All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

आशापाशविमुक्तिनिश्चलसुखा स्वायत्तचित्तस्थितिः
स्नेहद्वेषविषादलोभविरतिः संतोषतृप्तं मनः।
चिन्ता नित्यमनित्यतापरिचये सङ्गेऽपि निःसङ्गता
संवित्सेकविवेकपूतमनसामित्येष मोक्षक्रमः॥

The path to liberation lies in steady detachment from the binding ropes of hope, in developing equanimity free from love, hatred, greed, and sorrow. C...

detachment (573) liberation (230) contentment (86) equanimity (38) wisdom (1611) non-attachment (11) peace (171) hope (116) bondage (64) moksha (63)

आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः।
ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थम् अन्यायेनार्थसंचयान्॥

Those bound by hundreds of hopes and consumed by lust and anger pursue pleasure through unjust means, ever striving to accumulate wealth.

greed (141) desire (898) anger (185) bondage (64) hope (116) unethical gain (1) materialism (37) entanglement (3) karma (500) delusion (175)

आशापाशशतैर्बद्धा वासनाभरवाहिनः।
कायात् कायमुपायान्ति वृक्षाद् वृक्षमिवाण्डजाः॥

Carried away by deep desires and bound by countless ropes of hope, beings wander from one body to another like birds moving from tree to tree.

reincarnation (5) bondage (64) desires (11) transmigration (3) attachment (102) cyclic birth (1) ignorance (301) soul (76) restlessness (43) karma (500)

आशापाशैः परीताङ्गा ये भवन्ति नरोऽर्दिताः।
ते रात्रौ शेरते नैव तदप्राप्तिविचिन्तया॥

Those afflicted by the nooses of hope cannot sleep peacefully. Their minds are agitated at night, consumed by longing and worry over unattained desire...

insomnia (6) anxiety (31) longing (690) mental unrest (3) desire (898) sleeplessness (9) suffering (358) delusion (175) bondage (64) restlessness (43)

आशापिशाचिका मां भ्रमयति परितो दशस्वपि दिशासु।
स्वीये पिशाचवर्गे सेवायै किं न योजयसि॥

The demoness of hope bewilders me, making me wander in all directions. Why not recruit me into her ghostly entourage—since I already serve her?

hope (116) delusion (175) ghost (4) restlessness (43) irony (348) craving (38) misdirection (10) humor (128) metaphor (1632) suffering (358)

आशापिशाचिकाविष्टः पुरतो यस्य कस्यचित्।
वन्दते निन्दति स्तौति रोदिति प्रहसत्यपि॥

One possessed by the demoness of hope acts like a madman—he praises, insults, laughs, cries—without knowing why, driven by unpredictable desire.

possession (16) madness (32) delusion (175) instability (44) craving (38) hope (116) behavior (249) longing (690) madness (32) inconsistency (7)

आशा बलवती कष्टा नैराश्यं परमं सुखम्।
आशां निराशां कृत्वा तु सुखं स्वपिति पिङ्गला॥

Hope is powerful but painful. True happiness lies in giving up hope. The courtesan Pingala attained peace only after renouncing all desire.

pingala (6) renunciation (267) detachment (573) happiness (65) hope (116) strength (359) freedom (56) surrender (223) peace (171) spiritual wisdom (15)

आशा बलवती राजन् विपरीता हि शृङ्खला।
यया बद्धाः प्रधावन्ति मुक्तास्तिष्ठन्ति पङ्गुवत्॥

Hope is a deceptive chain—those tied to it run tirelessly, while the freed ones rest, still and content like the crippled.

bondage (64) deception (224) movement (82) rest (25) craving (38) exhaustion (34) contentment (86) spiritual metaphor (9) slavery (6) freedom (56)

आशा भङ्गकरी पुंसाम् अजेयारातिसंनिभा।
तस्मादाशां त्यजेत् प्राज्ञो यदीच्छेच् शाश्वतं सुखम्॥

Hope, like an unconquerable foe, destroys a man's strength. The wise must renounce hope if they seek true and lasting happiness.

enemy (92) renunciation (267) strength (359) happiness (65) detachment (573) wisdom (1611) craving (38) suffering (358) life philosophy (4) conqueror (3)

आशाभरेण निखिलाशासु धावनमथाशातकुम्भगिरि वा
क्लेशावहं विविधदेशाटनं द्रविणलेशायनापि ववृते।
आशातिदामवितुमाशास्व पाणिधृतपाशामनेकजगताम्
ईशामुपासितगिरीशामिहाङ्गदिगधीशार्चिताङ्घ्रिनलिनाम्॥

Burdened with hope, people endure great hardships, wander far, and serve fleeting purposes. But the wise turn to the Lord whose lotus feet are adored ...

pilgrimage (22) burden (40) spiritual journey (11) hope (116) suffering (358) surrender (223) divinity (206) renunciation (267) hardships (2) refuge (45)