Universal
Sarva Dharman Parityajya — Gita 18.66
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज । अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ॥
Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja, ahaṁ tvā sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
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
About this mantra
The Gita's culminating teaching, the charama shloka — 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, which is why the Sri Vaishnava tradition names it the charama — the ultimate — shloka.
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.
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