All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

उपभुक्ताशेषवृषं धावन्तं मृगशिरेशभोगाय।
कः खेचरकेसरिणं पश्यतु भास्वन्तमन्तकप्रतिमम्॥

Chasing past pleasures, the mind runs after fading stars. Who sees the blazing sun of truth, like death itself, standing still amid fleeting beauty?

desire (898) illusion (355) pursuit (20) truth (300) mortality (89) cosmic (51) futility (143) clarity (135) wisdom (1611) metaphor (1632)

उपभोक्तुं न जानाति कदापि कृपणो जनः।
आकण्ठजलमग्नोऽपि कुक्कुरो लेढि जिह्वया॥

A wretched man cannot enjoy what he has — like a dog submerged in water, licking droplets. Poverty of spirit makes one blind to abundance.

poverty (128) desire (898) ignorance (301) futility (143) metaphor (1632) enjoyment (27) inadequacy (3) human-nature (1) irony (348) possession (16)

उपभोगकातराणां पुरुषाणामर्थसंचयपराणाम्।
कन्यामणिरिव सदने तिष्ठत्यर्थः परस्यार्थे॥

In greedy men obsessed with wealth and pleasure, riches reside like a maiden-jewel in another’s house — present but not theirs. Obsession renders owne...

greed (141) desire (898) wealth (447) emptiness (35) illusion (355) metaphor (1632) ownership (7) irony (348) detachment (573) futility (143)

उपभोगादृते तस्य नाश एव न विद्यते।
प्राक्तनं बन्धनं कर्म कोऽन्यथा कर्तुमर्हति॥

If one doesn’t enjoy what one earns, it's as good as lost. Destiny binds through karma, and no one can reverse what’s ordained. Use wisely what’s give...

karma (500) fate (402) enjoyment (27) destiny (289) philosophy (290) use (3) impermanence (242) caution (269) life (126) wisdom (1611)

उपभोगाय च धनं जीवितं येन रक्षितम्।
न रक्षिता तु भूर्येन किं तस्य धनजीवितैः॥

Wealth and life are meant for use, not mere preservation. He who hoards without joy protects emptiness — what value then in his guarded treasure?

hoarding (12) life-purpose (1) wealth (447) enjoyment (27) futility (143) wisdom (1611) use (3) preservation (12) value (170) philosophy (290)

उपभोगेन पुण्यानां प्राक्तनानां तथांहसाम्।
कर्तव्यमिति नित्यानाम् अकामकरणात् तथा॥

The experiences of pleasure and pain are fruits of past merits and sins. Daily duties must be performed selflessly, without desire for results — that'...

karma (500) pleasure (82) sin (135) duty (198) selflessness (65) nitya-karma (1) destiny (289) vedic-ethics (1) liberation (230) cause-effect (15)

उपभोगैरपि त्यक्तं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
चण्डालत्वेऽपि मानुष्यं सर्वथा तात दुर्लभम्॥

Even amidst indulgence, one must not degrade the soul. Though born a lowly outcaste, human birth is rare and precious — one must not waste it.

human-dignity (1) indulgence (46) soul (76) degradation (19) rebirth (102) rarity (48) ethical-living (1) value (170) wisdom (1611) humanity (30)

उपमा कालिदासस्य भारवेरर्थगौरवम्।
दण्डिनः पदलालित्यं माघे सन्ति त्रयो गुणाः॥

Kalidasa shines in similes, Bharavi in depth of meaning, Dandin in wordcraft — but Magha alone holds all three. A beautiful tribute to poetic excellen...

poetry (588) simile (28) depth (43) elegance (171) comparison (402) kalidasa (12) bharavi (2) dandin (1) magha (1) literary-analysis (1)

उपमानमभूद् विलासिनां करणं यत् तव कान्तिमत्तया।
तदिदं गतमीदृशीम् दशां न विदीर्ये
कठिनाः खलु स्त्रियः॥

The object used to describe your beauty has become itself pale in comparison. Such is the indifference of women — even the finest metaphors fail befor...

beauty (1797) metaphor (1632) vanity (38) emotion (652) comparison (402) women (268) grace (359) exaggeration (34) poetic-imagery (8) irony (348)

उपययौ तनुतां मधुखण्डिता हिमकरोदयपाण्डुमुखच्छविः।
सदृशमिष्टसमागमनिर्वृतिं वनितयानितया रजनीवधूः॥

As the moon rose pale, marked by honey-smeared thinness, the night-bride reflected the joy and exhaustion of a long-awaited union.

moonlight (152) night (145) feminine (63) beauty (1797) symbolism (947) love (1567) fulfillment (89) union (125) reflection (267) subtlety (175)