All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कार्यार्थिनो दीर्घमिवाध्वखेदं
विक्रीतदासा इव कर्मभारम्।
कष्टं कटुद्रव्यमिवामयार्ताः
स्वभर्तृगेहं वनिता सहन्ते॥

Like bought slaves or patients consuming bitter medicine, women endure painful marriages for the sake of household duties. A powerful metaphor on the ...

endurance (85) burden (40) women (268) marriage (104) suffering (358) patience (122) metaphor (1632) household (30) duty (198) social critique (16)

कार्यार्थी बन्धुजनः
कार्यैर्बहुभिर्भवन्ति मित्राणि।
दाराः सुताश्च सुलभा धनमेकं दुर्लभं लोके॥

In pursuit of tasks, one finds many helpers and even gains family and friends, but wealth remains the most elusive thing in the world.

friendship (209) wealth (447) rarity (48) helpers (1) family (165) goals (7) human pursuit (1) irony (348) life truth (2) value (170)

कार्यार्थी भजते लोके यावत् कार्यं न सिध्यति।
उत्तीर्णे च परे पारे नौकायाः किं प्रयोजनम्॥

People are loyal while their work is pending. Once they reach the goal, they discard the helper—just like a boat left behind after crossing a river.

utility (42) loyalty (180) abandonment (54) friendship (209) metaphor (1632) human nature (88) goals (7) success (142) selfishness (62) journey (57)

कार्यार्थी भजते लोको न प्रियः पारमार्थिकः।
वत्सः क्षीरक्षयं दृष्ट्वा परित्यजति मातरम्॥

People approach others for selfish needs, not out of true affection—like a calf leaving its mother after she runs out of milk.

selfishness (62) love (1567) false affection (5) utility (42) metaphor (1632) abandonment (54) needs (3) animal imagery (8) critique (50) human behavior (15)

कार्यार्थी संगतिं याति कृतार्थे नास्ति संगतिः।
तस्मात्सर्वाणि कार्याणि सावशेषाणि कारयेत्॥

A person joins company for work and departs once fulfilled. Hence, one should ensure work is assigned in small portions to keep the bond intact.

strategic delegation (1) utility (42) relationships (94) company (17) fulfillment (89) work management (1) task planning (1) realism (46) human nature (88) wisdom (1611)

कार्यावेतौ हि कालेन धर्मो हि विजयावहः।
त्रयाणामपि लोकानाम् आलोककरणो भवेत्॥

Timely action and righteous conduct ensure success, and they can illuminate even the three worlds with glory. A statement on the universal value of dh...

dharma (540) time (242) success (142) glory (92) worlds (4) light (147) righteousness (134) action (258) universal truth (3) karma (500)

कार्यासमर्थे महति न कुर्यात् परिहासकम्।
लम्बोदरं नत्यशक्तम् अप्रेष्योऽभूच्छशी हसन्॥

Do not mock the one incapable of great tasks. The moon, though laughed at for its belly-like shape, was never sent on errands—its presence is enough.

mockery (46) humility (596) capability (16) metaphor (1632) moon (394) respect (164) dignity (146) wisdom (1611) judgment (94) value (170)

कार्या सैकतलीनहंसमिथुना स्रोतोवहा मालिनी
पादास् तामभितो निषण्णहरिणा गौरीगुरोः पावनाः।
शाखालम्बितवल्कलस्य च तरोर्निर्मातुमिच्छाम्यधः शृङ्गे
कृष्णमृगस्य वामनयनं कण्डूयमानां मृगीम्॥

A poetic fantasy to build a hut beneath a tree surrounded by deer and geese beside a flower-lined stream. The speaker desires peace, love, and union w...

nature (950) fantasy (6) hut (3) desire (898) deer (48) geese (1) poetic imagery (180) love (1567) peace (171) forest (145)

कार्यं कर्मणि निर्दिष्टो यो बहून्यपि साधयेत्।
पूर्वकार्याविरोधेन स कार्यं कर्तुमर्हति॥

One who can accomplish even many tasks simultaneously, without hampering earlier duties, is truly fit for leadership.

multitasking (1) competence (4) responsibility (133) efficiency (5) leadership (279) diligence (27) continuity (10) wisdom (1611) success (142) work ethic (6)

न ह्येकः साधको हेतुः स्वल्पस्यापीह कर्मणः।
यो ह्यर्थं बहुधा वेद स समर्थोऽर्थसाधने॥

No task succeeds due to one factor alone. Only one who understands a goal from multiple angles is truly capable of achieving it.

success (142) multiplicity (4) causes (4) perspective (44) wisdom (1611) planning (72) insight (55) strategy (222) capability (16) goal (14)