All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अधःस्था रमते नारी उपरिस्थश्च कामुकः।
प्रसिद्धं तद्रतं ज्ञेयं ग्रामबालजनप्रियम्॥

A crass observation from folk tradition that in sexual union, the woman is below and the man above — an oft-quoted rural trope about relationships.

folk wisdom (2) rural tradition (1) eroticism (60) physical posture (1) gender roles (13) village culture (1) sensuality (306) relationship (80)

अधनं खलु जीवधनं धनमर्धधनं महद्धनं धान्यम्।
अतिधनमेतत् सुन्दरि विद्या च तपश्च कीर्तिश्च॥

Life is the wealth of the poor, money is half-wealth, grain is great wealth, and knowledge, penance, and fame are the supreme wealth.

poverty (128) wealth (447) food (101) knowledge (279) penance (43) fame (166) value hierarchy (1) philosophy (290) life (126) possessions (5)

अधना अपि ते धन्याः साधवो गृहमेधिनः।
यद्गृहा ह्यर्हवर्याम्बुतृणभूमीश्वरावराः॥

Even poor householders are blessed if their homes are visited by noble sages and humble holy beings.

poverty (128) household (30) sages (66) sanctity (34) honor (131) dharma (540) virtue (726) humility (596) blessings (71) visitors (1)

अधना धनमिच्छन्ति वाचं चैव चतुष्पदाः।
मानवाः स्वर्गमिच्छन्ति मोक्षमिच्छन्ति देवताः॥

The poor desire wealth, animals desire speech, humans desire heaven, and gods desire liberation — each aspires for what they lack.

desire (898) aspiration (22) poverty (128) humans (2) animals (45) gods (66) liberation (230) speech (345) heaven (59) nature (950)

अधनेनार्थकामेन नार्थः शक्यो विवित्सता।
अर्थैरर्था निबध्यन्ते गजैरिव महागजाः॥

A poor man desiring wealth cannot truly understand it; just as only elephants can control other elephants, wealth attracts wealth.

poverty (128) desire (898) wealth (447) elephants (61) control (139) wisdom (1611) unattainability (1) analogy (98) possessions (5)

अधनो दातुकामोऽपि संप्राप्तो धनिनां गृहम्।
मन्यते याचकोऽयं धिग् दारिद्र्यं खलु देहिनाम्॥

A poor man, even if wishing to give, is seen as a beggar when he approaches the wealthy — a bitter truth about social perception.

poverty (128) charity (128) perception (181) giver (6) status (41) social stigma (3) wealth (447) humility (596) inequality (13)

अधनोऽयं धनं प्राप्य माद्यन्नुच्चैर्न मां स्मरेत्।
इति कारुणिको नूनं धनं मे भूरि नाददत्॥

“This poor man, if he gains wealth, will forget me in arrogance.” — Thinking thus, a compassionate person refrains from giving it.

wealth (447) poverty (128) charity (128) foresight (47) ego (153) compassion (359) withholding (1) behavior (249) transformation (252)

अधमं बाधते भूयो दुःखवेगो न तत्तमम्।
पादद्वयं व्रजत्याशु शीतस्पर्शो न चक्षुषी॥

Intense sorrow afflicts the wicked more than darkness; the feet rush to warmth but cold doesn’t trouble the eyes. Deep symbolism of pain and reaction.

wickedness (75) sorrow (325) metaphor (1632) cold (21) darkness (138) suffering (358) sense organs (1) response (11) symbolic (18) mental impact (1)

अधममित्रकुमित्रसमागमः
प्रियवियोगभयानि दरिद्रता।
अपयशः खलु लोकपराभवो
भवति पापतरोः फलमीदृशम्॥

Poverty is the fruit of past sins—it brings bad friends, fear of separation, and public disgrace. A philosophical take on suffering.

poverty (128) sin (135) bad company (19) separation (258) disgrace (17) karma (500) suffering (358) downfall (265) society (152) ethics (803)

अधमर्णशवाजीविश्राद्धभुग्दुष्टभूभुजाम्।
अभिप्राया न सिद्ध्यन्ति तेनेदं ध्रियते जगत्॥

The intentions of wicked kings who eat at death rites and feast on offerings never succeed — hinting at cosmic justice.

wicked rulers (1) failure (101) cosmic law (15) misdeeds (5) death rites (1) justice (151) intentions (2) kings (49) punishment (78)