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अक्षरद्वयमभ्यस्तं नास्ति नास्तीति यत् पुरा।
तदिदं देहि देहीति विपरीतमुपस्थितम्॥

The two syllables that were practiced before, 'nāsti, nāsti' ('I have not, I have not'), have now appeared in the reverse as 'dehi, dehi' ('give, give...

reversal of fortune (2) fate (402) poverty (128) charity (128) irony (348) wordplay (33) time (242)

अक्षरमैत्रीभाजः सालंकारस्य चारुवृत्तस्य।
किं ब्रूमो सखि यूनो न हि न हि सखि पद्यबन्धस्य॥

Friend, what can we say about him who has good letters, is adorned with ornaments, and has a charming character? No, no, friend! I am speaking of a ve...

pun (31) shlesha (7) poetry (588) love (1567) indirect speech (2) romance (506) wordplay (33)

अक्षराणामकारोऽहम् इति विष्णुः स्वयं ब्रुवन्।
भवता सोऽपि यत् सत्यम् आकारेण लघूकृतः॥

Vishnu himself, saying 'Among letters, I am the letter A (अ)', has in truth been made small by you, by your form/stature (आकारेण). This is a highly s...

praise (189) vishnu (122) bhagavad gita (11) pun (31) shlesha (7) compliment (3) stuti (4)

अक्षराणि परीक्ष्यन्ताम् अम्बराडम्बरेण किम्।
शंभुरम्बरहीनोऽपि सर्वज्ञः किं न जायते॥

Let the letters (knowledge) be examined; what is the use of the pomp of garments? Is not Shambhu (Shiva), though devoid of clothes, known to be all-kn...

substance over style (1) knowledge (279) appearance (60) inner worth (15) shiva (328) wisdom (1611)

अक्षराणि विचित्राणि येन जानन्ति मानवाः।
बलीवर्दसमास्ते तु खुरशृङ्गविवर्जिताः॥

Those humans who do not know the various letters (are illiterate) are equal to oxen, but just without the hooves and horns. A stark verse highlightin...

literacy (1) education (44) illiteracy (1) knowledge (279) human value (3) criticism (79)

अक्षराणि समानानि वर्तुलानि घनानि च।
परस्परविलग्नानि तरुणीकुचकुम्भवत्॥

The letters should be uniform, round, thick, and closely joined to one another, like the pot-like breasts of a young woman. This verse uses a strikin...

calligraphy (1) handwriting (2) simile (28) sensual (6) poetic instruction (2) aesthetics (180)

अक्षिपक्ष्म कदा लुप्तं छिद्यन्ते हि शिरोरुहाः।
वर्धमानात्मनामेव भवन्ति हि विपत्तयः॥

When was an eyelash ever lost? It is the hair on the head that is cut. Indeed, calamities befall only those who are growing and prominent. This nīti ...

prominence (1) success (142) danger (229) tall poppy syndrome (1) analogy (98) wisdom (1611) niti (75)

अक्षिभ्यां कृष्णशाराभ्याम् अस्याः कर्णौ न बाधितौ।
शङ्के कनकताडङ्कपाशत्रासवशादिव॥

Her ears are not troubled by her long, dark eyes. I suspect it is because they fear the snare of her golden earrings. A classic example of a poetic c...

poetic conceit (20) utpreksha (4) imagination (48) beauty (1797) eyes (211) earrings (16) kavya (34)

अक्षीणकर्मबन्धस्तु ज्ञात्वा मृत्युमुपस्थितम्।
उक्त्वान्तिकाले संस्मृत्य पुनर्योगित्वमृच्छति॥

One whose karmic bondage is not yet exhausted, upon knowing death is near, by speaking and remembering (the Divine) at the final moment, attains the s...

death (241) karma (500) remembrance (24) antima smriti (1) yoga (85) rebirth (102) spirituality (106)

अक्षीणभोगाद्विषमाद् इष्टानिष्टभयोज्झितात्।
दुर्जनाद्वत देवा अप्य् अशक्ता इव बिभ्यति॥

Alas! Even the gods, as if powerless, are afraid of a wicked person who has inexhaustible pleasures, is treacherous, and is free from the fear of good...

villain (4) wickedness (75) fearlessness (52) danger (229) conscience (8) durjana (3) hyperbole (29)

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