All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

उड्डीना गुणपत्रिणः सुखफलान्याराद् विकीर्णान्यधः
पर्यस्ताः परितो यशस्तबकिताः संपल्लतापल्लवाः।
प्रागेवापसृतः प्रमोदहरिणश्च्छाया कथान्तं गता
दैवारण्यमत गजेन बलिना भग्नेऽभिमानद्रुमे॥

Like decorated trees uprooted by a storm, virtues scatter when pride grows — even shadows disappear.

pride (317) fall (63) virtue (726) destruction (292) nature (950) trees (54) loss (191) arrogance (135) storm (33) lesson (9)

उड्डीनानामेषां प्रासादात् तरुणि पक्षिणां प क्तिः।
विस्फुरति वैजयन्ती पवनच्छिन्नापविद्धेव॥

A flock of birds flies from the palace like a torn Vaijayanti garland — broken elegance in flight.

birds (57) palace (26) garland (31) elegance (171) breakage (1) freedom (56) metaphor (1632) beauty (1797) motion (33) poetic imagery (180)

उड्डीयागतमिन्दुमण्डलमिदं किं खञ्जरीटद्वयं
हित्वा कोरकतां विकस्वरतरे याते किमिन्दीवरे।
इन्दोर्बिम्बमवाप्य जातरभसौ किं वा चकोराविमाव् आं
ज्ञातं शफरीविलासपटुनी नेत्रे कुर गीदृशः॥

The moon has risen — are those the chakora birds rising to greet it or eyes full of wonder?

moonrise (28) chakora (11) beauty (1797) wonder (66) love (1567) vision (81) romanticism (13) birds (57) eyes (211) imagination (48)

उड्डीयाणं तु सहजं कथितं गुरुणा सदा।
अभ्यसेदस्ततन्द्रस् तु वृद्धोऽपि तरुणो भवेत्॥

Flying upward is natural; one who practices untiringly stays youthful in spirit, even in old age.

flight (7) youth (261) discipline (380) effort (289) aging (53) spirit (6) perseverance (72) energy (65) learning (126) wisdom (1611)

उड्डीयोर्ध्वं गमने निपत्यवचना वधोन्मुखी शकुनिः।
वामे यातुर्निधनं दिशति विपक्षे विपक्षस्य॥

A vulture rises high only to pounce downward — like enemies smiling to plan one’s downfall.

deception (224) vulture (2) danger (229) fall (63) politics (111) enemy (92) metaphor (1632) symbolism (947) betrayal (168) omen (58)

उत वा तृणवान् मार्गः समो गम्यः प्रशस्यते।
सुशोध्यस् त्रिविधो मार्गः षड्विधं च स्वकं बलम्॥

A path may seem as humble as grass, but what's praiseworthy is one that’s even and clear. Three kinds of paths exist and six kinds of strength must be...

humility (596) path (43) clarity (135) strength (359) self-awareness (37) wisdom (1611) discipline (380) perseverance (72) strategy (222) discernment (142)

उत्कटकण्टककोटी-
घर्षणघृष्टानि हृदि न चिन्तयति।
असदृशरसविवशमतिर् विशत्यलिः केतकीकुसुमम्॥

The bee, intoxicated by fragrance, ignores the thorny stings of the ketaki flower. So too desire blinds to suffering.

desire (898) pain (225) intoxication (44) fragrance (199) bee (69) distraction (51) longing (690) obsession (18) illusion (355) poetic imagery (180)

उत्कण्ठयति मेघानां माला वृन्दं कलापिनाम्।
यूनां चोत्कण्ठयत्येष मानसं मकरध्वजः॥

Just as clouds stir peacocks into dance, Cupid stirs the hearts of the young into restlessness.

yearning (59) longing (690) love (1567) monsoon (51) peacock (45) restlessness (43) youth (261) desire (898) cupid (106) emotion (652)

उत्कण्ठाकुलचक्रवाकयुवतीनिःश्वासदण्डाहतः
पीयूषद्युतिरच्छदर्पणतुलामारोहति प्रस्थितः।
कोकानां कृपयेव कुक्कुटरवैराहूयमाने रवौ दिग् जाता
नवधौतविद्रुममणिच्छाया च सौत्रामणी॥

As sun rises, even the beauty of moon fades; separated lovers like chakravakas sigh, their reflections fading in time.

separation (258) longing (690) love (1567) sunrise (51) moonlight (152) chakravaka (4) sorrow (325) beauty (1797) emotion (652) transformation (252)

उत्कण्ठाकुलमस्तु कण्टककुले संजायतां ते मनः
सानन्दं पिचुमन्दकन्दलदलास्वादेषु का वा क्षतिः।
एतत् किं तु तव क्रमेलक कथंकारं सहे दुःसहं तस्मिन्
पुण्ड्रककन्दलीकिसलये येनासि निन्दापरः॥

Let your longing rise even amidst thorns. But O beetle! why defame the sacred pollen of the lily?

longing (690) criticism (79) beauty (1797) poetic contrast (26) nature (950) flower (39) beetle (1) dignity (146) purity (356) thorns (12)