The Bhagavad-gita (04.35) explains that when we become illumined by spiritual knowledge, we understand that we are Krishna’s, that is, we belong to him.

Many people may believe generally in God or even specifically in Krishna as God. This Gita verse indicates that its spiritual wisdom can take us far beyond believing in Krishna to belonging to him. When we believe in Krishna, we often tend to think of him as our facilitator and expect him to make things work for us. When we belong to Krishna, we recognize that he is our Lord and master, and realize that we are expected to make things work for him; we are to lovingly offer him our very selves and thereby become instruments of his will. Believing in Krishna can give us a sense of security, “He will protect me.” But belonging to Krishna gives us a sense of purpose: “He loves and values us so much that he believes I can be a part of his plan.”

In life we need not just security but purpose. Our heart longs not just to live, but to love. And integral to love is the understanding that we belong to our beloved. That’s why, we find lasting fulfillment not just by believing in Krishna, but by belonging to him.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04 Text 35

“Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine.”