All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

आत्मार्थं जीवलोकेऽस्मिन् को न जीवति मानवः।
परं परोपकारार्थं यो जीवति स जीवति॥

In this world, everyone lives for their own sake. But one who lives for the welfare of others truly lives a meaningful life.

selfishness (62) altruism (28) true life (1) purpose (66) humanity (30) compassion (359) service (114) ethics (803) selflessness (65) living meaningfully (1)

आत्मार्थं यः पशून् हन्यात् सोऽवश्यं नरकं व्रजेत्।
देवान् पित् न् समभ्यर्च्य खादन् मांसं न दोषभाक्॥

He who kills animals for selfish gain surely goes to hell. But if one worships the gods and ancestors and eats meat ritually, it incurs no sin.

non-violence (36) ritual (164) meat-eating (2) selfishness (62) hell (30) worship (89) ethics (803) sin (135) piety (8) ancestors (11)

आत्मार्थं युक्तवित्तानां मित्रमण्डलभेदिनाम्।
अतिलङ्घितलोकानां न बन्धः केनचित् क्वचित्॥

Those who pursue selfish goals through cunning wealth and division of allies, exceeding all norms, cannot be bound by conventional means.

selfishness (62) strategy (222) cunning (21) betrayal (168) politics (111) unbound (1) ambition (52) wealth (447) diplomacy (79) societal limits (1)

आत्मार्थत्वेन हि प्रेयान् विषयो न स्वतः प्रियः।
स्वत एव हि सर्वेषाम् आत्मा प्रियतमो यतः।
तत आत्मा सदानन्दो नास्य दुःखं कदाचन॥

Sense objects are dear because they serve the self. The self alone is dearest to all. Hence the self is ever-blissful and untouched by sorrow.

self-love (1) sense pleasure (1) bliss (77) non-duality (25) vedanta (34) detachment (573) desire (898) eternal joy (4) true self (2) dearness (1)

आत्मार्थे संततिस्त्याज्या राज्यं रत्नं धनं तथा।
अपि सर्वस्वमुत्सृज्य रक्षेदात्मानमात्मना॥

For protecting the self, one should be ready to renounce even lineage, kingdom, gems, or wealth—everything can be sacrificed to save the self.

self-preservation (8) renunciation (267) sacrifice (146) wealth (447) kingdom (21) lineage (79) protection (293) priority (17) self-value (2) dharma (540)

आत्मा समस्तजगतां भवतीति सम्यग्
विज्ञाय यद् वितनुते त्वयि भावबन्धम्।
सा भक्तिरित्यभिमतं यदि सिद्धमिष्टं
व्यर्थं विशेष्यमलमस्तु विशेषणं नः॥

Realizing the self as the essence of the universe, when one establishes an emotional bond with the divine (you), it is called bhakti. If that is achie...

devotion (933) self as universe (1) unity (88) realization (67) non-duality (25) emotion (652) bhakti (70) spiritual bond (5) divine love (53) liberation (230)

आत्मा सहैति मनसा मन इन्द्रियेण
स्वार्थेन चेन्द्रियमिति क्रम एष शीघ्रः।
योगोऽयमेव मनसः किमगम्यमस्ति
यस्मिन् मनो व्रजति तत्र गतोऽयमात्मा॥

The self associates swiftly with the mind, senses, and their objects. This is the path of yoga—wherever the mind goes, there the self is also said to ...

yoga (85) mind (176) senses (65) swiftness (2) self-motion (1) awareness (73) unity (88) focus (47) spiritual travel (1) mental movement (1)

आत्मास्ति सर्वजगताम्
आधारः पूर्वमिति विचिन्त्यैव।
पश्चात् तत्त्वविचारः कुड्ये
सत्येव चित्रकर्म स्यात्॥

First, one must realize that the Self is the base of all creation. Only then should philosophical enquiry follow—otherwise it is like painting on an u...

self as base (1) philosophical enquiry (1) foundation (16) stability (43) understanding (28) vedanta (34) reflection (267) preparation (33) truth (300) illusion (355)

आत्मीयं चरणं दधाति पुरतो निम्नोन्नतायां भुवि
स्वीयेनैव करेण कर्षति तरोः पुष्पं श्रमाशङ्कया।
तल्पे किं च मृगत्वचा विरचिते निद्राति भागैर्निजैर्
अन्तःप्रेमभरालसां प्रियतमामङ्गे दधानो हरः॥

Shiva gently places his own foot forward, pulling a flower from a tree with his hand due to the burden on his beloved resting upon him. Though resting...

shiva (328) divine love (53) tenderness (83) beloved (86) symbolism (947) nature (950) burden (40) flower offering (1) affection (216) resting together (1)

आत्मैव तातस्य चतुर्भुजस्य
जातश्चतुर्दोरुचितः स्मरोऽपि।
तच्चापयोः कर्णलते भ्रुवोर्ज्ये
वंशत्वगंशौ चिपिटे किमस्याः॥

The god of love (Smara) was born with four arms just like Vishnu. The bowstring was made from eyebrows, and body from sugarcane. Such is the poetic de...

kama (47) vishnu (122) four arms (1) divine imagery (8) love (1567) passion (501) bow (31) metaphor (1632) sugarcane (7) beauty (1797)