All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कार्यगतेर्वैचित्र्या-
न्नीचोऽपि क्वचिदलं न जातु महान्।
कांस्येनैवादर्शः क्रियते राज्ञामपि न हेम्ना॥

Due to practical usefulness, even brass can serve as a mirror for kings, unlike gold. Thus, utility determines greatness—not mere status.

utility (42) greatness (146) metaphor (1632) mirror (14) brass (3) gold (62) kings (49) humility (596) value (170) perception (181)

कार्यज्ञः प्रष्टव्यो न
पुनर्मान्यो मम प्रियो वेति।
गुरुरप्यासनसेव्यः प्रियानितम्बः कदा मन्त्री॥

One should choose advisors based on competence, not personal affection or status. Even a beloved or a respected elder may not be suited for counsel.

competence (4) advice (48) favoritism (9) wisdom (1611) roles (19) leadership (279) judgement (4) merit (120) discernment (142) responsibility (133)

कार्यते यच्च क्रियते सच्चासच्च कृतं ततः।
तत्राश्वसीत सत्कृत्वा असत्कृत्वा न विश्वसेत्॥

Judge an action based on its truth or falsity, not on its mere occurrence. Trust the truth; do not trust the false just because it happened.

truth (300) falsehood (50) judgment (94) discernment (142) reality (54) action (258) trust (112) wisdom (1611) authenticity (16) outcome (19)

कार्यमालोचितापायं मतिमद्भिर्विचेष्टितम्।
न केवलं हि सम्पत्तौ विपत्तावपि शोभते॥

The thoughtful, who foresee risks and act wisely, shine not only in success but also in adversity. Wisdom reveals itself in all situations.

wisdom (1611) foresight (47) risk (17) adversity (67) success (142) prudence (75) planning (72) behavior (249) conduct (143) thoughtfulness (5)

कार्यमित्येव यत् कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन।
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव सत्
त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः॥

Performing prescribed duties without attachment or desire for results is true sāttvika tyāga (pure renunciation), as taught in the Gita.

duty (198) detachment (573) renunciation (267) karma yoga (9) gita (18) action (258) selflessness (65) purity (356) sattva (12) philosophy (290)

कार्यस्य हि गरीयस्त्वान् नीचानामपि कालवित्।
सतोऽपि दोषान् प्रच्छाद्य गुणानप्यसतो वदेत्॥

A time-knowing diplomat may elevate a low-born person by highlighting strengths and hiding flaws—even while downplaying the virtues of the high-born. ...

strategy (222) timing (92) diplomacy (79) perception (181) status (41) wisdom (1611) manipulation (21) politics (111) skill (51) image (6)

कार्यस्यापेक्षया भुक्तं विषमप्यमृतायते।
सर्वेषां प्राणिनां यत्र नात्र कार्या विचारणा॥

For a meaningful cause, even poison may become nectar. When life itself is at stake, no deliberation is needed—act instinctively.

action (258) urgency (63) poison (101) nectar (110) cause (24) survival (91) instinct (19) decision (23) wisdom (1611) sacrifice (146)

कार्याकार्यमनार्यैर्
उन्मार्गनिरर्गलैर्गलन्मतिभिः।
नाकर्ण्यते विकर्णैर् नयोक्तिभिर्युक्तमुक्तमपि॥

The wicked and wayward never heed wise counsel. Even when truth is spoken with reason, they remain deaf—figuratively and literally.

wickedness (75) deafness (5) advice (48) truth (300) wisdom (1611) stubbornness (6) folly (51) reason (15) counsel (25) ignorance (301)

कार्याकार्ये किमपि सततं नैव कर्तृत्वमस्ति
जीवन्मुक्तस्थितिरवगतो दग्धवस्त्रावभासः।
एवं देहे प्रविलयगते तिष्ठमानो विमुक्तो निस्त्रैगुण्ये
पथि विचरतः को विधिः को निषेधः॥

In the state of liberation (jīvanmukti), there's no distinction between action and inaction. For the self-realized, duties and prohibitions vanish—lik...

liberation (230) jivanmukti (1) action (258) inaction (14) realization (67) freedom (56) nonduality (4) moksha (63) detachment (573) vedanta (34)

कार्याकार्ये तुलयति सर्वस्
तृप्तो न जातु तृष्णार्तः।
स्वादु शुचि वा च तोयं मरुपथिकः को विचारयति॥

A thirsty desert-traveler doesn’t question whether water is pure or tasty. Likewise, the truly satisfied evaluates right/wrong, but the greedy never d...

desire (898) thirst (32) contentment (86) discrimination (65) metaphor (1632) desert (19) water (140) satisfaction (26) greed (141) philosophy (290)