ASTASLOKI OF Parasara Bhattar

Sriparasarabattaryaha srirangesha purohitaha

Srivatsaanka suthaha Sreemaan Sreyase mestu bhuyase.

After Bhattar, Astasloki was referred by all Acaryas like Nambillai, Pillai Lokacarya, Vedanta Desika,
Kanchi Vadikesari Alagiya Manavala Jeeyar and many others. The Vyakyana of this is today available to
us only because of the Sanskrit work by Prativadi Bhayankaram Annan Swami. After this many other
scripts are available in many languages.
Some of the works of Bhattar are : Bhagavadguna Darpana, Rangarajastava, Astasloki and
Gunaratnakosha.
There are 3 secrets for a Mummukshu to understand, These are Tirumantram, Dvayam and Charmam as
told by PillaiLokacarya in his Rahasya Grantha Mumukshupadi.

Astasloki of Bhattar has 8 slokas and conveys the meaning of the above 3 secrets.
Meaning of Tirumantram in first 4 Slokas “ Om Namo Narayanaaya
- 3 Words”
Meaning of Dvaya Mantram in next 2 Slokas “Sriman Narayana Charanow Sharanam Prapadye
Srimathe Narayanaaya Namaha
- 6 Words”
Meaning of Krishna Charmasloka in next 2 slokas “Sarvadharmaan parityajya maam ekam
saranam vraja, aham tva sarvapapebhyo mokshayishyami maa sucaha
- 12 words”

Sloka 1:
akaaraarto vishnuhu jagadudayarakshaapralayakrit
makaaraarto jeevaha tadupakaranam vaishnavamidam
ukaaronanyaarham niyamayathi sambhandhamanayoho
trayeesaarastryaatma pranava yimamartham samadishat
Letter ‘A’ denotes Visnu who causes the creation, protection and destruction of the world.
Letter ‘M’ denotes the soul who is the instrument of Visnu and belongs to Visnu alone.
Letter ‘U’ indicates the relationship of belonging to no one else, denotes the Sesha-Seshi
relationship of the the Lord(Super Soul) and Soul.
This 3 syllable Pranava is the essence of the 3 Vedas.

Sloka 2:
mantrabrahmani madhyamena namasa pumsaha svaroopam gathihi
gamyam shikshithameekshitena purataha paschaadapi staanataha
svaatantryam nijarakshanam samuchitaa vritthischa naanyochithaa
tasyaivethi harervivichya kathitam svasyaapi naarham tataha
The “namas” the middle word in the Moola Mantra teaches the soul’s true nature, way and goal. By
looking at what goes before this word(Pranava) and what comes after(Narayanaya) we can arrive at
three different parts-
* Om Namaha - Ananayarha Seshatvam(belongs to Narayana only and nobody else)
* Namo Namaha - Ananya Saranatvam (he only is to be surrendered like case of
Draupadi and Nammalvar))
* Narayanaya Namaha - Ananya Bhogyatvam(all that we do is for Him and not for us. As Alavandhar
says” Kadahamaikantika Nityakinkaraha praharshaishyami sanatajeevitaha” and Nammalvar says
“tanakkeyaahayannaikollumeede”.)
Thus indicating autonomy, self-protection and service being suitable to Hari only. The same has been
conveyed by Sri Ramanuja in his Perundevi Stuthi “Akaratrayasampannam AravindanivasineemAsesha
jagadhishitreem vande varadavallabham”.

Sloka 3:
akaarartaayaiva svamahamata mahyam na nivahaaha
naraanaam nityaanaamayanamithi naarayanapadam
yamaahaasmai kaalam sakalamapi sarvatra sakalaasu
avasthaasvaavihi syuhu mama sahajakainkaryavidhayaha
Here Bhatttar explains the mening of word “Narayana” and “Aya”.
I am the property of the one indicated in the letter ‘A’. The word ‘Narayana” means the abode of group
of eternal ‘Naras’. The dative case-ending(Chaturthi Vibhakthi) says that my performances of
spontaneous service for Him should take place at all times, in all places, and under all conditions.

