All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

आख्यातनामरचनाचतुरस्रसंधि-
सद्धात्वलंकृतिगुणं सरसं सुवृत्तम्।
आसेदुषामपि दिवं कविपुंगवानां
तिष्ठत्यखण्डमिह काव्यमयं शरीरम्॥

The poet’s well-structured, flavorful verse, even if reaching the heavens, remains whole on Earth—such is the eternal nature of poetic glory.

poetry (588) structure (26) glory (92) immortality (24) composition (13) verse (14) aesthetics (180) fame (166) celestial (62) language (42)

आख्याते हसितं पितामह इति त्रस्तं कपालीति च
व्यावृत्तं गुरुरित्यसौ दहन इत्याविष्कृता भीरुता।
पौलोमीपतिरित्यसूयितमथ व्रीडावनम्रं श्रिया पायाद्
वः पुरुषोत्तमोऽयमिति च न्यस्तः स पुष्पाञ्जलिः॥

The sage’s many names (Kapali, Pitamaha, etc.) evoke different emotions—fear, awe, reverence. The Lord is worshipped in paradox.

shiva (328) names (6) paradox (167) fear (252) devotion (933) reverence (112) emotion (652) duality (134) symbolism (947) cosmic (51)

आख्यायिकानुरागी व्रजति सदा पुण्यपुस्तकं श्रोतुम्।
दष्ट इव कृष्णसर्पैः पलायते दानधर्मेभ्यः॥

Some crave tales and epics, fleeing from real dharma and charity as if bitten by snakes—a criticism of escapism.

escapism (1) stories (3) dharma (540) charity (128) satire (211) fear (252) metaphor (1632) ethics (803) storytelling (6) evasion (1)

आख्यास्तदीया रुचिरार्थपोषा
गायन्ति कोशाधिकृताः सतोषाः।
परंतु पुण्यैरिह हर्षधाम प्राप्तं
त्वया संप्रति चूतनाम॥

Officials sing the praises of your poetic legacy—its richness nurtures meaning and joy, a blessing upon us.

poetry (588) praise (189) richness (9) meaning (26) officials (2) joy (342) beauty (1797) legacy (39) art (73) fulfillment (89)

आगच्छतां च तुच्छानाम् अतुच्छानां च गच्छताम्।
यदध्वनि न संघट्टो घटानां तद् वृथा सरः॥

Whether the worthless come or the great go, if there’s no clashing of pots, the water is wasted—action without friction is meaningless.

contrast (206) worthlessness (6) greatness (146) metaphor (1632) action (258) engagement (13) society (152) satire (211) emptiness (35) utility (42)

आगच्छतानवेक्षित- पृष्ठेनार्थी वराटकेनेव।
मुषितास्मि तेन जघनां- शुकमपि वोढुं नशक्तेन॥

A person who approaches without looking back, like a beggar flashing a coin, deceives. I have been robbed by one who could not even carry my waistclot...

deception (224) blind trust (1) irony (348) false hope (8) gullibility (1) robbery (2) helplessness (100) metaphor (1632) regret (87) humiliation (8)

आगच्छदुत्सवो भाति यथैव न तथा गतः।
हिमांशोरुदयः सायं चकास्ति न तथोषसि॥

An approaching festival seems glorious, but its end does not shine as brightly — like the moon’s rise glowing at night, but its morning fade is dull.

impermanence (242) anticipation (23) disillusionment (23) festival (15) contrast (206) time (242) fading joy (2) moon metaphor (10) life cycle (5) poetic imagery (180)

आगच्छदुर्वीन्द्रचमूसमुत्थैर् भूरेणुभिः पाण्डुरिता मुखश्रीः।
विस्पष्टमाचष्ट हरिद्वधूनां रूपं पतित्यागदशानुरूपम्॥

As enemy armies march in, the dust clouds pale the glow of earth’s beauty — a vivid image of ruin, warfare, and loss of grace.

invasion (8) dust (29) fading beauty (6) war (144) earth (56) disruption (7) grief (129) conflict (90) imagery (157) decline (52)

आगच्छन्त्यवगुण्ठयन्त्यथ पुनः पश्यन्ति जिघ्रन्ति च
स्वारब्धं मधुमक्षिकां न कणमप्यस्य स्वयं भुञ्जते।
धन्यस्त्वन्य उपेत्य निर्भयममूरुत्सारयन् दूरतः
स्वादंस्वादमिदं स्वसंभृतमिव स्वच्छन्दमानन्दति॥

The bees, though curious, hover without daring to taste the honey — symbolizing those who admire but never engage, often driven away by others.

hesitation (45) envy (48) intrigue (3) symbolism (947) bees (131) sweetness (104) restraint (226) poetic metaphor (101) fear (252) observation (90)

आगच्छन् सूचितो येन येनानीतो गृहं प्रति।
प्रथमं सखि कः पूज्यः किं काकः किं क्रमेलकः॥

When the lover is summoned, who deserves first honor — the messenger crow or the beetle? A playful musing on who brings union.

love (1567) message (11) symbolism (947) humor (128) ritual (164) gratitude (60) union (125) choice (37) messenger (27) tradition (283)