All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अबलः प्रोन्नतं शत्रुं यो याति मदमोहितः।
युद्धार्थं स निवर्तेत शीर्णदन्तो यथा गजः॥

A weak one, intoxicated by pride, who charges a powerful enemy, should retreat like a tuskless elephant.

pride (317) weakness (61) war (144) elephant (117) retreat (20) realism (46) enemy (92) hubris (4) wisdom (1611) strength (359)

अबलस्वकुलाशिनो झषान् निजनीडद्रुमपीडिनः खगान्।
अनवद्यतृणार्दिनो मृगान् मृगयाघाय न भूभुजां घ्नताम्॥

A king who hunts helpless animals for sport is no different than one who harms the innocent. This criticizes violent pleasure.

violence (51) kingship (164) hunting (11) cruelty (55) injustice (73) morality (248) ethics (803) tyranny (6) metaphor (1632) compassion (359)

अबलां बलिना नीतां दशामिमां मकरकेतुना रक्ष।
आपत्पतितोद्धृतये भवति हि शुभजन्मनां जन्म॥

Addressed to Kāma (Cupid), it prays for protection of a helpless woman overwhelmed by passion or force.

helplessness (100) plea (26) love (1567) kāma (14) force (28) prayer (89) protection (293) gender (19) emotion (652) surrender (223)

अबला अपि वीरेशान् यत्साहाय्यमुपाश्रिताः।
पराभवन्ति दृक्कोणपातेनैव स मन्मथः॥

Even weak women, if supported by brave protectors, can conquer—symbolized by Kāma’s subtle glance.

women (268) power (396) support (114) love (1567) strength (359) help (35) protection (293) victory (118) passion (501) symbolism (947)

अबलाढ्यविग्रहश्रीर् अमर्त्यनतिरक्षमालयोपेतः।
पञ्चक्रमोदितमुखः पायात् परमेश्वरो मुहुरनादिः॥

The supreme god, though subtle and invisible, pervades all creation and manifests in beautiful forms.

divinity (206) beauty (1797) strength (359) formlessness (2) cosmic (51) deity (20) incarnation (14) creation (117) power (396) presence (37)

अबलाबुद्धिहीनाया दोषं क्षन्तुं सदार्हसि।
मूढस्य सततं दोषं क्षमां कुर्वन्ति साधवः॥

One should always forgive the faults of a weak or ignorant woman, as the noble are full of compassion.

forgiveness (114) compassion (359) weakness (61) women (268) tolerance (37) nobility (253) understanding (28) virtue (726) patience (122) gentleness (44)

अबला यत्र प्रबला शिशुरवनीशो निरक्षरो मन्त्री।
नहि नहि तत्र धनाशा जीवित आशापि दुर्लभा भवति॥

A place where women dominate, children rule, and the minister is illiterate—there is no hope for prosperity.

governance (214) disorder (11) criticism (79) chaos (59) role reversal (3) irony (348) failure (101) leadership (279) power (396) incompetence (9)

अबलावनपर एको भुवनत्रितयेऽपि चेत्तदा भर्त्ता।
कथमन्यथा सुधाकर- चन्दनमुख्याप्रियत्वं स्यात्॥

If a single lover of the weak (अबलावनपरः) becomes the protector or husband (भर्त्ता) of all three worlds (भुवनत्रितय), then only is it understandable ...

protector of the weak (1) universal love (6) moon (394) sandalwood (48) gentleness (44) nurturing (21) divine protector (3) beloved (86) cosmic symbolism (8) poetic analogy (7)

अबला विषहेत कथं दृढशक्तिममुष्य रतिरसप्रसरम्।
मदनतुलितानुरागो न विदध्याद्यदि बलाधानम्॥

How can a weak woman endure the force of a strong man’s passionate embrace? Passion must be balanced with gentleness.

passion (501) love (1567) strength (359) restraint (226) tenderness (83) gender (19) balance (185) union (125) vulnerability (51) emotion (652)

अबलासु विलासिनोऽन्वभूवन् नयनैरेव नवोपगूहनानि।
मरुदागमवार्तयापि शून्ये समये जाग्रति संप्रवृद्ध एव॥

Even in the absence of lovers, women enact romantic gestures with mere imagination and wind as messenger.

imagination (48) romance (506) separation (258) women (268) longing (690) creativity (54) gesture (61) solitude (41) beauty (1797) symbolism (947)