Sloka 4:
dehaasakthaatmabuddhiryadhi bhavathi padam saadhu vidhyaathrutheeyam
svaatantryaandho yadhi syaat prathamamitharasheshatvadheeschedvitheeyam
aatmatraanonmukhaschennama yithi cha padam bhaandhavaabhaasalolaha
shabdham naarayanaakyam vishayachapaladheeschechathurthem prappannaha
After understanding the above 3 slokas, with a mind set to serve Hari and nobody else for no benefit,
there could be many troubles one could face, for this Bhattar gives solutions for the mind to overcome
the impediments in servitude to Lord.
If he thinks that soul is the body, the wise prapanna should learn the third syllable ‘M’.
If he is blind with autonomy, the first ‘A’.
If subservient to another the second ‘U’.
If trying to protect himself, the word ‘namaha’.
If hankering after those who only appear to be kinsmen, the word ‘Narayana’.
If his mind is involved in worldly matters, the dative case-ending(Chaturthi Vibhakthi on word
Narayana).

Sloka 5:
nethrutvam nityayogam samuchitagunajaatam tanukyaapanam cha
upaayam kartavyabhaagam tvatha mithunaparam praapyamevam prasiddham
saamitvam praartanaam cha prabhalatara virodhiprahaanam dashaithaan
manthaaram traayathe chethyadhigathanigamahashatdoyam dvikandaha
The Dvaya Mantram has six words and two parts and is the essence of Vedas, and meditating on this
mantram would lead to salvation. It is known to have ten meanings :
leadership : nethrutvam
eternal union of Sri at all times and all places : nityayogam
suitable to surrender with a class of appropriate qualities : samuchitagunajaatam
reference to the Lord’s body : tanukyaapanam
the Upaya for attaining salvation : cha and upaayam
the part to be done by the soul to reach the Lord : kartavyabhaagam tu
and then that the Supreme is the goal : mithunaparam paapyamevam prasiddham
the Lord’s ownership of Ubhaya Vibuti : saamitvam
the prayer to Him : praartanaam cha
the destruction of the greatest obstacles : prabhalatara virodhi prahaanam

Sloka 6:
eeshaanaam jagathaamadheeshadayithaam nityaanapaayam sriyam
samshrityaasrayanochitaakhilagunasyaanghree harerashraye
ishtopaayathaya sriyaa cha sahithaayatmeshwaraayaarthaye
karthum daasyamasheshamaprathihatham nityam tvaham nirmamaha
Having approached Sri, the eternally inseparable consort of the Lord of the universe, I resort to the feet
of Hari, endowed with a host of qualities suitable for taking refuge, as my chosen Upaya. Wanting
nothing for myself, I request to do complete service forever without any obstacles to my Lord who is
joined with Sri, the instructor to Brahma, Rudra and all others.

Sloka 7:
matpraapthyarthayaa mayokthamakilam santyajya dharmam punaha
maamekam madavaapthaye sharanamithyaarthovasaayam kuru
tvaamevam vyavasaayaukthamakhilagnaanadhipoornohyaham
matpraapthiprathibhandhakaihi virahitham kuryaam shucham maa kruthaaha
Having previously relinquished all the dharmas which I taught for obtaining me, then you who are
pained be resolved that for reaching me, the refuge is me alone. For, i who am endowed with all
knowledge, etc will cause you-who are so resolved-to be free of all obstacles to attaining me. Do not
grieve.

Sloka 8:
nischitya tvadadheenathaam mayee sadhaa karmaadhyupaayaan hare
karthum tyakthumapi prapatthumanalam seedhaami dukkhakulaha
yetadgnaanamupeyusho mama punaha sarvaaparaadhakshayam
karthaaseethi drudosmi te tu charmam vaakyam smaran saaratheha
Convinced of my eternal dependence on you, O Hari, I am incompetent to do or even relinquish the
Upayas such as Karma Yoga or to surrender to you. Thus I am afflicted with misery. Knowing this,
please destroy all my prior sins. I am firmly remembering your last words that you will relieve me of all
my sins, O Charioteer!
Acarya Thiruvadigale Sharanam