All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अर्थयुक्तिमविज्ञाय यः शुभे कुरुते मतिम्।
मित्रे वा यदि वा शत्रौ तस्यापि चलिता मतिः॥

One who undertakes auspicious actions without understanding the underlying logic of wealth may suffer delusion whether dealing with friends or foes.

unwise actions (1) wealth logic (1) delusion (175) misjudgment (43) auspiciousness (73) friend-foe confusion (1) decision-making (15) intellect failure (1) practical wisdom (6) consequence (118)

अर्थयेदेव मित्राणि सति वासति वा धने।
नानर्थयन् विजानाति मित्राणां सारफल्गुताम्॥

One should request help from friends only when in possession or prosperity; when not asking, one learns the true value or superficiality of friendship...

friendship test (1) prosperity (136) request etiquette (1) true friend (1) wealth and relations (1) dignity (146) social behavior (4) loyalty (180) generosity (169) independence (29)

अर्थरक्षापरो भृत्यः कृत्याकृत्यविवेकवित्।
सान्धिविग्रहिकः कार्यो राज्ञा नयविशारदः॥

A servant devoted to preserving the king’s wealth, discerning duties, and skilled in both negotiation and conflict is the ideal advisor to a king.

royal advisor (2) wealth protector (1) diplomacy (79) discernment (142) loyalty (180) strategy (222) intelligence (52) governance (214) political wisdom (5) integrity (74)

अर्थवन्तः प्रशस्यन्ते निन्द्यन्ते तद्विनाकृताः।
आगेमेष्वपि चेदेवम् अद्भुतं किं शरीरिषु॥

People possessing wealth are praised, those without are criticized—this phenomenon extends even to sheep herds. So what wonder is there among humans?

wealth-based respect (1) material praise (1) superficial judgment (1) social hierarchy (4) satire (211) wealth vs virtue (1) hypocrisy (141) animal metaphor (10) human society (1) criticism (79)

अर्थवानर्थमर्थिभ्यो न ददात्यत्र को गुणः।
एकैव गतिरर्थस्य दानमन्या विपत्तयः॥

What merit is there in a wealthy man who refuses to give to those in need? Wealth has only one proper use—charity. Otherwise, it leads only to calamit...

wealth misuse (1) greed (141) giving (75) merit (120) value of charity (1) selfishness (62) proper use (1) misfortune (65) philanthropy (1) generosity (169)

अर्थवानेव लोकेऽस्मिन् पूज्यते मित्रबान्धवैः।
अर्थहीनस्तु पुरुषो जीवन्नपि मृतोपमः॥

Only the wealthy are honored in this world by their friends and kin; the poor, though living, are treated as if they are dead.

social reality (3) wealth bias (1) material value (1) family behavior (1) neglect (55) honor (131) false affection (5) poverty stigma (1) societal truth (2) external appearance (1)

अर्थवान् दुष्कुलीनोऽपि लोके पूज्यतमो नरः।
शशिनस्तुल्यवंशोऽपि निर्धनः परिभूयते॥

A wealthy man, even of a low lineage, is most honored in society, whereas a noble-born but poor man is ridiculed.

wealth vs lineage (1) social hypocrisy (1) honor (131) low birth (2) noble birth (5) satire (211) societal values (3) status (41) respect (164) contrast (206)

अर्थश्चेत् सर्वथा रक्ष्य इति कैश्चिदुदाहृतम्।
तत्कथं न हरिश्चन्द्रोऽरक्षत् कुशिकनन्दने॥

If wealth must be preserved at all costs, then why couldn’t Harishchandra, a noble king, preserve his? He gave it up for truth and righteousness.

harishchandra (2) sacrifice (146) wealth and dharma (1) noble ideal (1) paradox (167) truth over riches (1) spiritual greatness (5) ethical stance (1) philosophical question (3) historical example (1)

धर्मस्तु रक्षितः सर्वैर् अपि देहव्ययेन च।
शिबिप्रभृतिभूपालैर् दधीचिप्रमुखैर्द्विजैः॥

Dharma, even at the cost of one's life, was protected by noble kings like Shibi and sages like Dadhichi—this is the ideal upheld over generations.

dharma protection (1) sacrifice (146) noble conduct (8) kingly virtue (1) sages (66) legendary ethics (1) life offering (1) spiritual strength (18) righteousness (134) devotion (933)

अर्थसंपद्विमोहाय बहुशोकाय चैव हि।
तस्मादर्थमनर्थक्यं श्रेयोऽर्थी दूरतस्त्यजेत्॥

Wealth accumulation leads to delusion and sorrow. Hence, for a seeker of true good, wealth is to be avoided like poison.

delusion (175) sorrow (325) wealth accumulation (1) detachment (573) spiritual seeker (1) poison metaphor (3) false prosperity (1) contentment (86) renunciation (267) wisdom (1611)