Universal
Sarva Dharman Parityajya — Gita 18.66
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज । अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ॥
Simple reading
Sar-va dhar-maan pa-rit-yaj-ya maa-me-kam sha-ra-nam vra-ja, a-ham tvaa sar-va paa-pebh-yo mok-sha-yish-yaa-mi maa shu-chah
Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja, ahaṁ tvā sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
About this mantra
The Gita's culminating teaching, the charama shloka. Its content is total refuge, and the promise: do not grieve. Twelve verses follow it (18.67–78), but they concern passing the teaching on and Arjuna's reply; 18.66 is the teaching's own last word. For this reason the Sri Vaishnava tradition names it the charama shloka, the ultimate verse.
Meaning
Letting go of all dharmas, come to me alone for refuge. I will free you from all wrongdoing; do not grieve. The teaching's last instruction is its most intimate: after seven hundred verses of paths, the paths themselves are released. And ma shuchah, do not grieve, is the whole bhakti tradition in two words: the outcome has been taken over.
Learn it by heart
Say the first line until it comes without reading, then add the next line and say both, until the whole mantra comes on its own.
Line 1 of 2
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज ।
Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja, ahaṁ tvā sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
0not said yet
Aim for eleven before the next line. Move on when the line comes without reading.
Progress stays on this device.
When to recite it
The refuge verse, recited at life's overwhelmed moments, at Gita Jayanti, and traditionally near the end of life or beside those approaching it.
Word by word
- सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्यsarva-dharmān parityajya
- letting go of all supports
- मामेकं शरणं व्रजmām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
- come to me alone for refuge
- अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामिahaṁ tvā sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi
- I will free you from all wrongdoing
- मा शुचःmā śucaḥ
- do not grieve
Source: Bhagavad Gītā 18.66