is higher.
 
 In the case of man hurting another, the reason God chooses him is because he (the second man) desires to commit some violence. If we have wrong desires Krsna will pick us up to impart some karmic justice to someone. We are the doer because we originally desired for the sinful act. The Lord is just the impartial facilitator. We chose to do so and we shall pay for it.