By following the instructions of the Bhagavad-Gita, one is engaged in bhakti or devotional service to God.
Lord Krishna is situated in the heart of everyone, and so by serving others, we are also serving Lord Krishna. Also, every living entity is part of Him, and so by serving any living being, we are also serving Lord Krishna (God). Thus, service to man (or other living beings) is service to God.
“A true yogi observes Me in all beings and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized person sees Me, the same Supreme Lord, everywhere.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 6.29)
“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 15.7)
Working for the welfare of all living beings is bhakti or service to God.
“One who is beyond duality and doubt, whose mind is engaged within, who is always busy working for the welfare of all sentient beings, and who is free from all sins, achieves liberation in the Supreme.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 5.25)
By being kind to others, we become eligible to enter the kingdom of God. Thus, service to man (and other living beings) is service to God.
“One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities – Such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me…” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 12.13-14)
“Who is friendly to every living entity, certainly comes to Me…” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 11.55)
Only those who are merciful to other livings can enter the kingdom of God.
The self-effulgent Vaikuntha planets, by whose illumination alone all the illuminating planets within this material world give off reflected light, cannot be reached by those who are not merciful to other living entities. Only persons who constantly engage in welfare activities for other living entities can reach the Vaikuntha planets. (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.36)
Surrender unto God means follow His instructions.
One of the main points of the Bhagavad-Gita is that we should do our duty and at the same time do some service to Lord Krishna. Following the instructions of the Bhagavad-Gita is also service to Lord Krishna and not just doing Deity worship.
“Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Kṛṣṇa and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 8.7)
“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 18.66)
Some people will interpret the above verse to mean we should just serve God and forget all our duties and responsibilities to others. This interpretation is not supported by many verses of the Shrimad-Bhagavatam and Shrimad Bhagavad-Gita. Lord Krishna asked Arjuna to abandon all his duties to his gurus and relatives who were on the other side. Not abandon his duties to his wife, children, and those who were on his side.
Arjuna was on the battlefield and he refused to fight because he was overcome with compassion for everyone present there on both sides, especially those on the other side whom he would have to fight. Arjuna felt he had duties towards his gurus and relatives who were on the side and so how could he fight them. So in order to get him to fight, Lord Krishna asked Arjuna to abandon his duties to them (those on the other side). If Lord Krishna wanted Arjuna to abandon his duties to everyone on both sides, then there is no point in fighting the war, just go to the forest and retire. There would be no need for the Bhagavad-Gita to be spoken and there would be no Mahabharat war.
War is bad, but sometimes it is necessary, otherwise evil people will rule the world.
The purpose of speaking the Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna was to get him to do his duty of being a soldier and thus fight in the war, and not to abandon everyone and just worship Lord Krishna. Arjuna was a family man before hearing the Bhagavad-Gita, and he remained a family man after hearing it. None of us are in the same situation as Arjuna, we are not in a war with our gurus and relatives. Swami Srila Prabhupada translated the Sanskrit word ‘Dharma’ as ‘religion’ and not ‘duties’ in this verse for a good reason, because he wants us to abandon all the varieties of religious beliefs and Gods that are in world, and just worship Lord Krishna and follow His religious teachings, the Bhagavad-Gita. If anyone says “abandon all varieties of duties”, then this makes the Shrimad-Bhagavatam false and contradicts many verses of the Shrimad Bhagavad-Gita, because there are many verses which do not support abandoning our duties. If most people abandon their duties to others, then this world would become more hellish for everyone, because people would be only interested in satisfying their own needs. A Vaishnava is one who thinks of the well being of others and not one who only thinks of himself (self centered).
“If, however, you do not perform your religious duty of fighting, then you will certainly incur sins for neglecting your duties and thus lose your reputation as a fighter.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 2.33)
In the above verse, Lord Krishna is asking Arjuna to fulfil his duty of being a soldier and thus fight in the war.
“Prescribed duties should never be renounced. If one gives up his prescribed duties because of illusion, such renunciation is said to be in the mode of ignorance.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 18.7)
In the above verse, again Lord Krishna is asking Arjuna to never abandon his prescribed duties. We should also never abandon our duties or responsibilities to others.
“Devotees, they are para-duhkha-duhkhi. The symptom of a devotee is they are unhappy by seeing others unhappy.” (Swami Srila Prabhupada, Ahmedabad – December 06, 1972)
“May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.9)
It is clear from the above verse that engaging in bhakti (devotional service to God) does not not mean we become self-centered, we should become a center for everyone’s well-being. Thinking of others welfare means serving others to help them and not abandoning our duties or service to others.
“The highest religious duty for a woman is to sincerely serve her husband, behave well toward her husband’s family and take good care of her children.” (Lord Krishna, Shrimad-Bhagavatam 10.29.24)
The above is clear, Lord Krishna states the highest bhakti for a wife is to serve the husband and children. A wife who does not serve the husband and children has given up the highest bhakti. Lord Krishna never says the highest religious duty is to serve Him and to hell with others.
“Between the husband and wife, one person is sufficient to execute this devotional service. Because of their good relationship, both of them will enjoy the result. Therefore if the wife is unable to execute this process, the husband should carefully do so, and the faithful wife will share the result.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 6.19.18)
There is a common sense reason why the wife should serve the husband. The wife will get 50% of the share of all the pious deeds performed by the husband. The good karma bank account of the husband is joint and shared with the wife, the wife’s account is strictly personal. The husband does not benefit from the pious deeds performed by the wife.
“Accepting her husband as the representative of the Supreme Person, a wife should worship him with unalloyed devotion by offering him prasāda. The husband, being very pleased with his wife, should engage himself in the affairs of his family.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 6.19.17)
Prasada means cooking food, offering to God and then to the husband and whole family. Lord Krishna is not being sexist, because the husband also has to do his duty of maintaining the family and home (work and pay the bills and do repairs).
“…Similarly, a husband represents the Lord as the object of worship for a woman.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 6.18-33-34)
The husband is not God, but he represent God and thus is worship able by his wife. Importance is given to the husband, because if the husband is happy, he will automatically make the wife happy too.
“Women who desire a good destination in the next life should never abandon a husband who has not fallen from his religious standards, even if he is obnoxious, unfortunate, old, unintelligent, sickly or poor.” (Lord Krishna, Shrimad-Bhagavatam 10.29.25)
Based on the above, for a wife to abandon the husband is very sinful, especially in the name of bhakti. For a husband to abandon a wife for a new woman is also very sinful.
We are placed in a particular situation exactly based on our previous lives actions (karma). If we neglect our duties or responsibilities, we have to come back to complete them.
Once we have children, we cannot put them back into the womb, it is the mother and father duty to take care of them for life. If we get married, we should fulfill the marriage vows. If we engage in some agreement, we should comply with the agreement. If you are a wife, fulfil your wife duties. If you are husband, fulfil your husband duties. If you are a sports player, fulfil your duties to your team, etc..