All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अप्यामीलितपङ्कजां कमलिनीमप्युल्लसत्पल्लवां
वासन्तीमपि सौधभित्तिपतितामात्मप्रतिच्छायिकाम्।
मन्वानः प्रथमं प्रियेति पुलकस्वेदप्रकम्पाकुलं
प्रीत्यालिङ्गति नास्ति सेति न पुनः खेदोत्तरं मूर्च्छति॥

Mistaking the reflection of a woman on a palace wall for her real presence, a lover embraces it with joy, then collapses in despair.

illusion (355) love (1567) poetic drama (4) hallucination (1) heartbreak (65) longing (690) imagery (157) deception (224) emotional climax (1) desire (898)

अप्युत्कटे च रौद्रे च शत्रौ यस्य न हीयते।
धैर्यं प्राप्ते महीपस्य न स याति पराभवम्॥

He whose courage doesn’t waver even against fierce enemies remains undefeated as a ruler.

valor (156) courage (146) battle (121) king (200) fearlessness (52) leadership (279) determination (49) resilience (105) enemy (92) strength (359)

अप्युन्नतपदारूढः पूज्यान् नैवापमानयेत्।
नहुषः शक्रतां प्राप्य च्युतोऽगस्त्यावमाननात्॥

Even if one ascends to greatness, disrespecting the truly venerable leads to downfall—like Nahusha who fell after insulting Agastya.

pride (317) fall from grace (5) nahusha (2) disrespect (26) wisdom (1611) downfall (265) humility (596) power misuse (1) ancient tales (1) reverence (112)

अप्युन्मत्तात् प्रलपतो बालाच्च परिसर्पतः।
सर्वतः सारमादद्याद् अश्मभ्य इव काञ्चनम्॥

A wise one can extract wisdom even from madmen or children, just like gold is extracted even from stones.

discernment (142) wisdom (1611) humility (596) learning (126) child (24) madman (1) metaphor (1632) gold (62) value extraction (1) open-mindedness (2)

अप्युपायैस्त्रिभिस्तात योऽर्थः प्राप्तुं न शक्यते।
तस्य विक्रमकालांस्तान् युक्तानाहुर्मनीषिणः॥

Even if a goal cannot be reached by three different methods, a wise leader will devise a fourth. True resourcefulness transcends apparent limits.

problem-solving (2) resourcefulness (8) wisdom (1611) leadership (279) strategy (222) innovation (2) perseverance (72) adaptability (10) insight (55) ingenuity (3)

अप्युद्दामव्यसनसरणेः संगमे कामुकानां भद्रं
भद्रे भुवनजयिनस्त्वत्कलाकौलशस्य।
अप्युत्साहप्रचुरसुहृदः कामकेलीनिवासाः
प्रौढोत्साहास्तव सुवदने स्वस्तिमन्तो विलासाः॥

Even those accustomed to decay find refuge in passionate union; your joyous friends, rich in ardor, celebrate with abundant revelry at your sweet word...

decadence (3) passion (501) celebration (51) love (1567) revelry (1) companionship (52) decadence (3) camaraderie (1) poetry (588) indulgence (46)

अप्येकवंशजनुषोः पश्यत पूर्णत्वतुच्छताभाजोः।
ज्याकार्मुकयोः कश्चिद् गुणभूतः कश्चिदपि भर्ता॥

One sees an entire lineage as a single person—diverse virtues and flaws reside within each individual. The unity of a lineage masks individual differe...

lineage (79) unity (88) diversity (15) individuality (16) virtues (49) flaws (7) family (165) metaphor (1632) identity (65) sociology (1)

अप्येतद्रजनीमयं जगदथो निद्रामयी सा निशा
निद्रा स्वप्नमयी भवेदथ च स स्वप्नो मृगाक्षीमयः।
सेयं मानमयी मम प्रियतमा तच्चाटुचेष्टामयो
मादृक् क्वेति समीहितैकविधये संकल्प तुभ्यं नमः॥

This night, woven of the world’s slumber, is like a doe-eyed dream; its subtle charm calls to my soul. I salute your promise of union beyond sleep and...

night (145) sleep (38) dream (23) union (125) longing (690) poetic imagery (180) doe-eyes (2) dream-metaphor (1) reverence (112) promise (15)

अप्येव दहनं स्पृष्ट्वा वने तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः।
राजदोषपरामृष्टास् तिष्ठन्ते नापराधिनः॥

Even when the forest is scorched by fire, the trees rooted there stand firm; but those unworthy cannot endure even righteous rebuke.

resilience (105) worthiness (29) rebuke (12) endurance (85) metaphor (1632) fire (219) trees (54) dignity (146) moral strength (10) testing (12)

अप्यौत्सुक्ये महति दयितप्रार्थनासु प्रतीपाः
काङ्क्षन्त्योऽपि व्यतिकरसुखं कातराः स्वाङ्गदाने।
आबाध्यन्ते न खलु मदनेनैव लब्धान्तरत्वाद्
आबाधन्ते मनसिजमपि क्षिप्तकालाः कुमार्यः॥

Even in earnest pleas of the beloved, over-eager hearts suffer torment; fresh youth passes swiftly, leaving only memory’s sting.

longing (690) plea (26) torment (15) youth (261) memory (202) eagerness (4) heartbreak (65) suffering (358) fleeting time (2) emotional pain (21)