Caramaṣloka

By Swami Harshananda

Caramaṣloka literally means ‘the final or concluding verse’.

Ramanuja’s (A. D. 1017-1137) teachings are twofold:

1. Viṣistadvaita Vedanta - The philosophical aspect of his teaching is known as Viṣistadvaita Vedanta.
2. Śrivaiṣnavism - The practical and the religious aspect is called as Śrivaiṣnavism.

Śrivaiṣnavism lays a great emphasis on two means of attaining mokṣa or liberation. These means are:

1. Bhakti - Devotion to God
2. Prapatti - Self-surrender

Prapatti depends on receiving the rahasyatraya (‘the three secrets’) from a qualified preceptor and practicing the same. These rahasyatrayas are:

1. Astakṣarmantra
2. Dvayamantra
3. Caramaṣloka

The Caramaṣloka is the 66th verse in the last chapter of the Bhagavadgita. Though it is not the last in the section, since it contains the ultimate or final (= carama) message of Śrikṛṣna, it has been designated as such.

The verse is:

sarvadharman parityajya mamekarh saranam vraja I aharin tva sarvapapebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah II

This means:

‘Abandoning all dharmas human efforts at moral and spiritual upliftment come to Me as the only Refuge. Grieve not; I will deliver you from all sins’