All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

इयं हि निद्रा नयनावलम्बिनी
ललाटदेशादुपसर्पतीव माम्।
अदृश्यरूपा चपला जरेव या
मनुष्यसत्त्वं परिभूय वर्धते॥

Sleep, like a sly old age, creeps from the forehead, unseen and fickle, overtaking all human energy.

sleep (38) metaphor (1632) old age (29) subtlety (175) human condition (13) loss of energy (1) mind (176) fatigue (36) poetic transition (1) dream (23)

इयं हि योनिः प्रथमा यां प्राप्य जगतीपते।
आत्मा वै शक्यते त्रातुं कर्मभिः शुभलक्षणैः॥

This is the original source (yoni); only through righteous actions and reaching this birth can one attain self-realization.

birth (57) karma (500) liberation (230) yoni (1) life origin (1) righteous action (5) spiritual path (48) soul (76) destiny (289) philosophical (18)

इयं हि लोकव्यतिरेकवर्तिनी
स्वभावतः पार्थिवता समुद्धता।
बलात् तदेनां विनयेन योजयेन् नयस्य
सिद्धौ विनयः पुरःसरः॥

This untamed worldly nature should be yoked by humility; true governance succeeds only when discipline leads.

worldliness (17) humility (596) governance (214) nature (950) discipline (380) vinaya (1) leadership (279) control (139) behavior (249) ethics (803)

इयता वयसा न साधितं यत्
परतः किं नु करिष्यतीति वेधाः।
तिलतण्डुलितास्य रोमरेखा-
च्छलतः कज्जलचूर्णमालिलिम्प॥

What she couldn’t achieve through age, she now fakes with clever makeup—applying powder lines to mimic rice-like facial hair.

deceit (83) aging (53) appearance (60) cosmetics (3) humor (128) vanity (38) femininity (225) disguise (39) cleverness (15) sarcasm (74)

इयतीं सुभगावस्थां गतोऽसि
यस्याः कृते स्मरातङ्कात्।
मूर्च्छां हरामि सा तव गतपुण्या नयनसलिलेन॥

You reached the height of youth, for whom I once fainted in love—but now that charm is gone, and my tears mark your decline.

lost love (8) youth (261) fading beauty (6) tears (84) sorrow (325) karma (500) memory (202) romantic past (2) decline (52) grief (129)

इयती जगती कियती भविता नमिताननतामिति याति हयः।
वियदङ्गणरिङ्गणरङ्गविधौ परिनर्तितुमुत्क्रमतीव नभः॥

This whole vast world bends its head—while the proud horse leaps upward, dancing like it seeks to conquer even the sky.

pride (317) ambition (52) horse metaphor (2) world (25) sky (64) motion (33) arrogance (135) poetic movement (2) cosmic imagery (22) elevation (28)

इयत् पृथ्वीमात्रं तदनु च नभोमण्डलमिय-
दियान् पातालान्तो जलमपि पृथिव्यामियदिति।
इति ज्ञात्वा कूपे विदितविषयो नायमपरः परं
मुग्धो भेकः प्रबलतररावं प्रकुरुते॥

Knowing only the well’s scope, the frog croaks proudly about his knowledge, unaware of the vast sky and ocean beyond.

ignorance (301) pride (317) limited vision (2) frog in well (2) sky (64) knowledge (279) delusion (175) humility (596) metaphor (1632) cosmic scale (5)

इयत्यप्येतस्मिन् निरवधिमहत्यध्वनि
गुणास् त एवामी द्वित्रा जरठजरठा यान्ति गणनाम्।
अहो ग्राम्यो लोकः स न परममीभिः कृतधृतिः स्मयस्तब्धो
यावत् कलयति समग्रं तृणमिदम्॥

Even in this vast world, only a few worn-out names are praised—such is the folly of the world that mistakes straw for treasure.

fame (166) delusion (175) limited praise (1) ego (153) poetic satire (9) wisdom (1611) folly (51) popularity (4) value (170) illusion (355)

इयत्यां संपत्तावपि च सलिलानां त्वमधुना
न तृष्णामार्तानां हरसि यदि कासार सहसा।
निदाघे चण्डांशौ किरति परितोऽङ्गारनिकरान्
कृशीभूतः केषामहह परिहर्तासि खलु ताम्॥

Despite water’s abundance, you quench no thirst—just as in summer, despite clouds, you rain not, leaving scorched beings unaided.

unfulfilled promise (2) illusion (355) water metaphor (6) heat (60) suffering (358) neglect (55) abundance (37) denial (19) poetic criticism (3) thirst (32)

इयत्यामपि सामग्र्यां सुकृतं न कृतं त्वया।
इतीव कुपितो दन्तान् अन्तकः पातयत्यलम्॥

Despite full provisions, you did no good—thus, angry Death grinds its teeth, ready to end your wasteful existence.

karma (500) wasted life (2) death (241) punishment (78) unfulfilled potential (1) negligence (11) judgment (94) resources (7) moral failure (8) fear (252)