दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया ।
मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ।। ७.१४ ।।

daivī hy-eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā |
mām-eva ye prapadyante māyām-etāṁ taranti te || 7.14 ||

The transcendental dimension is in everybody. But it reigns deep within – not accessible to the senses. Through sharp, subtle and sincere introspection alone can the seeker access it. Many do not take to the Soul-introspection or the inner spiritual search. Krishna therefore describes the general plight of humanity, stressing how it can be redressed:

This illusion in the nature of the three gunas, caused by Me, is too hard to overcome. Those who take refuge in Me alone, can overcome its effects safely.

This illusion is something that the Creator himself causes and preserves. Being so, it will naturally be very difficult to overcome. What is the redress then?

Krishna says that one should take refuge implicitly under the supreme Reality. Although the refuge is the Supreme, this process of taking absolute refuge depends fully upon the seeker. Krishna’s emphasis on surrender and acceptance is not new. In fact, in spiritual and yogic life, this is the only watchword and objective.

Such exclusive surrender and restfulness has been focused in earlier chapters too. In asking for sensory control, Krishna did say, ‘yukta asita matpara:’, meaning the seeker must have implicit fondness for the Guru, the Almighty; and he must wholesomely rest on Him (2.61).

Likewise, spiritual resignation of the mind and abandonment of all actions was stressed by him in the third chapter (3.30), thereby bringing the same note of surrender and acceptance in all that the yogic seeker does. The last verse of the sixth chapter makes a reference to that yogi whose mind and heart are completely given to the Supreme. The inward surrender, dedication and acceptance are thus shown as the only way to ensure spiritual progress and fulfillment.

In devotional as well as spiritual life, what counts supreme is the depth of the mind in effecting total surrender. However inexorably maya enfolds all, the plight will be reversed if the seeker looks to that power which causes and preserves the illusion. And so there is no cause for alarm, assures Krishna. There is a full remedy for the powerful illusion enfolding all.

Such surrender, though simple and effective, does not occur to many. This is the deplorable part of human life. To surrender exclusively is to be instantly pure, desire-free and one-pointed. But, the influence of plurality is so powerful that people find it hard to shun it and get deliverance. Even if the pursuit of worship and devotion appeals to them, it will be far from being exclusive.

Maya robs the discretion of humans and makes all helpless in their choice and selection. Some even fall prey to demoniacal tendencies. But Krishna’s words in this context are more to inform and guide the seeker, than to discourage or subdue anyone.