All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

उपकर्तुः स्थिरं द्रव्यं यत्नस् तत्कालसंभवः।
किमस्ति तालवृन्तस्य मन्दमारुतसंग्रहः॥

Effort and material from a helper are stable and direct, unlike attempting to catch the wind with a palm leaf. One must act promptly with clarity, not...

effort (289) clarity (135) futility (143) timing (92) metaphor (1632) action (258) material (4) decisiveness (4) wind (88) wisdom (1611)

उपकर्तुमनुपकर्तुः प्रियाणि
कर्तुं कृतान्यनुस्मर्तुम्।
विनिपतितांश्चोद्धर्तुं कुलान्वितानामुचितमेतत्॥

One should help even those who cannot return the favor, show affection, remember past kindness, and uplift the fallen—especially if they are noble. Th...

compassion (359) memory (202) nobility (253) help (35) values (171) forgiveness (114) gratitude (60) uplift (2) humility (596) duty (198)

उपकर्तुमप्रकाशं क्षन्तुं न्यूनेष्वयाचितं दातुम्।
अभिसंधातुं च गुणैः शतेषु केचिद् विजानन्ति॥

Few understand the art of silently helping, forgiving without blame, giving without being asked, and acknowledging virtues in others. These are subtle...

subtlety (175) help (35) forgiveness (114) charity (128) wisdom (1611) humility (596) silent virtue (1) nobility (253) perception (181) character (259)

उपकर्त्रारिणा संधिर् न मित्रेणापकारिणा।
उपकारापकारौ हि लक्ष्यं लक्षणमेतयोः॥

One should align with those who have helped, not with harmful “friends.” Help and harm define the true identities of people—not names or labels.

alignment (15) gratitude (60) loyalty (180) false friends (5) ethics (803) harm (53) identity (65) values (171) action-based judgment (1) truth (300)

उपकारं सुहृद्वर्गे योऽपकारं च शत्रुषु।
नृमेघो वर्षति प्राज्ञस् तस्येच्छन्ति सदोन्नतिम्॥

A wise man helps friends and counters enemies—like rain falling where needed. Such balance makes him desired even among the noble. Wisdom lies in situ...

wisdom (1611) balance (185) help (35) harm (53) friends (23) enemies (78) ethics (803) rain metaphor (3) strategy (222) honor (131)

उपकारं स्मरन्तस्तु कृतज्ञत्ववशंवदाः।
पदवीमुपकर्त् णां यान्ति निश्चेतना अपि॥

Even animals and the unconscious follow the path of their benefactors. Gratitude isn't exclusive to humans—it is an instinctive law of nature.

instinct (19) gratitude (60) nature (950) animals (45) universal law (1) benefactor (3) loyalty (180) innate (2) morality (248) consistency (14)

निर्वाणमनु निर्वाति तपनं तपनोपलः।
इन्दुमिन्दुमणिः किं च शुष्यन्तमनु शुष्यति॥

The sun is not cooled by moonlight; nor does the moon dry with the drying earth. Similarly, the truly great are unaffected by the suffering or cooling...

independence (29) detachment (573) comparison (402) natural metaphor (6) stoicism (18) individual nature (1) emotion (652) aloofness (6) balance (185) calm (23)

उपकारः परो धर्मः परोऽर्थः कर्मनैपुणम्।
पात्रे दानं परः कामः परो मोक्षो वितृष्णता॥

The greatest religion is helping others. The noblest wealth is giving aptly. Supreme love lies in giving to the worthy. And the highest liberation is ...

charity (128) dharma (540) detachment (573) moksha (63) love (1567) ethics (803) selflessness (65) duty (198) fulfillment (89) giving (75)

उपकारकमायतेर्भृशं प्रसवः कर्मफलस्य भूरिणः।
अनपायि निबर्हणं द्विषां न तितिक्षासममस्ति साधनम्॥

The root of great karma is benevolence. Nothing removes the poison of enmity like tolerance. No austerity equals forbearance in taming hatred.

tolerance (37) forbearance (9) enmity (29) karma (500) endurance (85) virtue (726) compassion (359) forgiveness (114) enemy (92) strength (359)

उपकारगृहीतेन शत्रुणा शत्रुमुद्धरेत्।
पादलग्नं करस्थेन कण्टकेनेव कण्टकम्॥

With a favor received from an enemy, one can remove that very enemy—like using a thorn to remove another thorn stuck in the foot.

strategy (222) enemy (92) favor (20) thorn metaphor (1) reciprocity (9) wisdom (1611) danger (229) caution (269) irony (348) retaliation (11)