All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

एकाकिना तपो द्वाभ्यां पठनं गायनं त्रिभिः।
चतुर्भिर्गमनं क्षेत्रं पञ्चभिर्बहुभी रणः॥

Penance is done alone, study by two, singing by three, travel by four, and war with many. Activities scale with participants.

solitude (41) action (258) study (29) companionship (52) teamwork (13) society (152) ritual (164) travel (44) warfare (36) tradition (283)

एकाकिना न गन्तव्यं यदि कार्यशतं भवेत्।
एककुक्कुटमात्रेण ब्राह्मणः परिरक्षितः॥

Even with a hundred tasks, don’t go alone. A Brahmin was once saved merely because of a rooster’s presence.

safety (26) caution (269) travel (44) companionship (52) tale (3) protection (293) wisdom (1611) tradition (283) solitude (41) vigilance (45)

एकाकिना न गन्तव्यं यदि कार्यशतान्यपि।
कर्कटीजन्तुमात्रेण कालसर्पो निपातितः॥

One shouldn’t go alone, even for a hundred tasks. A small crab once killed a deadly serpent—unexpected help saves.

danger (229) caution (269) help (35) travel (44) companionship (52) survival (91) metaphor (1632) wisdom (1611) tradition (283) parable (17)

एकाकिनि वनवासिन्य् अराजलक्ष्मण्यनीतिशास्त्रज्ञे।
सत्त्वोच्छ्रिते मृगपतौ राजेति गिरः परिणमन्ति॥

Though living alone in the forest, without royal attire or law, the noble lion is still called king—true virtue earns honor.

lion (58) king (200) forest (145) virtue (726) nobility (253) solitude (41) title (2) honor (131) nature (950) symbolism (947)

एकाकिनीं रहः क्षीबां लब्ध्वा दुर्लभयोषितम्।
अप्रौढोऽनुपभुज्यान्यदिने दूत्यार्थयेत यः॥

If one finds a rare, intoxicated woman in solitude and still refrains from exploiting her, he should court her the next day—ethics over lust.

ethics (803) restraint (226) temptation (79) honor (131) woman (157) virtue (726) intoxication (44) consent (8) nobility (253) desire (898)

विभूतिं रभसावाप्तां यश्च संत्यज्य तत्क्षणम्।
नीत्या कामयतेऽन्येद्युः
शोच्यस्ताभ्यां परोऽस्ति कः॥

One who hastily acquires wealth and fame, then abandons it the next day for pleasure, deserves deep sorrow. Who is more pitiable?

fame (166) wealth (447) desire (898) transience (62) greed (141) fall (63) loss (191) recklessness (9) sorrow (325) ethics (803)

एकाकिनी यदबला तरुणी तथाहम्
अस्मिन् गृहे गृहपतिश्च गतो विदेशम्।
किं याचसे तदिह वासमियं वराकी
श्वश्रूर्ममान्धबधिरा ननु मूढ पान्थ॥

A lonely, helpless young woman speaks to a foolish traveler, warning him of her isolation, aged relatives, and urging him not to seek lodging.

solitude (41) warning (153) innocence (103) woman (157) danger (229) helplessness (100) caution (269) vulnerability (51) hospitality (42) ethics (803)

एकाकिन्या मम गृहमिदं यामिको मामकोऽन्धः
का मे नोदेत्यहह मनसस्तस्करेणात्र भीतिः।
दैवेनैवं यदि न सुखितः स्याः श्रमेण प्रसुप्तः पान्थ
ब्रूमः किमिह सदृशो नैष नैशो निवासः॥

A woman, fearing the traveler, cites reasons—blind kin, sleeping household, her own solitude—to deny him shelter, invoking modesty and fear.

fear (252) caution (269) solitude (41) gender roles (13) night (145) suspicion (21) modesty (103) security (13) propriety (25) ethics (803)

एकाकी गृहसंत्यक्तः पाणिपात्रो दिगम्बरः।
सोऽपि संबाध्यते लोके तृष्णया पश्य कौतुकम्॥

Even the ascetic who renounces home and wears nothing but directions is trapped by desire—such is the irony of the world.

asceticism (87) desire (898) irony (348) renunciation (267) simplicity (130) temptation (79) worldliness (17) spiritual struggle (2) detachment (573) illusion (355)

एकाकी चिन्तयेन् नित्यं विविक्ते हितमात्मनः।
एकाकी चिन्तयानो हि परं श्रेयोऽधिगच्छति॥

Let one ponder alone in solitude, for such contemplation brings the highest good and clarity of self.

solitude (41) reflection (267) contemplation (25) wisdom (1611) introspection (83) focus (47) mind (176) clarity (135) peace (171) self-realization (37)