Hare Krsna,
This is a challenging forum topic for me to meditate and comment upon as both (Arjuna and the Gopis) are at different stages in terms of their sambandha (relationship) with Krsna. Their level of surrender would also be different even though all of them are nitya-siddhas. Each of them has his/her own sthayi bhava with Krsna. For a conditioned soul like me to compare their level of surrender is like asking a dwarf to touch the moon.
Nevertheless, I would like to share little bit of my realization. It could be just mental speculation on my part and not completely based on scriptural references. That’s because I do not remember ever reading or hearing about the comparison of the level of surrender displayed by Arjuna and the gopis. Ontologically I do not exactly know Arjuna’s relationship with Krsna and His mood of surrender. Both the gopis and Arjuna are completely surrendered to Krsna, but in their own way and mood. There is no doubt about this.
In Mahabharata, Arjuna (even though a nitya-siddha himself) played the role of a conditioned suffering living entity who has lost his way and seeks guidance what he should do or not do. Being completely bewildered and hopeless with the turn of events leading to the great war, Arjuna accepts complete helplessness and turns to Krsna for help. He prays in BG 2.7:
“Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.”
From then on, Lord Krsna speaks the message of the timeless Bhagavad Gita to enlighten Arjuna and ultimately show him the right path. Krsna eventually advises Arjuna to abandon everything, all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Krsna. Lest Arjuna is afraid of the consequences of surrendering, Krsna assures Arjuna not to worry. He (Krsna) will deliver Arjuna from all sinful reactions. (BG 18.66)
Arjuna finally takes complete shelter of Krsna and His advice. He says in BG 18.73: My dear Kṛṣṇa, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.
Therefore, Arjuna’s surrender is more focused on a devoted disciple-like relationship, seeking guidance and protection from a spiritual master. Krsna had to inspire Arjuna with convincing words to bring him to the level of complete surrender. This is the situation with most of the conditioned living entities. We need training to understand the meaning and process of surrender. Thus, in a way Arjuna’s surrender is like the surrender of a sadhaka. It is like a baby learning to walk the first steps of his life – slow, fumbling, guided, cautious, regulated, and unaware of the next step or goal.
Arjuna surrenders to Krsna seeking wisdom and support during a moral dilemma on the battlefield, highlighting a more intellectual and duty-bound aspect of devotion and surrender. Let’s just call Arjuna’s surrender as ‘regulated surrender.’
The gopis’ surrender, on the other hand, is completely spontaneous. They are acting purely on the level of prema. They are acting on the highest platform of madhurya-rasa. Their surrender is out of pure love for Krsna. They have no other motivation other than to please Krsna and have Krsna as their husband. They do not have any tinge of selfish desire, inhibitions, self-consciousness, societal awareness, or family considerations. They just want to be with Krsna. They know of nothing other than Krsna. Their surrender is condition-less; they don’t care that the Personality they are surrendering to is the same Personality who forced them to stand naked in from of Him.
“Even though the gopis were treated contemptuously, they still acted favorably toward their beloved by doing what would have been impossible for others to do.” (SVT commentary on 10.22.22)
The gopis’ mood of surrender is described by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He prays, “My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, You may embrace Me or trample Me under Your feet, or You may make Me brokenhearted by never being present before Me. Whatever You like, You can do, because You have complete freedom to act. But in spite of all Your dealings, You are My Lord eternally, and I have no other worshipable object.” This is the attitude of the gopīs toward Kṛṣṇa. (Krsna book 20-38)
Seeing the level of gopis’ love, devotion and surrender, Krsna, in reciprocation, comes under their control. Krsna comes under the control of His prema-bhaktas.
Kṛṣṇa said, “O chaste women! Though out of modesty you have not mentioned that your real purpose in worshiping Me was to please Me, I know and I accept it. Because your desire was pure it will be fulfilled. Since I am controlled by prema, nothing is impossible for My premi-bhaktas to attain.” (SVT commentary on 10.22.25)
Krsna further said to the gopis, “O women, although you are perfected (siddha) beings, you have taken the role of sadhakas (practicioners) to increase the sweetness of My pastimes on earth. In the near future you will enjoy with Me, and thus fulfill the purpose for which you undertook austerities in worshiping Durga. O pure women!.” (SVT commentary on 10.22.27)
Thus, I can say Arjuna’s surrender is ‘regulated’ and the gopis’ surrender is ‘spontaneous’. Similar to vaidhi-sadhana bhakti (as exemplified by Arjuna) and raghanuga/bhava/prema bhakti (as exemplified by the gopis of Vraja).
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 