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आस्वाद्य निर्विशेषं विरहिवधूनां मृदूनि मांसानि।
करकामिषेण मन्ये निःष्ठीवति नीरदोऽस्थीनि॥

The raincloud, tasting the soft flesh of lonely wives (symbolically the earth), chews through it and spits out bones—suggesting cruel insensitivity di...

irony (348) loss (191) suffering (358) nature's cruelty (1) metaphoric pain (1) raincloud (8) grief (129) love-loneliness (1) harshness (22) poetic darkness (1)

आस्वाद्य स्वयमेव वच्मि महतीर्मर्मच्छिदो
वेदना मा भूत् कस्यचिदप्ययं परिभवो याच्ञेति संसारिणः।
पश्य भ्रातरियं हि गौरवजराधिक्कारकेलिस्थली
मानम्लानिमसी गुणव्यतिकरप्रागल्भ्यगर्भच्युतिः॥

After experiencing the bitter shame of begging, I declare—no pain, no disgrace, no wound is as deep as losing self-respect in a harsh world.

self-respect (18) humiliation (8) begging (18) suffering (358) wisdom (1611) samsara (74) shame (67) social insight (2) pain (225) dignity (146)

आस्वाद्यात्र मधूनि षट्पद मदं मा गाः कषायाङ्कुरैर्
माकन्दस्य पिकान् प्रतारितवतो मूर्धानमध्यासितः।
प्रत्यासन्नतमे पिकेऽपि भवते येनार्पिता तादृशी
माध्वी तस्य विवेकविच्युतिरियं साद्गुण्यमेतन् न ते॥

The bee tasted the sweetness, but lost discernment—clinging to faded flowers, deceived by past sweetness. Real wisdom lies in moving on.

wisdom (1611) detachment (573) longing (690) bee metaphor (9) discernment (142) illusion (355) clinging (2) deception (224) desire (898) nature allegory (1)

आस्वाद्यैष कषायमङ्कुरमुरुप्रेमानुबद्धाशयो
माकन्दस्य यशांसि कोकिलयुवा निर्माति दिग्भित्तिषु।
माध्वीकानि निपीय तस्य मधुपास् तत्रैव गुञ्जन्त्यमी को
ब्रूतामसतां सतां च वचसां वर्त्मातिगं चेष्टितम्॥

The bee makes fame on dry buds while the true nectar is taken by unseen bees. Fame and merit often differ.

fame (166) substance vs appearance (1) reality (54) bees (131) reputation (56) inner worth (15) poetic satire (9) perception (181)

आहतं कुचतटेन तरुण्याः
साधु सोढममुनेति पपात।
त्रुट्यतः प्रियतमोरसि हारात्
पुष्पवृष्टिरिव मौक्तिकवृष्टिः॥

As her necklace breaks and pearls rain down on his chest, their love turns into a divine shower of intimacy—soft, sudden, passionate.

love (1567) intimacy (234) sensuality (306) pearls (42) beauty (1797) romantic imagery (28) youth (261) touch (54) emotion (652) passion (501)

आहते यत्र खड्गे स्याद् ध्वनिः काकस्वरोपमः।
अं आकारध्वनिर्वा स्यात् स वर्ज्यो नरपुंगवैः॥

If a sword, when struck, sounds like a crow or a groan, it is unworthy of warriors—strength lies in clarity and sharpness.

martial honor (1) swordsmanship (1) judgment (94) power (396) discrimination (65) symbolism (947) royalty (92) skill (51) integrity (74)

आहत्याहत्य मूर्ध्ना द्रुतमनुपिबतः प्रस्नुतं मातुरूधः
किंचित् कुब्जैकजानोरनवरतचलच्चारुपुच्छस्य धेनुः।
उत्कर्णं तर्णकस्य प्रियतनयतया दत्तहुंकारमुद्रा
विस्रंसत्क्षीरधारालवशबलमुखस्याङ्गमातृप्ति लेढि॥

The calf, shaking its ears and tail, drinks milk from its mother, leaving her drenched—this tender image reflects the primal, sacred bond of life.

motherhood (36) nature (950) birth (57) milk (17) innocence (103) love (1567) animal imagery (8) devotion (933) nourishment (35) joy (342)

आह नाथवदनस्य चुम्बतः
सा स्म शीतकरतामनक्षरम्।
सीत्कृतानि सुदती वितन्वती
सत्त्वदत्तपृथुवेपथुस् तदा॥

As he kissed her lips, his shivers and groans increased—her moans became cold moonlight, her emotion trembling in surrender.

passion (501) romance (506) sensuality (306) shiver (2) poetic intimacy (2) trembling (36) moon metaphor (10) tenderness (83) desire (898)

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