All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अस्ति कारणमव्यक्तं सर्वव्यापि परापरम्।
सांनिध्यादपि दुर्ग्राह्यं विश्वमूर्त्योपलक्षितम्॥

There exists a cause that is unmanifest, transcendent yet immanent, pervading all. Though present everywhere, it remains elusive, grasped only through...

metaphysics (29) transcendence (83) causality (11) manifestation (15) cosmic presence (1) vedantic (3) invisible force (1) divine immanence (1) philosophical (18) universal truth (3)

अस्ति कोऽपि तिमिरस्तनंधयः किंचिदञ्चितपदं स गायति।
यन्मनागपि निशम्य का वधूर् नावधूतहृदयोपजायते॥

There is someone in the shadows, half-singing a faint song. Even hearing a little of it, what bride would not feel a stirring in her heart?

romance (506) shadow (19) music (96) longing (690) subtlety (175) love (1567) bride (25) emotion (652) poetic imagery (180) heart-touching (2)

अस्ति ग्रीवा शिरो नास्ति द्वौ भुजौ करवर्जितौ।
सीताहरणसामर्थ्यो न रामो न च रावणः॥

There is a neck, but no head; two arms but no hands—neither Rama nor Ravana could have accomplished Sita’s abduction under such conditions.

irony (348) humor (128) physicality (30) satire (211) sita (37) ramayana (52) mythology (86) limitations (8) poetic twist (1) absurdity (9)

अस्ति जलं जलराशौ क्षारं तत् किं विधीयते तेन।
लघुरपि वरं स कूपो यत्राकण्ठं जनः पिबति॥

Though the sea has water, it's salty and unfit for use. Better a small well where one can drink fully.

utility (42) simplicity (130) value (170) contrast (206) ocean (160) well (4) life lesson (14) contentment (86) accessibility (9) usefulness (8)

अस्ति पुत्रो वशे यस्य भृत्यो भार्या तथैव च।
अभावे सति संतोषः स्वर्गस्थोऽसौ महीतले॥

One who has a son, servant, and wife in control, and contentment in lack—he truly lives in heaven on earth.

domestic harmony (1) control (139) contentment (86) heaven on earth (1) ethics (803) wisdom (1611) detachment (573) family (165) peace (171) ideal life (4)

अस्ति भयमस्ति कौतुकम् अस्ति च मन्दाक्षमस्ति चोत्कण्ठा।
बालानां प्रणयिजने भावः कोऽप्येष नैकरसः॥

The feeling of a child for its beloved has many shades—fear, curiosity, bashfulness, longing—it is a complex, multifaceted emotion.

childlike love (1) innocence (103) emotion (652) curiosity (38) longing (690) multifaceted (1) subtlety (175) poetic (84) psychology (57) sentiment (3)

अस्ति यद्यपि सर्वत्र नीरं नीरजराजितम्।
मोदते न तु हंसस्य मानसं मानसं विना॥

Even though water exists everywhere, the swan’s delight lies only in the sacred Manasa lake—true joy lies in purity, not abundance.

purity (356) contentment (86) discernment (142) swan (53) water (140) sacred (66) symbolism (947) selective joy (1) wisdom (1611) poetic metaphor (101)

अस्ति श्रीस्तनपत्रभङ्गमकरीमुद्राङ्कितोरःस्थलो
देवः सर्वजगत्पतिर्मधुवधूवक्त्राब्जचन्द्रोदयः।
क्रीडाक्रोडतनोर्नवेन्दुविशदे दंष्ट्राङ्कुरे यस्य भूर्
भाति स्म प्रलयाब्धिपल्वलतलोत्खातैकमुस्ताकृतिः॥

This vivid cosmic imagery describes the supreme Lord with divine chest markings, a radiant form, and a world resting on his playful fang—symbolizing c...

divine form (37) cosmic play (16) vishnu (122) destruction (292) creation (117) symbolism (947) divine sport (2) devotional poetry (6) mahavishnu (1) apocalypse (5)

अस्ति स्वर्णमयोऽद्रिरस्ति विषयः क्षुत्तृड्भरावर्जितः
सन्ति क्षीरघृताकरा जलधयः सन्ति द्रुमाः कामदाः।
किं नस्तच्चरिताद्भुतश्रवणतः साध्यं क्षुधा ताम्यतां
दृष्टं यत्सविधे विधेहि सुमते तत्रैव सर्वं श्रमम्॥

Despite golden mountains, wish-fulfilling trees, and oceans of milk, what use are they to the hungry? The call is to labor and create meaning near wha...

contentment (86) fantasy vs reality (1) effort (289) hunger (39) practical wisdom (6) devotion (933) storytelling (6) morality (248) symbolism (947) inner wealth (5)

अस्ति स्वादुफलं किमस्ति किमथाघ्रातुं क्षमः कोरकस्
तद्विश्राम्यतु नाम भोक्तुमुचितं पत्रं किमस्त्यन्ततः।
सेव्यो हन्त यदीदृशोऽपि मनुजैर्वृक्षाधमः पिप्पलो
दुःस्वातन्त्र्यमिदं विधेः कथय तत् कस्याग्रतो रुद्यताम्॥

This verse laments the lack of freedom, as even a sweet fruit-bearing tree like the pipal is denied dignity. If such is treated badly, who will not cr...

freedom (56) exploitation (24) karma (500) despair (67) nature (950) injustice (73) fate (402) symbolism (947) plant metaphor (1) social commentary (43)