All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

काव्यं चेत् सरसं किमर्थममृतं वक्त्रं कुरङ्गीदृशां
चेत् कन्दर्पविपाण्डुगण्डफलकं राकाशशाङ्केन किम्।
स्वातन्त्र्यं यदि जीवितावधि मुधा स्वर्भूर्भुवो वैभवं वैदर्भी
यदि बद्धयौवनभरा प्रीत्या सरत्यापि किम्॥

If a woman’s face is lifeless and the poetry dull, what good are moonlight or heavenly pleasures? Without inner spark, outer beauty holds no joy.

poetry (588) beauty (1797) soul (76) aesthetics (180) woman (157) emotion (652) metaphor (1632) meaning (26) charm (252) inspiration (83)

काव्यं यदीयं गृहमम्बरं वा
सुवर्णचित्रोज्ज्वलमाविभाति।
स नन्दनो नन्दति कुन्दनस्य
श्रीकृष्णरामः कविराप्तकामः॥

This poetry lights up homes and skies like golden paintings. It is like a celestial garden; the poet, full of joy, is like Krishna and Rama, content i...

poetry (588) art (73) divine (346) home (19) joy (342) beauty (1797) sky (64) golden (17) myth (65) fulfillment (89)

काव्यं यद्यपि रसिकं प्रीतिकरं भवति नैकरसबद्धम्।
सुरतमनाहितकलहं हरिणदृशो नाभिनन्दयति॥

Even when enjoyable, poetry that lacks variety becomes boring—just like passionless romance fails to excite. The poet critiques flat aesthetics.

poetry (588) rasa (33) passion (501) variety (7) boredom (1) art (73) emotion (652) critique (50) romance (506) aesthetic failure (1)

काव्यं यशसेऽर्थकृते व्यवहारविदे शिवेतरक्षतये।
सद्यः परनिर्वृतये कान्तासम्मिततयोपदेशयुजे॥

Poetry should bring fame, insight, worldly skill, protection from negativity, spiritual release, and serve as sweet counsel like a beloved’s gentle wo...

poetry (588) fame (166) utility (42) salvation (44) love (1567) teaching (29) sweetness (104) advice (48) protection (293) skill (51)

काव्यं सुधा रसज्ञानां कामिनां कामिनी सुधा।
धनं सुधा सलोभानां शान्तिः सन्यसिनां सुधा॥

For connoisseurs, poetry is nectar. For lovers, it is a beloved woman. For greedy men, it's wealth. For renunciants, it's peace. Poetry transforms bas...

poetry (588) nectar (110) love (1567) peace (171) wealth (447) interpretation (11) reader (1) perspective (44) desire (898) renunciation (267)

काव्यप्रपञ्चचुञ्चू रचयति काव्यं न सारविद् भवति।
तरवः फलानि सुवते विन्दति सारं पतङ्गसमुदायः॥

Not all who write poetry are connoisseurs of essence. Trees bear fruits, but only honeybees know its worth. A metaphor on poetic quality and true appr...

poetry (588) essence (70) metaphor (1632) honeybee (2) connoisseur (6) art (73) refinement (55) fruit (43) depth (43) appreciation (18)

काव्यमय्यो गिरो यावच् चरन्ति विशदा भुवि।
तावत् सारस्वतं स्थानं कविरासाद्य मोदते॥

As long as pure poetic speech flows in the world, Sarasvati (the goddess of arts) finds joy. Poets live in divine bliss when they connect to that real...

poetry (588) speech (345) goddess (297) divine (346) art (73) joy (342) purity (356) creativity (54) blessing (166) inspiration (83)

काव्यशास्त्रविनोदेन कालो गच्छति धीमताम्।
व्यसनेन तु मूर्खाणां निद्रया कलहेन वा॥

The wise pass time in poetry and scripture, while fools waste it on sleep, quarrels, or indulgences. A verse on the noble vs. trivial use of time.

wisdom (1611) poetry (588) time (242) scripture (46) folly (51) sleep (38) conflict (90) learning (126) discipline (380) indulgence (46)

काव्यस्याक्षरमैत्री-
भाजो न च कर्कशा न च ग्राम्याः।
शब्दा अपि पुरुषा अपि साधव एवार्थबोधाय॥

The words of poetry must be friendly, soft, and refined—not harsh or vulgar. Like noble men, they should guide meaning without violence.

poetry (588) words (29) refinement (55) speech (345) nobility (253) gentleness (44) art (73) clarity (135) civility (4) beauty (1797)

काव्यस्याम्रफलस्यापि कोमलस्येतरस्य च।
बन्धच्छायाविशेषेण रसोऽप्यन्यादृशो भवेत्॥

Like the mango’s taste changes with light and shadow, the taste of poetry varies based on context. A metaphor on perception and reading.

poetry (588) perception (181) mango (22) metaphor (1632) taste (28) context (30) shade (16) contrast (206) art (73) experience (37)