All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अशक्ताः शक्तिमात्मीयां श्लाघन्ते ये च दुर्जनाः।
ते भवन्त्युपहासाय महतामेव संनिधौ॥

The weak and the wicked often boast of their strength. But in the presence of the great and noble, such self-glorification becomes a matter of ridicul...

weakness (61) false pride (6) boasting (4) wickedness (75) hypocrisy (141) noble presence (1) mockery (46) pretense (35) ego (153) inferiority (3)

अशक्ते रौद्रतातैक्ष्ण्यं तीव्रपापेषु धीरता।
छद्मधीर्वाचि पारुष्यं नीचानां शौर्यमीदृशम्॥

The weak show cruelty, sinners display false bravery, and low people hide cunning beneath harsh words—this is the kind of “heroism” among the ignoble.

cruelty (55) weakness (61) harshness (22) deception (224) false valor (1) ignoble traits (1) cunning (21) sinfulness (1) hypocrisy (141) pseudo-virtue (1)

अशक्तैर्बलिनः शत्रोः कर्तव्यं प्रपलायनम्।
संश्रितव्योऽथवा दुर्गो नान्या तेषां गतिर्भवेत्॥

When the enemy is powerful and one is weak, retreat or seeking protection in a fortress is wise; no other course remains.

weakness (61) retreat (20) strategy (222) fortress (2) survival (91) enemy (92) prudence (75) war (144) escape (15) vulnerability (51)

अशक्तो यः क्षान्तिं सततमपकारिण्यपि जने
विधत्ते सोऽवश्यं भुजग इव दंष्ट्राविरहितः।
प्रभुः सत्यां शक्तौ क्षमत इह यस्मात् सुचरितः
स तेजस्वी लोकद्वितयविजिगीषुर्विजयते॥

One who is powerless and forgives is like a toothless snake—harmless. True forgiveness shines only when one is capable but still chooses compassion.

forgiveness (114) power (396) strength (359) compassion (359) character (259) restraint (226) metaphor (1632) snake (40) nonviolence (16) inner strength (40)

अशक्नुवन् सोढुमधीरलोचनः सहस्ररश्मेरिव यस्य दर्शनम्।
प्रविश्य हेमाद्रिगुहागृहान्तरं निनाय बिभ्यद् दिवसानि कौशिकः॥

Sage Kaushika, unable to endure the brilliance of Surya (sun), hid himself inside a golden cave—such was his fear.

endurance (85) brilliance (83) fear (252) retreat (20) kaushika (1) sun god (2) divine light (16) humility (596) spiritual struggle (2) withdrawal (6)

अशक्यं नारभेत् प्राज्ञः अकार्यं नैव कारयेत्।
असत्यं नैव वक्तव्यम् आलस्यं नैव कारयेत्॥

A wise man avoids impossible tasks, never engages in wrong action, speaks no falsehood, and does not tolerate laziness.

wisdom (1611) prudence (75) truth (300) action (258) laziness (49) ethics (803) conduct (143) discretion (65) speech (345) morality (248)

अशक्यं नारभेत् प्राज्ञो अकार्यं नैव कारयेत्।
यथादेशगतं धर्मं यथाकालं च जीवयेत्॥

The wise do not begin impossible acts or immoral ones; they live righteously according to time and place.

morality (248) wisdom (1611) action (258) pragmatism (18) righteous living (5) ethics (803) time-appropriateness (1) dharma (540) discretion (65) responsibility (133)

अशक्यः सहसा राजन् भावो वेत्तुं परस्य वै।
अन्तःस्वभावैर्गीतैस्तैर् नैपुण्यं पश्यता भृशम्॥

O King, one cannot easily perceive another's inner nature; but a wise man can infer it through careful observation of their expressions.

discernment (142) nature (950) character (259) perception (181) observation (90) subtlety (175) inference (6) wisdom (1611) behavior (249) judgment (94)

अशक्यारम्भवृत्तीनां कुतः क्लेशादृते फलम्।
आकाशमास्वादयतः कुतस्तु कवलग्रहः॥

What result can those get who chase impossible aims? Like one trying to taste the sky, it only causes effort without outcome.

futility (143) impossible goals (1) effort (289) failure (101) metaphor (1632) sky (64) wisdom (1611) aspiration (22) clarity (135) misdirection (10)

अशङ्कितमतिः स्वस्थो न शठः परिसर्पति।
न चास्य दुष्टा वाक् चापि तस्मान् नास्तीह संशयः॥

A calm, sincere person never deceives; he has no need for crooked words or stealthy conduct—clearly trustworthy.

sincerity (46) trust (112) speech (345) character (259) non-deception (1) honesty (38) calmness (29) transparency (3) ethics (803) integrity (74)