All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

इन्द्रियाणि पशून् कृत्वा वेदीं कृत्वा तपोमयीम्।
अहिंसामाहुतिं कृत्वा आत्मयज्ञं यजाम्यहम्॥

The poet makes a metaphorical sacrifice using senses as animals, altar as penance, and non-violence as offering—offering the Self in sacred ritual.

spiritual sacrifice (1) metaphor (1632) self-offering (1) non-violence (36) senses (65) penance (43) altar (6) symbolic yajna (1) devotion (933) tapas (22)

इन्द्रियाणि पुरा जित्वा जितं त्रिभुवनं त्वया।
स्मरद्भरिव तैद्वैरम् इन्द्रियैरेव निर्जितः॥

Even one who conquered the worlds is eventually defeated by his own senses—reminding us that inner control matters most.

world conquest (1) sense defeat (1) inner battle (6) ego fall (1) spiritual warning (4) illusion (355) reminder (3) power vs discipline (1) ravana (28) defeat (25)

इन्द्रियाणि मनः प्राणो ज्ञानमायुः सुखं धृतिः।
धारणा प्रेरणं दुःखम् इच्छाहङ्कार एव च॥

The various functions of life—senses, mind, life-force, knowledge, pleasure, resolve—are all parts of embodied experience.

body functions (1) senses (65) mind (176) life force (5) knowledge (279) resolve (40) duality (134) human nature (88) anatomy of being (1) consciousness (36)

प्रयत्न आकृतिर्वर्णः स्वरद्वेषौ भवाभवौ।
तस्यैतदात्मजं सर्वम् अनादेरादिमिच्छतः॥

All traits such as effort, shape, color, likes/dislikes, birth/death are offspring of that primordial desire seeking its own origin.

traits (19) creation (117) desire (898) origin (25) duality (134) nature (950) cosmology (8) metaphysics (29) human essence (2) vedantic thought (4)

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिर् अस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते।
एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम्॥

The senses, mind, and intellect form the base from which delusion spreads, covering the Self’s true wisdom.

delusion (175) senses (65) intellect (106) mind (176) ignorance (301) spiritual blockage (1) vedantic imagery (1) wisdom cover (1) inner fog (1) confusion (52)

इन्द्रियाणि महत् प्रेप्सुर् नियच्छेदर्थधर्मयोः।
इन्द्रियैर्नियतैर्बुद्धिर् वर्धतेऽग्निरिवेन्धनैः॥

One who desires greatness should restrain their senses between righteousness and material gain. Controlled senses fuel intellect like fuel feeds fire.

sense control (9) greatness (146) intellect (106) righteousness (134) material desire (1) discipline (380) spiritual growth (12) fire metaphor (7) fuel (2) wisdom (1611)

इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः प्राणादीन् मन एव च।
निगृह्य समवायेन प्रत्याहारमुपक्रमेत्॥

By collectively restraining the senses, life forces, and mind from their objects, one begins the practice of pratyāhāra (withdrawal).

pratyahara (1) restraint (226) senses (65) life force (5) mind (176) discipline (380) yoga (85) detachment (573) spiritual technique (1) introspection (83)

इन्द्रियाण्यनुपक्लेश्य लभ्यं श्रेयो गृहाश्रमे।
अतस्तुर्याश्रमं प्राहुर् अबाधन्यायबाधितम्॥

Without harming the senses, one can attain spiritual good even in a householder’s life; hence, the fourth āśrama is for those not thus afflicted.

householder (9) ashrama system (1) spiritual progress (6) moderation (48) senses (65) renunciation (267) balance (185) self-mastery (25) detachment (573) dharma (540)

इन्द्रियाण्यन्तरङ्गाणि पातयन्ति यथा जनान्।
अभ्यन्तरास् तथा राष्ट्रे भृत्याः स्वार्थपरायणाः॥

Just as inner senses lead individuals to downfall, corrupt inner officials obsessed with self-interest ruin a kingdom.

senses (65) downfall (265) statecraft (20) metaphor (1632) selfishness (62) governance (214) corruption (65) comparison (402) political insight (2) internal decay (1)

इन्द्रियाण्येव तत् सर्वं यत् स्वर्गनरकावुभौ।
निगृहीतविसृष्टानि स्वर्गाय नरकाय च॥

Heaven and hell result from the senses: when controlled, they lead to heaven; when unrestrained, to hell.

heaven (59) hell (30) senses (65) control (139) liberation (230) bondage (64) morality (248) choice (37) consequences (70) spiritual destiny (1)