All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कण्ठे रज्जुं बद्ध्वा मृतस्य पुंसस् तु रज्जुमादाय।
तस्याः खण्डं कण्ठे बद्धं गण्डस्रजं हरति॥

A rope tied to a dead man’s neck is reused as a garland on another’s cheek. This speaks to the reusability of sacred items, or perhaps to the detachme...

death (241) rope (3) garland (31) rebirth (102) reuse (1) symbolism (947) detachment (573) sacred (66) transformation (252) irony (348)

कण्ठे वसन्ती चतुरा यदस्याः
सरस्वती वादयते विपञ्चीम्।
तदेव वाग्भूय मुखे मृगाक्ष्याः श्रोतुः
श्रुतौ याति सुधारसत्वम्॥

Sarasvati resides in her throat, playing the lute. When she speaks, even ordinary words become nectar to the listener, sweet and illuminating. Such is...

sarasvati (9) speech (345) music (96) nectar (110) eloquence (61) beauty (1797) goddess (297) wisdom (1611) words (29) sweetness (104)

कण्ठोचितोऽपि हुंकृति-
मात्रनिरस्तः पदान्तिके पतितः।
यस्याश् चन्द्रशिखः स्मर-
भल्लनिभो जयति सा चण्डी॥

Even a powerful, radiant man, fit for a woman’s side, is cast away by her mere sound of disapproval. Such is her fiery nature—like Durga’s, with brows...

feminine power (11) disapproval (4) durga (5) anger (185) beauty (1797) dominance (18) symbolism (947) love (1567) rejection (86) strength (359)

कण्डूयते दक्षिणपाणिना
चेत् स सारमेयो वदनं तदानीम्।
भक्तैः प्रभूतैः सह भूमिपालैर् भोज्यानि
भक्ष्याणि चिरं भवन्ति॥

When a dog scratches its mouth with its paw, it foretells abundance of food and generosity in the palace. Such omens, drawn from animal gestures, pred...

omen (58) dog (22) scratching (2) prediction (10) food (101) royalty (92) generosity (169) tradition (283) belief (43) folklore (15)

कण्डूलद्विपगण्डपिण्डकषणाकम्प् एन सम्पातिभिर्
धर्मस्रंसितबन्धनैः स्वकुसुमैरर्चन्ति गोदावरीम्।
छायापस्किरमाणविष्किरमुखव्याकृष्टकीटत्वचः
कूजत्क्लान्तकपीतकुक्कुटकुलाः कूले कुलायद्रुमाः॥

Elephants bathe in Godavari, garlanded with falling petals. The trees rustle, birds chirp, and exhausted roosters crow—an idyllic riverside scene fill...

godavari (2) elephant (117) nature (950) bathing (6) river (88) petals (7) birds (57) trees (54) serenity (54) poetry (588)

कण्डूयमानः खलु दक्षिणेन हस्तेन भालं भषणो ददाति।
प्रभाविनम्रीकृतराजचक्रं
राज्याभिषेके वरपट्टबन्धम्॥

The king, scratching his brow with his right hand, appears regal—prepared for coronation. A simple gesture becomes an omen of royal favor and imminent...

omen (58) king (200) coronation (7) gesture (61) symbolism (947) rule (21) royalty (92) tradition (283) honor (131) appearance (60)

कतरत् पुरहर परुषं हालाहलकवलयाचनावचसोः।
एकैव तव रसज्ञा तदुभयरसतारतम्यज्ञा॥

O Shiva! Which was harsher—drinking the deadly poison or the cruel pleas of others asking you to do so? Only your consort knew the subtle difference i...

shiva (328) poison (101) request (10) hardship (47) consort (3) sensitivity (27) suffering (358) love (1567) understanding (28) divine (346)

कति कति न पुनश्चरन्ति हन्ति
प्रतिशिखरं प्रतिकाननं कुरङ्गाः।
तदपि जनमनोविनोदहेतुर् विलसति
केष्वपि कोऽपि नाभिगन्धः॥

Deer roam countless peaks and forests, yet only a few possess that rare navel-fragrance which attracts others. Likewise, only rare individuals hold th...

deer (48) rarity (48) charm (252) uniqueness (49) fragrance (199) nature (950) metaphor (1632) comparison (402) attraction (147) value (170)

कति कति न मदोद्धताश्चरन्ति
प्रतिशिखरि प्रतिकाननं कुरङ्गाः।
क्वचिदपि पुनरुत्तमा मृगास् ते मदयति
यन् मद एव मेदिनीशान्॥

Many arrogant deer wander hills and woods, but only the finest ones truly delight the kings of earth. Similarly, true worth and beauty are recognized ...

deer (48) arrogance (135) worth (34) recognition (52) kings (49) nature (950) greatness (146) behavior (249) beauty (1797) power (396)

कति कति न लताः कलिताः संचरता चञ्चरीकरसिकेन।
नलिनि भवन्मधु मधुरं यत् पीतं तत् तदेव परिपीतम्॥

Bees wander from vine to vine tasting nectar, but what they sip fully is only that which is truly sweet. So too, in life, many things may be touched, ...

bees (131) nectar (110) vines (12) taste (28) sweetness (104) experience (37) metaphor (1632) desire (898) enjoyment (27) life (126)