All Shlokas

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उपरि मिहिरः क्रूरः क्रूरास् तलेऽचलभूमयो
वहति पवनः पांशूत्कर्षी कृशः सरसो रसः।
अहह न जहत्येते प्राणांस्तदैव किमध्वगा यदि न
भवतः पत्रच्छत्रं विशन्ति महीरुहः॥

The sun burns above, the wind scorches below, rivers dry — how can a traveler survive if denied the shade of even one tree?

suffering (358) heat (60) nature (950) survival (91) traveler (8) harshness (22) longing (690) contrast (206) protection (293) nature (950)

उपरि विधृतशारिप्रौढधन्विप्रसाराद्
इह पयसि नदीनां गाहितुं नैव शक्ताः।
तटनिकटनिरूढाः प्रस्थितौ यस्य चण्डाः
सरलितकरदण्डाः कुम्भिनोऽम्भः पिबन्ति॥

The elephant breaks the riverbanks while lifting its trunk high, unable to even bathe — a metaphor for blocked expression and overwhelming strength.

frustration (39) strength (359) symbolism (947) river (88) elephant (117) boundaries (11) nature (950) suppression (9) power (396) helplessness (100)

उपरिष्ठा यदा नारी रमते कामुकं नरम्।
विपरीतं रतं ज्ञेयं सर्वकामिजनप्रियम्॥

When a woman takes the dominant role in intimacy, it becomes the most desired form for passionate union — a bold assertion of mutual enjoyment.

intimacy (234) dominance (18) equality (64) passion (501) love (1567) pleasure (82) sexuality (4) boldness (30) enjoyment (27) consent (8)

उपरिस्था भक्तिरन्तर् निर्मूला तारयेत् कथम्।
नहि भारक्षमा दृष्टा वारां सान्द्रापि नीलिका॥

Bhakti atop, but no roots within — like a plant without a base. Such shallow faith cannot uplift, like indigo unable to bear water's weight.

devotion (933) hypocrisy (141) rootlessness (2) metaphor (1632) spirituality (106) falseness (3) weight (7) collapse (13) faith (68) hollowness (8)

उपरुन्धन्ति श्वासान् मुनयो नाश्नन्ति न पिबन्ति।
स्तूयन्ते सुजनैः किं कण्ठे कुर्वन्ति कनकपाशमिमे॥

Sages restrain their breath, eat and drink not — yet are praised by nobles. Why then do they wear gold chains around their necks? A biting satire.

hypocrisy (141) asceticism (87) critique (50) gold (62) irony (348) society (152) monks (2) satire (211) spirituality (106) contradiction (28)

उपर्यंशुमतः सिद्धाश् चरन्तो यस्य सानुषु।
छत्राण्यातपसंत्रासाद् अवाचीनानि बिभ्रति॥

On the mountain peaks, the Siddhas roam above the sun’s rays, carrying umbrellas upside down — symbols of their transcendence and detachment.

siddhas (1) transcendence (83) symbolism (947) mountains (32) asceticism (87) detachment (573) enlightenment (40) divine (346) mysticism (23) uniqueness (49)

उपर्यष्टौ शतान्याहुस् तथा भूयश्च सप्ततिः।
गजानां तु परीमाणम् एतदेव विनिर्दिशेत्॥

Eight hundred plus seventy more — this is the length of an elephant’s measure, symbolic of vastness and tradition in royal description.

elephants (61) measure (3) tradition (283) symbolism (947) vastness (14) royal (9) scale (6) description (35) precision (22) imagery (157)

उपर्युपरि लोकस्य सर्वो गन्तुं समीहते।
यतते च यथाशक्ति न च तद् वर्तते तथा॥

All beings strive to rise higher — yet the higher one goes, the rarer true fulfillment becomes. Desire outpaces attainment.

ambition (52) striving (8) hierarchy (46) desire (898) elevation (28) effort (289) humanity (30) dissatisfaction (14) aspiration (22) truth (300)

उपलक्ष्य वर्णसंकर-
मपगतगुणयोगमुज्झितस्थैर्यम्।
पथिकाः समुद्विजन्ते कुदेशमिव वीक्ष्य शक्रधनुः॥

Upon seeing diluted values, mixed lineages, and fading virtues, the traveler avoids such a place like a cursed village under a broken rainbow.

degeneration (15) values (171) metaphor (1632) fear (252) loss (191) society (152) rainbow (6) traveler (8) decline (52) observation (90)

उपलनिकषं सुवर्णं पुरुषो व्यवहारनिकष उद्दिष्टः।
धूर्निकषो गोवृषभः स्त्रीणां तु न विद्यते निकषः॥

Gold is tested on a stone, a man through his actions, a bull by the yoke — but alas, there is no test for a woman’s fidelity. A provocative reflection...

testing (12) character (259) conduct (143) men (1) women (268) fidelity (19) measurement (11) behavior (249) proverb (65) society (152)