Nothing glorious can be achieved without single-pointed, sustained determination. The Bhagavad-gita (02.41) indicates that determination (drdha-vratah) is essential for the most glorious achievement of life: reviving our love for Krishna and thereby relishing eternal happiness. In fact, for attaining love for Krishna, our determination is the first thing, the main thing and the only thing:

The first thing: Our spiritual journey begins with our determination. Devotees can come in our life and invite us, even prod us, but our journey actually starts only when we desire determinedly to go closer to Krishna.

The main thing: When we start practicing devotional service regularly, the external performance of spiritual activities does not automatically lead to our advancement; it adds to our spiritual credits, thereby setting a platform for eventual devotional takeoff. We actually take off only when our external engagement is accompanied, even motivated, by our internal desire to love and serve Krishna – which is a function of our determination.

The only thing: On the devotional path, our advancement ultimately depends on Krishna’s mercy. But this doesn’t imply that nothing is in our hands – and it certainly doesn’t justify our laziness in fighting our conditionings. We sometimes passively cave in to our conditionings and lackadaisically wait for Krishna’s mercy to empower us in the future through some inner flash of lightning-like illumination. However, Krishna usually gives us his mercy by offering us opportunities to practice devotional service. We need to become determined to utilize those opportunities. If we don’t become determined, even Krishna can’t help us, for he doesn’t infringe on our free will.

Therefore, Krishna’s mercy is never missing; what is missing is our determination to benefit from it. Once we muster our determination, we will find Krishna’s mercy empowering us in our journey to eternal love and joy.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 41

“Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.”