All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अभिवाद्य यथा वृद्धान् सन्तो गच्छन्ति निर्वृतिम्।
एवं सज्जनमाक्रुश्य मूर्खो भवति निर्वृतः॥

Just as saints attain liberation by honoring elders, fools insult the noble and end up (misguidedly) satisfied.

contrast (206) wisdom vs. ignorance (1) irony (348) moral decline (9) conduct (143) insult (44) virtue (726) saints (30) folly (51) ethical lesson (1)

अभिवीक्ष्य सामिकृतमण्डनं यतीः
कररुद्धनीविगलदंशुकाः स्त्रियः।
दधिरेऽधिभित्ति पटहप्रतिस्वनैः
स्फुटमट्टहासमिव सौधपङ्क्तयः॥

As ascetics walked by, adorned in monastic garb, the palaces echoed with sounds like drums—almost mocking with laughter.

ascetics (8) irony (348) architecture (9) symbolism (947) imagery (157) laughter (18) critique (50) detachment (573) contrast (206) illusion (355)

अभिशप्तः पुण्यकार्ये प्रवृत्तोऽपि न सिद्धिभाक्।
भर्त्रानुगमनोद्युक्ता रेणुका जनमारिका॥

Even one engaged in noble work, if cursed, cannot succeed—like Renuka who failed to follow her husband due to fate.

curse (24) fate (402) virtue (726) failure (101) renuka (1) destiny (289) morality (248) effort (289) myth (65) consequence (118)

अभिशस्तवत् प्रपश्यन्ति दरिद्रं पार्श्वतः स्थितम्।
दारिद्र्यं पातिकं लोके कस्तच्छंसितुमर्हति॥

A poor man is viewed like a criminal, though he has done no wrong. Who dares praise poverty in this world?

poverty (128) stigma (1) social judgment (4) injustice (73) class (5) appearance vs. reality (3) irony (348) status (41) societal critique (1) dignity (146)

अभिषिषेणयिषुं भुवनानि यः
स्मरमिवाख्यत लोध्ररजश्चयः।
क्षुभितसैन्यपरागविपाण्डुर-
द्युतिरयं तिरयन्नुदभूद्दिशः॥

As kings prepared for coronation, the yellow dust from sandalwood appeared like Kama—the god of love—rising to conquer the world.

coronation (7) kingship (164) kama (47) love (1567) imagery (157) grandeur (57) poetic symbolism (8) war (144) beauty (1797) divine allusion (1)

अभिषेकार्द्रशिरसा राजा राज्यावलोकिना।
सहायवरणं कार्यं तत्र राज्यं प्रतिष्ठितम्॥

A king fresh from coronation must first choose wise allies—only then does true power get established.

leadership (279) politics (111) coronation (7) allies (7) strategy (222) rule (21) guidance (149) support (114) wisdom (1611) administration (16)

यदप्यल्पतरं कर्म तदप्येकेन दुष्करम्।
पुरुषेणासहायेन किमु राज्यं महोदयम्॥

Even small tasks are hard alone—how then can great empires be ruled without support?

teamwork (13) leadership (279) governance (214) support (114) humility (596) cooperation (12) effort (289) political insight (2) wisdom (1611) realism (46)

अभिसरणपरा सदा वराकी
समरमहाध्वसु रक्तपङ्किलेषु।
हृदि धरणिभुजामियं नृपश्रीर्
निहितपदैव कलङ्कमातनोति॥

This poor royal glory, always eager to proceed into bloody battlefields, walks amidst blood-soaked paths of war. Within the hearts of kings, she sows ...

battle (121) kingship (164) royal glory (3) disgrace (17) ambition (52) bloodshed (3) warfield (1) destiny (289) ethical dilemma (1) downfall (265)

अभिसरणमयुक्तमङ्गनानाम्
इति तव सुन्दरि मा स्म भूद्वितर्कः।
ननु पतिमगमत् स्वयं नदीनां
सरिदपि शंभुजटामुहूर्तमाला॥

"O beauty, doubt not a woman’s stride toward her love." Rivers themselves made their way to Shiva’s matted hair—thus even nature itself seeks union.

divine union (18) shiva (328) ganga (83) woman’s will (1) poetic comparison (12) rivers (33) matted locks (2) love (1567) resolve (40) dignity (146)

अभिसरणरसः कृशाङ्गयष्टेर्
अयमपरत्र न वीक्षितः श्रुतो वा।
अहिमपि यदियं निरास नाङ्घ्रेर्
निबिडतनूपुरमात्मनीनबुद्ध्या॥

The slender maiden's passion for a tryst is not heard of in any other world. Even a serpent won’t strike her feet, mistaking the tight anklet's sound ...

passion (501) romance (506) divine beauty (63) serpents (7) anklets (24) otherworldly (1) allure (96) feminine grace (48) metaphor (1632) poetic exaggeration (31)