All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

आपस्काराल्लूनगात्रस्य भूमिं
निःसाधारं गच्छतोऽवाङ्मुखस्य।
लब्धायामं दन्तयोर्युग्ममेव स्वं
नागस्य प्रापदुत्तम्भनत्वम्॥

An elephant losing honor and dignity, with a dismembered body, regains stability only when it gets back the support of its tusks. A metaphor on pride,...

elephant metaphor (4) dignity (146) support (114) loss (191) pride (317) downfall (265) tusks (2) symbolic strength (1) restoration (9) honor (131)

आपाटलाधरमधीरविलोलनेत्रम्
आमोदनिर्भरितमद्भुतकान्तिपूरम्।
आविस्मितामृतमनुस्मृतिलोभनीयम्
आमुद्रिताननमहो मधुरं मुरारेः॥

Describing the enchanting face of Lord Murāri (Krishna), this verse paints his coral-red lips, soft roving eyes, and a countenance that radiates wondr...

krishna (233) divine beauty (63) enchanting face (1) red lips (5) roving eyes (1) celestial fragrance (1) sweet countenance (1) spiritual longing (12) devotional poetry (6) charm (252)

आपाटलैः प्रथममङ्कुरितैर्मयूखैर्
अह्नां पतिः प्रथमशैलविहारिणीनाम्।
सोऽयं करोति सुरपुङ्गवसुन्दरीणां
कर्णेषु कल्पतरुपल्लवभङ्गलक्ष्मीम्॥

The rising sun, with its first coral-tinted rays like tender sprouts, kisses the mountain peaks. This celestial dawn bestows upon divine women the lux...

sunrise (51) dawn (69) first rays (1) coral hues (1) divine beauty (63) mountain peaks (1) celestial imagery (16) poetic elegance (4) divine women (6) earrings (16)

आपाणिग्रहणादतिप्रणयिनी कण्ठस्थिताहं विभोः
सर्वैरेव हरिप्रियेति कमला सोऽप्युच्यते माधवः।
नो तेनापि दुनोमि मत्सुतगणाः पद्मासुतस्यानुगा
वाण्येत्याधिनिवारणाय सततं संगीयते वीणया॥

Lakshmi claims her intimacy with Hari by citing her presence from the moment of his hand-holding to being close to his throat, hence called Haripriyā....

lakshmi (64) sarasvati (9) divine rivalry (2) consorthood (1) poetic wit (16) devotion (933) symbolism (947) veena (12) mythology (86) divine pride (2)

आपाण्डु पीनकठिनं वर्तुलं सुमनोहरम्।
करैराकृष्यतेऽत्यर्थं किं वृद्धैरपि सस्पृहम्॥

A description of an enticing physical form—fair, firm, and round—so captivating that even the elderly, despite knowing better, are tempted to touch it...

desire (898) physical beauty (2) temptation (79) poetic humor (6) aesthetics (180) allure (96) aging (53) sensuality (306) satire (211) attraction (147)

आपाण्डुराः शिरसिजास्त्रिवली कपोले
दन्तावली विगलिता न च मे विषादः।
एणीदृशो युवतयः पथि मां विलोक्य
तातेति भाषणपराः खलु वज्रपातः॥

Though my hair is white, my cheeks wrinkled, and teeth fallen, I feel no sorrow—until doe-eyed maidens call me "father" on the road. That feels like a...

aging (53) emotion (652) beauty (1797) irony (348) sorrow (325) maidens (17) father figure (1) humor (128) self-perception (2) poetic pathos (1)

आपाण्डुरा च मृत्स्ना गोरसवर्णश्च भवति पाषाणः।
पुरुषार्धे कुमुदनिभो दृष्टिपथं मूषको याति॥

This satirical verse notes that the pale color of mud or stone can deceive, and a mere rat may appear like a blooming white lotus in dim light.

illusion (355) deception (224) satire (211) perception (181) color imagery (2) pale hues (1) rat-lotus metaphor (1) poetic humor (6) discernment (142) visual trickery (1)

आपातमात्ररमणीयमतृप्तिहेतुं
किम्पाकपाकफलतुल्यमथो विपाके।
नो शाश्वतं प्रचुरदोषकरं विदित्वा
पञ्चेन्द्रियार्थसुखमर्थधियस्त्यजन्ति॥

Immediate pleasures, though enticing, are often harmful in the end, like the deceptive Kimpāka fruit. The wise renounce sensual pleasures knowing thei...

desire (898) sensuality (306) renunciation (267) wisdom (1611) kimpaka fruit (1) deception (224) impermanence (242) discipline (380) vedantic thought (4) detachment (573)

आपातमात्ररसिके सरसीरुहस्य किं
बीजमर्पयितुमिच्छसि वापिकायाम्।
कालः कलिर्जगदिदं न कृतज्ञमज्ञे
स्थित्वा हनिष्यति तवैव मुखस्य शोभाम्॥

Why sow lotus seeds in a mere pit? The world of Kali Yuga is ungrateful—investing your beauty in it is self-defeating.

beauty (1797) vanity (38) futility (143) ungrateful world (1) kali yuga (29) poetic metaphor (101) lotus imagery (7) waste (18) wisdom (1611) superficiality (32)

आपातमात्रसौन्दर्यं कुत्र नाम न विद्यते।
अत्यन्तप्रतिपत्त्या तु दुर्लभोऽलंकृतो जनः॥

Superficial beauty is everywhere, but truly refined, virtuous individuals are rare and discernible only with deep understanding.

beauty (1797) perception (181) virtue (726) rarity (48) character (259) insight (55) wisdom (1611) values (171) human nature (88) decorum (17)