All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

उच्चावचकरान्याय्याः पूर्वराज्ञां युधिष्ठिर।
यथा यथा न हीयेरंस् तथा कुर्यान् महीमतिः॥

Judge ministers not by their highs and lows, but by their justice and consistency, like the wise King Yudhishthira did.

leadership (279) justice (151) consistency (14) ministers (23) wisdom (1611) example (24) governance (214) fairness (21) kingship (164) integrity (74)

उच्चावचानि जननानि भवन्ति यावत्
कर्माणि तावदखिलानि लयं न यान्ति।
तत् कर्ममूलहननाय यतध्वमार्या यावच्छिरो
न विरमेज् जलबन्धरोगः॥

As long as karmas are active, birth continues in higher or lower forms — only uprooting karma ends the bondage.

karma (500) rebirth (102) liberation (230) action (258) detachment (573) destiny (289) spirituality (106) cycle (32) renunciation (267) cause-effect (15)

उच्चासनगतो नीचः नीच एव न चोत्तमः।
प्रसादशिखरस्थोऽपि काकः किं गरुडायते॥

A lowly person remains lowly even on a throne — just as a crow on a palace top never becomes Garuda.

status (41) humility (596) nature (950) worth (34) comparison (402) animal metaphor (10) reality (54) essence (70) symbolism (947) character (259)

उच्चित्यं प्रथममधः स्थितं मृगाक्षी
पुष्पौघं श्रितविटपं ग्रहीतुकामा।
आरोढुं चरणमदादशोकयष्टेर् आमूलं
पुनरपि तेन पुष्पितोऽसौ॥

The deer-eyed girl tries to pluck blossoms from below but in the attempt ends up blooming the tree fully — a sweet irony.

beauty (1797) effort (289) nature (950) blossoms (10) innocence (103) femininity (225) irony (348) love (1567) sweetness (104) desire (898)

उच्चीकृतग्रीवमहो मुधैव किं याचसे चातकपोत मेघम्।
अत्यूर्ज्जितं गर्ज्जितमात्रमस्मिन्न्
अम्भोधरे बिन्दुलवस् तु दूरे॥

Why crane your neck in vain, O Chātaka bird? This cloud only thunders — the drop you seek is far away.

desire (898) futility (143) effort (289) symbolism (947) bird (28) longing (690) disappointment (42) distance (23) sound vs substance (1) irony (348)

उच्चीयन्ते स्म वेश्मन्यशनविरहिते यत्नतः श्रोत्रियाणां
यत्र श्यामाकबीजान्यपि चटकवधूचञ्चुकोटिच्युतानि।
यस्मिन् दातर्यकस्माच् चटुलवटुकराकृष्टमुक्तावचूल-
भ्रष्टास् तत्रैव दृष्टा युवतिभिरलसं घूर्णिता मुक्तिकौघाः॥

In famine, even millet grains were treasured; now, young women play with pearls that once were casually dropped.

famine (6) value (170) contrast (206) wealth (447) past vs present (1) memory (202) suffering (358) luxury (23) irony (348) prosperity (136)

उच्चैः कल्याणवाही करजितवसुधः सर्वदा पूर्णकामो
विख्यातः कर्णवृत्त्या न च वचसि कटुश्चित्रपाकानुभावी।
कोषापेक्षी परस्मादुचितबहुकथस् तत्परः पुण्यलोके चित्रं
राजाधिराज त्वमिव तव रिपुस् तत्र कम्पं प्रतीमः॥

Though famed for his gifts, joy, and virtues, even such a noble king can have enemies who make us tremble.

kingship (164) generosity (169) enemies (78) fame (166) fear (252) virtue (726) paradox (167) politics (111) power (396) admiration (97)

उच्चैः कुम्भः कपिशदशनो बन्धुरस्कन्धसंधिः
स्निग्धाताम्रद्युतिनखमणिर्लम्बवृत्तोरुहस्तः।
शूरः सप्तच्छदपरिमलस्पर्धिदानोदकोऽयं भद्रः
सान्द्रद्रुमगिरिसरित्तीरचारी करीन्द्रः॥

The noble elephant with towering features, coppery sheen, and fragrant ichor walks gracefully by forests and mountains.

elephant (117) majesty (29) beauty (1797) strength (359) nature (950) nobility (253) grandeur (57) fragrance (199) animal (8) symbolism (947)

उच्चैः पदमधितिष्ठंल् लोकस्
तत्त्वेषु मुह्यति प्रायः।
विषयमपि पश्यति समं पर्वतशिखराग्रमारूढः॥

Even atop peaks, the ignorant can remain deluded — for high status doesn’t ensure right perception.

perception (181) status (41) ignorance (301) wisdom (1611) elevation (28) height (3) illusion (355) detachment (573) realization (67) intellect (106)

उच्चैः प्रकथनं हासः ष्ठीवनं कुत्सनं तथा।
जृम्भणं गात्रभ गं च पर्वस्फोटं च वर्जयेत्॥

Loud laughter, spitting, boasting, yawning, and exaggerated movements — all these should be avoided in etiquette.

etiquette (38) behavior (249) manners (7) laughter (18) restraint (226) dignity (146) speech (345) self-control (91) refinement (55) discipline (380)