All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

ईश्वरसेवा सुलभ-
न्यक्कारा दुर्लभोत्कर्षा।
चिरपरिचर्या विफला निर्माल्या निष्क्रमोऽपि निरयाय॥

Worship may be easy, but reverence is rare. Even prolonged service without inner devotion leads to ruin.

devotion (933) ritual (164) worship (89) service (114) humility (596) failure (101) inner truth (6) god (31) reverence (112) hypocrisy (141)

ईश्वरस्य जगत् कृत्स्नं सृष्टिमाकुलयन्निमाम्।
अस्ति योऽस्त्रीकृतस्त्रीकस् तस्य वैरं स्मरन्निव॥

The Lord of the universe, appearing feminized, stirs all creation — evoking the memory of Cupid’s enmity.

creation (117) divine (346) gender (19) illusion (355) shiva (328) poetic imagery (180) memory (202) desire (898) smara (4) mysticism (23)

ईश्वराः पिशुनाञ् शश्वद् बिभ्रतीति किमद्भुतम्।
प्रायो निधय एवाहीन् द्विजिह्वान् दधतेतराम्॥

It’s not surprising that gods tolerate slanderers; even treasures often harbor serpents.

slander (29) tolerance (37) metaphor (1632) gods (66) wealth (447) serpent (37) danger (229) hypocrisy (141) evil (40) concealment (30)

ईश्वराणां वचः सत्यं तथैवाचरितं क्वचित्।
तेषां यत् स्ववचोयुक्तं बुद्धिमांस् तत् समाचरेत्॥

Not all that gods speak or do is consistent — follow only what aligns with reason and wisdom.

discernment (142) wisdom (1611) divine speech (8) truth (300) reason (15) behavior (249) guidance (149) caution (269) ethics (803) discrimination (65)

ईश्वराणामिदं तन्त्रं प्रायेणौत्सुक्यमावहेत्।
यतस् तिरश्चां चरितैर् नीतिमार्गः प्रदर्श्यते॥

Divine beings often demonstrate moral paths through the seemingly immoral actions of animals — a puzzling divine method.

paradox (167) morality (248) animals (45) divine play (96) ethics (803) tantra (15) curiosity (38) path (43) illusion (355) instruction (12)

ईश्वरात् समभूद् रुद्रो ज्योतिर्मय उमापतिः।
रुद्राद् विष्णुरभूदाद्यस् त्रैलोक्यपरिपालकः॥

From God emerged Rudra (light-form, consort of Uma), and then Vishnu — the protector of the three worlds.

creation (117) deities (12) rudra (9) vishnu (122) shiva (328) cosmic order (20) light (147) divinity (206) mythology (86) evolution (12)

ईश्वरानुगृहीतो हि कश्चिद् बालोऽपि शाम्यति।
वृद्धोऽपि न शमं याति कश्चित् कापुरुषः पुनः॥

A divine-blessed child may attain peace, but even an aged coward will remain unwise without grace.

grace (359) divinity (206) maturity (29) peace (171) cowardice (16) spiritual growth (12) wisdom (1611) youth (261) karma (500) blessing (166)

ईश्वरा भूरिदानेन यल् लभन्ते फलं किल।
दरिद्रस् तच्च काकिण्या प्राप्नुयादिति न श्रुतिः॥

Great donors attain much merit, but the same can be earned even by a poor man offering a tiny coin — such is the fairness of dharma.

charity (128) fairness (21) dharma (540) merit (120) donation (26) wealth (447) poverty (128) virtue (726) balance (185) equality (64)

ईश्वरेण समं प्रीतिर् न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते।
गतस्य गौरवं नास्ति आगतस्य धनक्षयः॥

I do not enjoy equal affection from God and Lakshmana — for the departed are forgotten, and arrivals lose wealth.

affection (216) memory (202) loss (191) arrival (16) departure (21) wealth (447) divine love (53) emotion (652) fate (402) ramayana (52)

ईश्वरोक्ताद् धनुर्वेदाद् व्यासस्यापि सुभाषितात्।
पदान्याकृष्य रचितो ग्रन्थः संक्षेपतो मया॥

This work, compiled from divine Dhanurveda and Vyasa’s verses, is a condensed treasure of knowledge.

scripture (46) dhanurveda (1) vyasa (7) compilation (1) wisdom (1611) knowledge (279) text (1) poetry (588) heritage (19) essence (70)