All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अर्थान् केचिदुपासते कृपणवत् केचित् त्वलंकुर्वते
वेश्यावत् खलु धातुवादिन इवोद्बध्नन्ति केचिद् रसान्।
अर्थालंकृतिसद्रसद्रवमुचां वाचां प्रशस्तिस्पृशां
कर्तारः कवयो भवन्ति कतिचित् पुण्यैरगण्यैरिह॥

Some people treat wealth like misers, others like courtesans for decoration, some manipulate like alchemists, while rare poets refine their language w...

wealth (447) metaphor (1632) miserliness (14) poetry (588) language (42) aesthetics (180) spiritual wealth (9) expression (146) refinement (55) creativity (54)

अर्थान् ब्रूयान् न चासत्सु गुणान् ब्रूयान् न चात्मनः।
आदद्यान् न च साधुभ्यो नासत्पुरुषमाश्रयेत्॥

Speak only of true values, not among the unworthy. Do not boast of your virtues. Avoid bad company, and do not extract from the noble.

ethics (803) speech (345) humility (596) society (152) virtue (726) company (17) wisdom (1611) restraint (226) behavior (249) value (170)

अर्था भाग्योदये जन्तुं विशन्ति शतशः स्वयम्।
दिग्भ्योऽभ्युपेत्य सर्वाभ्यः सायं तरुमिवाण्डजाः॥

Wealth arrives in swarms when fate favors—just like birds fly to trees at dusk, it comes naturally from all directions.

fortune (115) fate (402) destiny (289) wealth (447) arrival (16) nature (950) luck (10) karma (500) imagery (157) prosperity (136)

अर्थाभावे तु यज्ज्ञानं प्रत्यक्षमिव दृश्यते।
गन्धर्वनगराकारं स्वप्नं तदुपलक्षयेत्॥

Knowledge without wealth is like a dream or illusion—beautiful yet ephemeral, like a mirage or a city in the clouds.

wealth (447) knowledge (279) illusion (355) mirage (11) impermanence (242) wisdom (1611) detachment (573) suffering (358) dream (23) aspiration (22)

अर्थाभावे मृदुता काठिन्यं भवति चार्थबाहुल्ये।
नैकत्रार्थमृदुत्वे प्रायः श्लोके च लोके च॥

In absence of wealth, even gentleness turns harsh. With wealth, harshness seems gentle. Wealth alters perception in life and poetry.

wealth (447) perception (181) gentleness (44) harshness (22) transformation (252) society (152) judgment (94) contrast (206) illusion (355) emotion (652)

अर्थार्थिना प्रिया एव श्रीहर्षोदीरिता गिरः।
सारस्वते तु सौभाग्ये प्रसिद्धा तद्विरुद्धता॥

To a wealth-seeker, sweet speech is dear. But in the domain of true Saraswati (wisdom), bluntness and honesty are valued.

wealth-seeking (1) speech (345) sweetness (104) truth (300) wisdom (1611) saraswati (29) language (42) values (171) sincerity (46) aesthetics (180)

अर्थार्थिनी देवपूजास्पप्नोपश्रुतितत्परा।
सदा गणकगेहं सा प्रष्टुं याति ग्रहस्थितिम्॥

A woman focused on material gain is shown to frequent temples and astrologers, seeking signs for her fortune, not devotion.

materialism (37) devotion (933) superficial faith (1) fortune (115) rituals (34) women (268) symbolism (947) astrology (51) desire (898) pursuit (20)

अर्थार्थी जीवलोकोऽयं ज्वलन्तमुपसर्पति।
क्षीणक्षीरां निराजीव्यां वत्सस्त्यजति मातरम्॥

All living beings are wealth-seekers—even a calf leaves its mother when she stops producing milk. A metaphor for abandonment driven by need.

abandonment (54) need (5) survival (91) wealth (447) mother-child (1) instinct (19) society (152) dependency (7) detachment (573) realism (46)

अर्थार्थी जीवलोकोऽयं श्मशानमपि सेवते।
जनितारमपि त्यक्त्वा निःस्वं गच्छति दूरतः॥

People chase wealth so desperately they may serve even cremation grounds, abandoning even their own parents if they are poor.

greed (141) abandonment (54) society (152) mortality (89) wealth (447) reflection (267) ethics (803) selfishness (62) service (114) desperation (15)

अर्थार्थी यानि कष्टानि मूढोऽयं सहते जनः।
शतांशेनापि मोक्षार्थी तानि चेन् मोक्षमाप्नुयात्॥

The suffering endured for wealth—if redirected even a little toward liberation—would yield moksha. A sharp reflection on misplaced effort.

suffering (358) effort (289) wealth (447) liberation (230) moksha (63) ethics (803) misdirection (10) focus (47) redemption (20) wisdom (1611)