All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

आक्षिप्ता चामरश्रीः प्रसभमपहृतः पौण्डरीको विलासः
प्रच्छन्नो वीरकम्बुः समजनि विहितः कण्ठभाराय हारः।
लुप्तो हासप्रकाशः कमपि परिभवं प्रापितः पुष्पराशिश्
चन्द्राभैर्यद्यशोभिः प्रतिधरणिभुजां निह्नुता किं च कीर्तिः॥

The symbols of royal glory are plundered, honor lost, smiles hidden, ornaments turned burdens—kings brought to shame.

downfall (265) shame (67) plunder (2) royalty (92) war (144) dishonor (10) symbolism (947) broken pride (1) suffering (358) pathos (10)

आक्षिप्तैः प्रतिपक्षभूमिपतिभिः क्रुद्धेन देव त्वया
वित्रस्तैर्न महायुधानि विविधान्याविष्क्रियन्ते युधि।
दूरावर्जितमौलयस्तव पुरस्तन्वन्ति ते केवलं
नानाकारकिरीटरत्ननिकरैरिन्द्रायुधानि क्षितौ॥

Your anger, O Lord, is such that even fierce kings fall, and their crowns become mere scattered rainbows on earth.

divine wrath (8) kings (49) downfall (265) crowns (4) indra’s bow (1) symbolism (947) battle (121) anger (185) godly power (1) surrender (223)

आक्षेपचरणलङ्घन- केशग्रहकेलिकुतुकतरलेन।
स्त्रीणां पतिरपि गुरुरिति धर्मं न श्राविता सुतनुः॥

The woman’s playful disobedience during passionate acts mocks the idea that the husband is always the teacher of dharma.

passion (501) love (1567) humor (128) dharma (540) flirtation (47) irony (348) equality (64) desire (898) sensuality (306) roles (19)

आक्षेपवचनं तस्य न वक्तव्यं कदाचन।
अनुकूलं प्रियं चास्य वक्तव्यं जनसंसदि॥

Never speak harshly of one who supports you—only speak kindly and favorably in public.

speech (345) ethics (803) support (114) kindness (75) restraint (226) public image (3) decorum (17) social behavior (4) advice (48) relationships (94)

आखुः कैलासशैलं तुलयति करटस्तार्क्ष्यमांसाभिलाषी
बभ्रुर्लाङ्गूलमूलं चलयति चपलस्तक्षकाहिं जिघांसुः।
भेकः पारं यियासुर्भुजगमपि महाघस्मरस्याम्बुराशेः
प्रायेणासन्नपातः स्मरति समुचितं कर्म न क्षुद्रकर्मा॥

A rat wishes to steal a sacred thread, a frog wishes to cross the ocean—fools attempt impossible things. Satire on overambition.

satire (211) foolishness (88) metaphor (1632) ambition (52) comparison (402) delusion (175) humor (128) animals (45) irony (348) folly (51)

आखुना भक्षितस्याथ नामोच्चार्य समुद्धरेत्।
मार्गधूलिं क्षिपेद् दूरं तस्य शीघ्रं सुखं भवेत्॥

Chanting mantras and casting away dust purifies one if a rat has eaten the offering. A ritual purification prescription.

ritual (164) purity (356) mantra (53) rat (2) pollution (6) restoration (9) tradition (283) belief (43) cleansing (26) symbolism (947)

आखुभ्यः किं खलैर्ज्ञातं खलेभ्यश्च किमाखुभिः।
अन्यत् परगृहोत्खातात् कर्म येषां न विद्यते॥

What difference between rats and wicked men? Both dig into others’ homes. A sharp metaphor for thieves and exploiters.

evil (40) rats (2) wickedness (75) metaphor (1632) stealing (1) social satire (9) ethics (803) harm (53) comparison (402) criticism (79)

आखुर्वाञ्छति भस्मसूत्रहरणं व्यालस्तथा मूषकं
व्यालं बर्हिरयं हरिश्च वृषभं गङ्गा तथा चन्द्रकम्।
इत्थं दुःखमहर्निशं शृणु विभो सोढव्यमेतत् कथं
शंभोरात्मदशानिबोधनपरं त्वां पातु दीनं वचः॥

Creatures desiring incompatible things—the snake desires the mouse, the mouse the offering, etc.—such is life's endless chain of suffering and irony.

desire (898) suffering (358) irony (348) futility (143) nature (950) conflict (90) hunger (39) cycle (32) symbolism (947) lament (41)

आखेटकं वृथाक्लेशं मूर्खं व्यसनसंस्थितम्।
समालापेन यो युङ्क्ते स गच्छति पराभवम्॥

He who engages a foolish hunter in dialogue invites his own ruin—one must avoid senseless entanglements.

folly (51) association (65) hunter (9) ruin (53) wisdom (1611) caution (269) foolishness (88) dialogue (11) downfall (265) vice (45)

आखेटकस्य धर्मेण विभवाः स्युर्वशे नृणाम्।
नृप्रजाः प्रेरयत्येको हन्त्यन्योऽत्र मृगानिव॥

Just as one hunter kills and another commands, so in human society, power and execution are often split.

hierarchy (46) power (396) execution (4) hunter (9) governance (214) comparison (402) irony (348) society (152) symbolism (947) command (16)