All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

एकं सुते मृगारिणी बहून् सूते वृकी सुतान्।
उत्तारः प्रलयं यान्ति नाद्यमानाः कथंचन॥

The deer gives one precious child; the wolf many. But in deluge, only the first is saved—never the excess. Value and rarity matter more than number.

motherhood (36) rarity (48) excess (25) value (170) survival (91) quality (23) metaphor (1632) animal imagery (8) deluge (1) wisdom (1611)

एकं हन्यान् न वा हन्याद् इषुः क्षिप्तो धनुष्मता।
प्राज्ञेन तु मतिः क्षिप्ता हन्याद् गर्भगतानपि॥

An arrow may or may not kill, but the sharp mind of a learned person can harm even unborn thoughts—emphasizing the power of intellect and speech.

intellect (106) mind (176) weapon (20) wisdom (1611) danger (229) subtlety (175) harm (53) thought (27) influence (94) precision (22)

एकं हन्यान् न वा हन्याद् इषुर्मुक्तो धनुष्मता।
बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतोत्सृष्टा हन्याद्
राष्ट्रं सराजकम्॥

A single arrow may miss, but the released intellect of a wise one can destroy entire kingdoms. The power of thought exceeds that of weapons.

intelligence (52) destruction (292) wisdom (1611) power (396) governance (214) comparison (402) strategy (222) metaphor (1632) intellect (106) speech (345)

एकं हन्यान् न वा हन्याद् इषुर्मुक्तो धनुष्मता।
सराष्ट्रं सप्रजं हन्ति राजानं मन्त्रिनिश्चयः॥

A single arrow harms one; but a misguided king guided by his minister’s wrong decision can destroy an entire nation with its people.

kingship (164) advice (48) politics (111) danger (229) destruction (292) governance (214) minister (17) war (144) leadership (279) misjudgment (43)

एकं हि चक्षुरमलं सहजो विवेको
विद्वद्भिरेव सह संवसतिर्द्वितीयम्।
एतद् द्वयं भुवि न यस्य स तत्त्वतोऽन्धस्
तस्यापमार्गचलने वद कोऽपराधः॥

Clear vision and innate discrimination, supported by wise company, are life’s two guiding lights. One lacking both is truly blind—his missteps deserve...

wisdom (1611) guidance (149) vision (81) clarity (135) blindness (54) virtue (726) companionship (52) helplessness (100) fate (402) discrimination (65)

एकः कर्णमहीपतिः प्रतिदिनं लक्षाधिका याचकाः
कस्मै किं वितरिष्यतीति मनसा चिन्तां वृथा मा कृथाः।
आस्ते किं प्रतियाचकं सुरतरुः प्रत्यम्बुजं किं रविश् चन्द्रः
किं प्रतिकैरवं प्रतिलतागुल्मं किमम्भोधरः॥

Why worry if a king gives to many? A wish-fulfilling tree doesn’t choose its seeker; the moon, sun, and cloud serve all equally. Give freely.

charity (128) giving (75) kingship (164) equality (64) generosity (169) nature (950) metaphor (1632) philosophy (290) abundance (37) wisdom (1611)

एकः कापुरुषो दीर्णो दारयेन् महतीं चमूम्।
तं दीर्णमनु दीर्यन्ते योधाः शूरतमा अपि॥

A coward, once broken, can break an entire army’s spirit. Even the bravest follow him into despair. Cowardice is contagious in war.

war (144) leadership (279) cowardice (16) courage (146) morale (4) collapse (13) army (26) psychology (57) fear (252) influence (94)

एकः कोऽपि महीधरो लघुतरो दोर्भ्यां धृतो लीलया
तेन त्वं दिवि भूतले च विदितो गोवर्द्धनोद्धारकः।
त्वां त्रैलोक्यवहं वहामि कुचयोरग्रे सदा पुष्पवत् तत् किं
केशव जल्पितेन बहुना पुण्यैर्यशो लभ्यते॥

You (Krishna) lifted Govardhana easily. I lift your form daily on my chest—what need for more words? True glory comes from inner devotion, not outer d...

krishna (233) govardhana (3) devotion (933) strength (359) humility (596) symbolism (947) poetry (588) spiritual pride (1) surrender (223) divine (346)

एकः क्षमावतं दोषो द्वितीयो नोपलभ्यते।
यदेनं क्षमया युक्तम् अशक्तं मन्यते जनः॥

A single fault in the patient: others mistake their kindness for weakness. But this isn't a flaw; patience is the highest strength, misunderstood by t...

patience (122) strength (359) perception (181) misunderstanding (41) power (396) humility (596) ethics (803) virtue (726) judgment (94) tolerance (37)

सोऽस्य दोषो न मन्तव्यः क्षमा हि परमं बलम्।
क्षमा गुणो ह्यशक्तानां शक्तानां भूषणं क्षमा॥

That isn’t a fault! Patience is supreme strength. For the weak, it’s a virtue; for the strong, it is an ornament. True strength lies in forgiveness.

forgiveness (114) strength (359) patience (122) virtue (726) power (396) wisdom (1611) humility (596) ethics (803) greatness (146) control (139)