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अहो भवति सादृश्यं मृदङ्गस्य च खलस्य च।
यावन्मुखगतौ तौ हि तावन्मधुरभाषिणौ॥

How similar are a drum and a wicked man! Both sound sweet only when beaten or forced. A sharp satire on false sweetness.

satire (211) wickedness (75) drum metaphor (1) forced behavior (1) hypocrisy (141) sweetness (104) analogy (98) poetic wit (16) falsehood (50) social insight (2)

अहो भार्या अहो पुत्रः अहो आत्मा अहो सुखम्।
अहो माता अहो भ्राता पश्य मायाविमोहितम्॥

Look at this illusion! Everyone cries “my wife, son, self, happiness, mother, brother”—all due to attachment.

illusion (355) attachment (102) maya (36) relationships (94) delusion (175) identity (65) family (165) renunciation (267) spiritual wisdom (15) longing (690)

अहो भुवः सप्तसमुद्रवत्या द्वीपेषु वर्षेष्वधिपुण्यमेतत्।
गायन्ति यत्रत्यजना मुरारेः कर्माणि भद्राण्यवतारवन्ति॥

O how blessed is this land among all continents, where people sing of Lord Murari’s divine deeds and avatars.

devotion (933) land (10) sacredness (44) avatars (4) krishna (233) murari (1) divine deeds (2) blessings (71) cultural pride (1) bhakti (70)

अहो मदावलेपोऽयम् असाराणां दुरात्मनाम्।
कौरवाणां महीपत्वम् अस्माकं किल कालजम्॥

See the arrogance of the worthless Kauravas! Their kingship arose from fate, yet they’re blinded by ego.

arrogance (135) fate (402) kauravas (6) kingship (164) ego (153) pride (317) destiny (289) unworthiness (14) mahabharata (41) poetic justice (27)

अहो महच्चित्रमिदं कालगत्या दुरत्यया।
आरुरुक्षत्युपानद्वै शिरो मुकुटसेवितम्॥

Strange is time’s passage—those who step up with sandals attempt to ascend a throne once crowned. A comment on the rise of the unworthy.

time (242) irony (348) downfall (265) ascent (11) crown (8) power (396) fate (402) poetic imagery (180) decay (115) succession (4)

अहो महत्त्वं महतामपूर्वं
विपत्तिकालेऽपि परोपकारः।
यथास्यमध्ये पतितोऽपि राहोः
कलानिधिः पुण्यचयं ददाति॥

How great are the noble! Even in adversity, like the moon caught by eclipse, they bestow blessings.

nobility (253) adversity (67) greatness (146) charity (128) metaphor (1632) moon (394) eclipse (19) virtue (726) compassion (359) strength (359)

अहो महीयसां पुंसाम् उपर्युपरि पौरुषम्।
रामेणाजगवं शंभोर् भग्नमम्भोजनालवत्॥

Behold the supreme prowess of the great! Rāma shattered Shiva’s bow as effortlessly as breaking a lotus stalk.

valor (156) rāma (5) shiva (328) power (396) epic deeds (1) symbolism (947) humility (596) divine strength (6) mythology (86) heroism (93)

अहो मायाजालं हृदयहरिणो यत्र पतितः
समुत्थातुं भूयः प्रभवति न किंचित् कथमपि।
न चेत् तस्य च्छेत्ता परमगुरुवाक्योपनमितो
निजात्मज्ञानाखुर्विविधदृढसद्युक्तिदशनैः॥

The snare of illusion traps the heart’s deer—only a true teacher with the sword of Self-knowledge can release it.

illusion (355) guru (43) liberation (230) heart (148) self (30) maya (36) spiritual path (48) knowledge (279) metaphor (1632) inner awakening (2)

अहो मायाबलं विष्णोः स्नेहबद्धमिदं जगत्॥

Behold the wondrous illusion of Viṣṇu! This world is bound by affection and attachment.

illusion (355) vishnu (122) maya (36) affection (216) divine play (96) creation (117) bondage (64) worldliness (17) devotion (933) philosophy (290)

क्व देहो भौतिकोऽनात्मा क्व चात्मा प्रकृतेः परः।
कस्य के पतिपुत्राद्या मोह एव हि कारणम्॥

What relation exists between the body and the Self? Who truly are husband, son, or wife? All these are born of delusion.

detachment (573) body-soul (2) identity (65) illusion (355) relationships (94) renunciation (267) philosophical thought (1) maya (36) realization (67) non-duality (25)

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