All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

अहो प्रच्छादिताकार्यनैपुण्यं परमं खले।
यत्तुषाग्निरिवानर्चिर् दहन्नपि न लक्ष्यते॥

The skill of a wicked person lies in hiding their true actions, like a fire beneath ash that burns without showing flames—dangerous yet concealed.

subtle evil (1) metaphor (1632) danger (229) disguise (39) hidden intent (2) wickedness (75) deception (224) analogy (98) fire symbolism (1) caution (269)

अहो प्रभावो वाग्देव्या यन्मातंगदिवाकरः।
श्रीहर्षस्याभवत् सभ्यः समो बाणमयूरयोः॥

How wondrous is the power of speech! Mātaṅga, the son of a low caste, became a scholar equal to great poets like Bāṇa and Mayūra, through the blessing...

speech (345) merit (120) equality (64) divine blessing (5) saraswati (29) talent (20) caste transcendence (1) poetry (588) inspiration (83) education (44)

अहो प्रमादी भगवान् प्रजापतिः
कृशातिमध्या घटिता मृगेक्षणा।
यदि प्रमादादनिलेन भज्यते कथं
पुनः शक्ष्यति कर्तुमीदृशम्॥

Alas, Brahmā must have erred when he made this delicate, doe-eyed woman. If such beauty is broken by mere wind, how could one recreate it again?

beauty (1797) fragility (29) poetic lament (16) divine creation (16) womanhood (59) tenderness (83) mythic imagery (5) error (14) longing (690) vulnerability (51)

अहो बत खलः पुण्यैर् मूर्खोऽप्यश्रुतपण्डितः।
स्वगुणोदीरणे शेषः परनिन्दासु वाक्पतिः॥

Oh! A wicked fool poses as a learned man—speaking eloquently in others’ criticism but silent about his own virtues. A satire on hypocrites.

hypocrisy (141) criticism (79) false pride (6) satire (211) wickedness (75) eloquence (61) character flaw (4) pretense (35) foolishness (88) social commentary (43)

अहो बत महत् कष्टं विपरीतमिदं जगत्।
येनापत्रपते साधुर् असाधुस्तेन तुष्यति॥

Alas! How upside-down this world is—where the virtuous feel ashamed and the wicked are proud. A lament on moral inversion.

irony (348) worldliness (17) virtue (726) shame (67) wickedness (75) pride (317) moral decline (9) lament (41) injustice (73) social decay (7)

अहो बत विचित्राणि चरितानि महात्मनाम्।
लक्ष्मीं तृणाय मन्यन्ते तद्भारेण नमन्ति च॥

Truly, the ways of great souls are wondrous! They treat wealth like straw, yet bow down to its weight out of humility or detachment.

humility (596) greatness (146) detachment (573) wealth (447) saints (30) paradox (167) values (171) spiritual path (48) renunciation (267) noble character (6)

अहो बत सभा सभ्यैर् इयं मौनादधः कृता।
सन्तो वदन्ति यत्सत्यं सभां न प्रविशन्ति वा॥

Alas, assemblies are degraded by silent members. The wise either speak truth there or choose not to enter at all.

assembly (14) truth (300) silence (94) wisdom (1611) speech (345) counsel (25) ethics (803) responsibility (133) social critique (16) leadership (279)

अहो बत सरित्पतेरिदमनार्यरूपं परं
यदुज्ज्वलरुचीन् मणीन् सुचिरचर्चितास्थागुणान्।
जडैरनुपयोगिभिः परत एत्य लब्धास्पदैः
क्षपत्यनिशमूर्जितैर्झगिति तन्मयत्वं गतः॥

Oh, how shameful it is of the Ganga to allow the most radiant gems with superior virtues to be swept away by ignorant and unworthy beings!

river metaphor (4) injustice (73) gem imagery (1) virtue (726) ignorance (301) value loss (1) symbolism (947) nature’s irony (2) ganga (83) unworthiness (14)

अहो बाणस्य संधानं शरदि स्मरभूपतेः।
अपि सोऽयं त्विषामीशः कन्याराशिमुपागतः॥

The autumn marks Cupid’s arrow ready to strike. Has the lord of radiance (Sun) entered Virgo again, reigniting romantic passion?

love (1567) seasons (32) astrology (51) cupid (106) beauty (1797) autumn (18) metaphor (1632) zodiac (3) passion (501) celestial imagery (16)

अहो ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य दृष्टा ब्रह्मण्यता मया।
यद्दरिद्रतमो लक्ष्मीम् आश्लिष्टो बिभ्रतोरसि॥

Behold the devotion of the deity of Brahmanhood! Even the poorest is embraced by Lakshmi when he is righteous.

devotion (933) righteousness (134) poverty (128) wealth (447) divine favor (8) merit (120) dharma (540) goddess lakshmi (5) compassion (359) spiritual irony (2)

Contribute to the Collection

Help us expand this library of wisdom! If you know a Shloka or Subhashitam that isn't yet featured, please share it with our community.

Submit Your Shloka

Your contributions are greatly appreciated. 🙏