All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

शक्यो वारयितुं जलेन हुतभुक्छत्रेण सूर्यातप्तो
नागेन्द्रो निशिताङ्कुशेन समदो दण्डेन गोगर्दभौ ।
व्याधिर्भेषजसङ्ग्रहैश्च विविधैर्मन्त्रप्रयोगैर्विषं
सर्वस्यौषधमस्ति शास्त्रविहितं मूर्खस्य नास्त्यौषधम् ॥ ११॥

This verse powerfully declares that remedies exist for almost everything in the world: fire can be put out with water, the scorching sun can be blocke...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) foolishness (88) incurable (2) no remedy (1) wisdom (1611) ignorance (301) futility (143) disease (31) medicine (51) poison (101) elephant (117) sun (195) fire (219) futility of reform (1) arrogance (135) incurable folly (1)

साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः साक्षात्पशुः पुच्छविषाणहीनः ।
तृणं न खादन्नपि जीवमानः तद्भागधेयं परमं पशूनाम् ॥ १२॥

A person devoid of literature, music, and art is compared to a beast. Such a life, even if not spent chewing grass like cattle, is nothing more than a...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) literature (31) music (96) art (73) humanity (30) refinement (55) animal life (2) culture (39) higher pursuits (1) dignity (146) elevation (28) fulfillment (89) beastly (2) human essence (2) intellectual pursuit (1) meaning of life (2)

येषां न विद्या न तपो न दानं
ज्ञानं न शीलं न गुणो न धर्मः ।
ते मर्त्यलोके भुवि भारभूताः
मनुष्यरूपेण मृगाश्चरन्ति ॥ १३॥

This verse critiques worthless human lives. Those who have no learning, no austerity, no generosity, no knowledge, no character, no virtues, and no se...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) human life (9) worthless (1) dharma (540) knowledge (279) virtue (726) austerity (57) generosity (169) beastly (2) burden on earth (2) humanity (30) values (171) learning (126) spiritual life (7) culture (39) refinement (55)

वरं पर्वतदुर्गेषु भ्रान्तं वनचरैः सह ।
न मूर्खजनसम्पर्कः सुरेन्द्रभवनेष्वपि ॥ १४॥

The final verse in this set emphasizes that it is better to wander in remote mountain forests with wild animals than to associate with foolish people,...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) foolish people (1) bad company (19) solitude (41) wilderness (9) mountains (32) forest (145) wild animals (1) indra (54) palace (26) companionship (52) corruption (65) wisdom (1611) discernment (142) human relationships (1) danger of fools (1)

शास्त्रोपस्कृतशब्दसुन्दरगिरः शिष्यप्रदेयागमा
विख्याताः कवयो वसन्ति विषये यस्य प्रभोर्निर्धनाः ।
तज्जाड्यं वसुधाधिपस्य कवयस्त्वर्थं विनापीश्वराः
कुत्स्याः स्युः कुपरीक्षका न मणयो यैरर्घतः पातिताः ॥ १५॥

The verse criticizes kings who do not value poets and scholars. Though the land may be filled with renowned poets, if they live in poverty under a rul...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) poets (22) kings (49) scholars (17) ignorance (301) dullness (7) ruler (55) misjudgment (43) gems (15) poverty (128) wisdom (1611) support (114) value (170) culture (39) patronage (11) neglect (55)

हर्तुर्याति न गोचरं किमपि शं पुष्णाति यत् सर्वदा-
ऽप्यर्थिभ्यः प्रतिपाद्यमानमनिषं प्राप्नोति वृद्धिं पराम् ।
कल्पान्तेष्वपि न प्रयाति निधनं विद्याख्यमन्तर्धनं
येषां तान् प्रति मानमुज्झत नृपाः कस्तैः सह स्पर्धते ॥ १६॥

This verse praises knowledge (vidyā) as an imperishable wealth. Unlike material wealth, which thieves can steal, knowledge cannot be taken away. It mu...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) knowledge (279) imperishable (2) wealth (447) wisdom (1611) sharing (26) eternal (10) growth (95) education (44) rulers (12) scholars (17) respect (164) learning (126) treasure (23) vidya (6) indestructible (3)

अधिगतपरमार्थान् पण्डितान् मावमंस्ता-
स्तृणमिव लघु लक्ष्मीर्नैव तान् संरुणद्धि ।
अभिनवमदलेखाश्यामगण्डस्थलानां
न भवति विषतन्तुर्वारणं वारणानाम् ॥ १७॥

The shloka teaches reverence toward wise scholars who have attained ultimate truth. Wealth may bind ordinary men, but it cannot restrain such enlighte...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) scholars (17) wisdom (1611) truth (300) wealth (447) freedom (56) restraint (226) elephant (117) spider web (1) respect (164) spiritual strength (18) enlightenment (40) independence (29) poverty (128) humility (596) greatness (146)

अम्भोजिनीवनविहारविलासमेव
हंसस्य हन्ति नितरां कुपितो विधाता ।
न त्वस्य दुग्धजलभेदविधौ प्रसिद्धां
वैदग्ध्यकीर्तिमपहर्तुमसौ समर्थः ॥ १८॥

The swan symbolizes discrimination (viveka) through its legendary ability to separate milk from water. Even if fate deprives the swan of pleasures lik...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) swan (53) wisdom (1611) discernment (142) viveka (2) fate (402) destiny (289) discrimination (65) lotus pond (2) milk and water (1) innate gift (1) intellectual brilliance (1) wisdom unstealable (1) true wealth (4) knowledge (279)

केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्रोज्ज्वला
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं नालङ्कृता मूर्धजाः ।
वाण्येका समलङ्करोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते
क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाग्भूषणं भूषणम् ॥ १९॥

This verse declares that external ornaments such as bracelets, necklaces, bathing, perfumes, flowers, or decorated hair do not truly adorn a person. T...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) ornaments (49) speech (345) wisdom (1611) adornment (98) external beauty (2) cultured words (1) refinement (55) lasting value (2) language (42) dignity (146) vāk (1) eloquence (61) inner beauty (8) respect (164) virtue (726)

विद्या नाम नरस्य रूपमधिकं प्रच्छन्नगुप्तं धनं
विद्या भोगकरी यशस्सुखकरी विद्या गुरूणां गुरुः ।
विद्या बन्धुजनो विदेशगमने विद्या परा देवता
विद्या राजसु पूजिता न तु धनं विद्याविहीनः पशुः ॥ २०॥

Vidyā (knowledge) is praised as man’s highest adornment, a hidden and secure treasure. It grants enjoyment, fame, and happiness; it is even the teache...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) knowledge (279) vidya (6) treasure (23) wealth (447) happiness (65) fame (166) wisdom (1611) teacher (35) friend (28) deity (20) respect (164) kings (49) humanity (30) learning (126) animal (8)