Charma sloka is a mantra when uttered with absolute faith ,becomes the the source of maintenance ,nourishment and enjoyment to 'jiva' and also the cause of 'Moksha'.
This mantra focuses on Saranagathi --[surrender] as an easy sadhana---[way] to attain
'Moksha'[freedom from karma and ultimate bliss].
Saranagathi is the key feature of Visishta dwaita philosophy of Sri Vaishnavas.Those who worship Vishnu along with his consort Lakshmi are known as Srivaishnavas. This form of worship of the supreme being can be traced to RigVeda, Puranas ,the Epics , Agamas and in the hymns of Aazhwaars.
Sri Ramanuja of 12 th century AD is the most important preceptor of Visishtadwaita philosophy .This is an important school of Hindu philosophy.
Sri Ramanuja was a erudite Sanskrit scholar. He was also seeped with Bhakthi ---devotion to god--namely Vishnu.He is credited with writing Navaratnas or 9 gems that reveal his philosophical thoughts,his commentaries on Bhagavad gita, Upanishads,heart stirring prayers on Ranganatha[vishnu],glorious description of Sri Vaikuntam the abode of Narayana--- Vishnu and simple guidelines to devotees.
He believed that god was full of attributes and was worthy of worship.The corner stone of this theologian and philosopher's teachings, was his staunch belief in Bhakthi --faith and devotion and Prapatti --surrender to Vishnu.
This doctrine of Saranagathi has been clearly enunciated by the three avatars of Vishnu ---Varaha, Rama and Krishna in Varaha purana , Ramayana and Gita respectively.
Varaha is the third avatar of Vishnu, as a boar . He assumes this form to rescue the world hidden under water by a powerful asura known as Hiranyan.As he lifts the world prising it away from the clutches of the asura ,Varaharmoorthy assures the beseeching Bhoomadevi and mortals that they need fear none once they surrender to him.
The two slokas preached by Varahamoorthy is known as Vakya dvaya.An very easy way of doing Saranagathi. It is as follows...
Stiththe manasi suswasthe shariresathiyo narah
Dhathu samye sthithe smarta visva rupam cha mama ajam |
Tatsam mriyamanam thu kastha pashana sannibham
Aham smarami madbhakhtan nayami param gatim|
The man ,who,when his mind is in normal condition , his body not shattered ,and elementary constituents of the body [dhatus] are in perfect equipoise,meditates on me and surrenders to me [ varaha] ,who has the world as My body and am not subject to births---when the man lies like a log of wood or a piece of stone in his dying moments , even if he doesn't remember me then , I will not forget or forgo this devotee of Mine and lead to attain the supreme abode ![Moksham]
The 33 verse of 18 th chapter ofRamayana and the 66th verse of the 18 th chapter of Gita enshrines the Saranagathi principle that Vishnu in his avatars ie, descending to the world in mortal forms to defeat and destroy evil forces, as Rama and Krishna,explicitly states.
In the Yudda kanda of Ramayana ,Vibheeshana the pious brother ofRavana ,implores his elder brother to hand over Sita to Rama,when Rama comes knocking on the doors of Lanka ,the Rakshasas kingdom,to rescue his wife. His plea falls on deaf ears and only serves to incite Ravana to anger.He rebukes and castigates Vibeeshna thoroughly, who leaves the kingdom with following words
"'O' king men who forever speak pleasing words are easy to find . But one who speaks of useful but unpleasant words ,as also the one who listens to them are rare to be obtained".
Vibeeshna decides to seek refuge in Rama whom he perceives as a good man ,upholding the Dharma.An avatar of Vishnu.
As he approaches Rama's camp, Sugriva the chief of Rama's army has some misgivings .He thinks Vibeeshna is a spy , brother of the enemy, thereby incapable of trust . However Hanuman differs and opines that a deceitful man would never come straight with obvious friendliness.
Rama hears to the opinion of all and then spoke his mind clearly and firmly in the following sloka...
Mitra bhaavena sampraatam na tyajeyam katham na
Dosa yadi api tasyyya syaat sataam etad agarhitam|
By any means I donot desert anyone who arrives with a friendly appearance , even if he has a defect!
I will accept him irrepproachably, as would all good men !
Then Rama proceeds to narrate an incident from ancient scriptures .
A dove received an hunter who had killed its wife when he sought refuge under his tree in accordance with the rules of hospitality ,by inviting the enemy to feast on its own flesh.
Rama then refers to sage Kandu's admonishments to kings ....
O kings , even an enemy ,who formed a cup with his hollowed hands , a miserable person , a person who is begging and seeking for refuge should not be turned away .
An enemy who is arrogant ,but seeks protection from others must be protected even by abandoning one's life
If an refugee dies before the eyes of a man who is able to protect him , the former takes along all the latters moral merits and goes.
Reputation ,strength and valour is destroyed if one does not protect a person seeking refuge.
Then Sri Rama states the following, as is encapsulated in the 33rd verse of 18 th chapter of Yudda kanda---
Sakrid eva prapannaaya tava asmiti ca yaacate
Abhayam sarva bhutebyo dadaami etad vratam mama|
He who seeks refuge in me just once,telling me that I am yours.
I shall give him safety against all types of beings
This is my solemn pledge|
According to Sri Ramanuja the 66th verse of the 18 th chapter of Bhagwad gita is the most noble verse of the Gita. It enshrines succinently and lucidly the easiest way to attain Moksham. If an aspirant has no capacity to perform sadhanas like Karma, Gyana and Bhakthi yoga ,he can perform this alternate sadhana ,through 'Charma sloka'.
The sloka is as follows....
Sarva dharma parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja|
Aham tva sarva papebyo mokshayaishyami masuchaha||
Having given up all dharmas or rites unintentionally , surrender to Me [lord Narayana] alone .
I , will release you from all sins and grant Moksha ,donot despair or grieve.
{ References --- Sapthagiri, internet and translations of K.M.K Murthy}
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