All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

इयं गौरुद्दामा तव निबिडबन्धापि हि कथं
न वैदर्भादन्यत् स्पृशति सुलभत्वेऽपि हि कथम्।
अवन्ध्या च ख्याता भुवि कथमगम्या कविवृषैः
कथं वा पीयूषं स्रवति बहु दुग्धापि बहुभिः॥

Though fair and deeply bonded, why does she not approach you like a Vidarbha bride? Despite closeness, she remains distant and elusive.

distance (23) love (1567) closeness (13) paradox (167) vidarbha (1) longing (690) femininity (225) inaccessibility (4) union (125) poetic yearning (2)

इयं गौरेका नः क्वचिदपि न संयोजनविधाव्
अमुष्याः पश्यामो रसभरमुचं कांचिदपराम्।
गले बद्धा दध्मो यदि न धृतिरुद्दामविधृतौ भयं
गोचोरेभ्यस् तदिह क उपायः प्रभवतु॥

This fair one never aligns with our attempts; as we strive to bond, fear of rivals and the wild overcomes us—what means remain for union?

failed love (2) frustration (39) fear (252) poetry (588) beauty (1797) attempt (1) obstacles (34) strategy (222) longing (690) creative expression (1)

इयं घटी मत्तगजेन्द्रगामिनी-
विचित्रसिंहासनसंस्थिता सदा।
अनेकरामाजनलालिता परं
विधेर्वशात् सैव सती प्रजार्थिनी॥

She moves like a royal elephant, adored by women, seated on a throne, now devoted to people’s welfare—an empress guided by destiny.

queen (7) elephant gait (1) royalty (92) throne (5) beauty (1797) fate (402) nobility (253) grace (359) strength (359) governance (214)

इयं चिद्रूपापि प्रकटजडरूपा भगवती
यदीयाम्भोबिन्दुर्वितरति हि शंभोरपि पदम्।
पुनाना धुन्वाना निखिलमपि नानाविधमघं जगत्
कृत्स्नं पायादनुदिनमपायात् सुरधुनी॥

This divine river (Ganga) may appear inert, but sanctifies even Shiva and destroys all sins—may she purify us daily.

ganga (83) divinity (206) sanctity (34) purification (85) illusion (355) power (396) sins (7) shiva (328) daily prayer (1) river goddess (2)

इयं तावल् लीला यदधिरुरुहे वृद्धवृषभो
यदुन्नेहे रुण्डं यदिह चितिभस्मापि लिलिपे।
अयं को व्यापारो यदतिलकि भाले हुतवहो
यदग्रैवि व्यालो यदकवलि हालाहलमपि॥

This is divine sport—an old bull climbed a tree, ashes adorned the body, snakes wrapped the neck, fire marked the brow—Shiva’s play is wondrous.

divine play (96) shiva (328) paradox (167) surrealism (3) ashes (3) fire (219) bull (9) cosmic sport (1) symbolism (947) mystical (3)

इयं ते जननी प्राप्ता त्वदालोकनतत्परा।
स्नेहप्रस्नवनिर्भिन्नम् उद्वहन्ती स्तनद्वयम्॥

Your mother, always attentive to your gaze, carries twin breasts full of the milk of love—devotion in maternal form.

motherhood (36) love (1567) nourishment (35) gaze (69) affection (216) devotion (933) womanhood (59) divine bond (3) emotion (652) maternal image (1)

इयं त्रियामा शतयामधारिणी
सुधाकरादग्निरुदेति सर्वतः।
तनोति तापं मृदुचन्दनानिलो विधौ
विरुद्धे हि विपत् पदे पदे॥

This dark night, extending beyond a hundred nights, burns even with soft winds—when fate turns, even moonlight brings pain.

night (145) fate (402) darkness (138) poetic sorrow (14) soft wind (1) suffering (358) feminine form (16) moonlight (152) contradiction (28) misfortune (65)

इयं त्वभिन्नमर्यादैः स्वनुशिष्टैः कृतात्मभिः।
सर्वंसहैरुपायज्ञैर् अमूढैरेव धार्यते॥

This world is upheld only by those of noble conduct, self-trained, rational, tolerant, and wise—not by the ignorant.

self-control (91) noble conduct (8) wisdom (1611) world order (2) responsibility (133) rationality (2) virtue (726) restraint (226) inner strength (40)

इयं धत्ते धीरे मलयजसमीरे न च मुदं
न पद्मानां वृन्दे ललितमकरन्देऽपि रमते।
न वा सा सानन्दा भवति नवकुन्दावलिकुले
तदेतस्या बाधाहरमपि समाधानमिह किम्॥

Even in sandal breeze or honeyed groves, this woman finds no joy—grief consumes her so deeply that even pleasures become torment.

grief (129) womanhood (59) sorrow (325) sandal breeze (1) emotional pain (21) loss (191) joylessness (2) poetic suffering (2) contrast (206) despair (67)

इयं पल्ली भिल्लैरनुचितसमारम्भरसिकैः
समन्तादाकीर्णा विषविषमबाणप्रणयिभिः।
तरोरस्य स्कन्धे गमय समयं कीर निभृतं न वाणी
कल्याणी तदिह मुखमुद्रैव शरणम्॥

This village is surrounded by uncultured tribes and cruel warriors—here, only facial expressions convey meaningful speech.

village (20) tribal surroundings (1) danger (229) silence (94) non-verbal communication (1) poetic defense (4) fear (252) isolation (15) culture (39)