History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.165

v7.c91.165

*Prapatti* (self-surrender) is distinguished from bhakti in works of the Rāmānuja and of other Vaisṇava schools. It consists of five points¹⁵⁵⁶ viz. resolution to yield (to God's will), the abandoning of opposition, faith that God will protect (the devotee), praying to God to save the devotee, and a feeling of helplessness shown by casting one's soul on Him. Bhakti has as synonyms the words 'dhyāna', 'upāsanā' &c. and is subsidiary to *prapatti*. The Gītā explicitly makes no such distinction. In Gītā II. 7 Arjuna speaks of himself as 'prapanna' (who has approached or surrendered himself for salvation). The final advice at the end of the Gītā enjoins what is called *prapatti* in later works 'On me fix your mind, become my devotee, sacrifice to me, offer adoration to me; you will certainly reach me; I declare to you truly, you are dear to me. Giving up all (*dharmas*) duties, come to me as your (only) refuge; I shall release you from all sins; do not grieve'.¹⁵⁵⁷ Vide also Gītā VII. 14, 15 and XV. 4 for other instances of the use of the root 'pra-pad'. The theory propounded in the Gītā and other works on bhakti was that bhakti led on to 'prasāda' (favour or grace) of God which enables the devotee to attain mokṣa.¹⁵⁵⁸ The Gītā (18. 56, 58, 62) says 'a man, though always performing all actions, but solely depending on me, obtains an imperishable and eternal place through my favour; if you fix your mind on me, you will get over all difficulties through my favour; go to Him as the refuge with all your heart, O Arjuna, through His grace you will attain the highest peace and an everlasting abode.' In the Viṣṇupurāṇa Prahlāda¹⁵⁵⁹ is told by the Adorable One 'as your mind is firmly and devotedly fixed on me you will by my favour attain the highest bliss'. The idea of God's grace occurs both in the Kaṭha and Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣads:¹⁵⁶⁰ 'The Self, smaller than the small and greater than the great, is hidden in the heart of the creatures, a man who is free from willing anything and free from grief sees the greatness of the Self through the favour of the Creator'.