All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कष्टं वने निवसतोऽत्र सदा नरस्य
नो केवलं निजतनुप्रभवं भवेच् च।
दैवं च पित्र्यमखिलं न विभाति कृत्यं तस्माद्
गृहे निवसतात्महितं प्रचिन्त्यम्॥

Even forest-dwellers suffer—mere external renunciation is not enough. True wellbeing requires thoughtful action and mindful living, even at home.

renunciation (267) forest life (7) dharma (540) action (258) household (30) contemplation (25) balance (185) spiritual life (7) responsibility (133) wisdom (1611)

कष्टं साहसकारिणि तव नयनार्धेन सोऽध्वनि स्पृष्टः।
उपवीतादपि विदितो न द्विजदेहस् तपस्वी ते॥

You, a bold ascetic, were exposed by just a glance—yet that glance revealed more than a sacred thread ever could. True identity is beyond symbols.

identity (65) perception (181) ascetic (18) glance (185) revelation (11) sacred thread (2) symbolism (947) truth (300) disguise (39) wisdom (1611)

कष्टं हृदि ज्वलति शोकमयो
ममाग्निस् ते चक्षुषी च विरहज्वरजागरुके।
एतन्मनो भ्रमति विष्वगसूंस् तथापि त्वं
पश्यतोहर इव स्मर हर्तुकामः॥

My heart burns in the fire of grief, my eyes blaze with love-fever, yet you, like a thief, still seek to steal my heart—O Cupid!

separation (258) grief (129) love (1567) burning heart (2) longing (690) fire (219) vision (81) emotion (652) divine desire (4) romantic pain (6)

कष्टा वृत्तिः पराधीना कष्टो वासो निराश्रयः।
निर्धनो व्यवसायश्च सर्वकष्टा दरिद्रता॥

A dependent livelihood, shelterless life, lack of initiative—all are painful. But nothing is more painful than poverty.

poverty (128) suffering (358) dependence (24) shelterlessness (1) livelihood (17) hardship (47) human condition (13) struggle (49) helplessness (100) social critique (16)

कष्टा वेधव्यथा कष्टो नित्यं च वहनक्लमः।
श्रवणानामलंकारः कपोलस्य तु कुण्डलम्॥

Piercing pain is hard to bear, carrying weight daily is harder—but earrings are a mere ornament to ears; the face bears no load.

pain (225) burden (40) beauty (1797) metaphor (1632) physical endurance (1) jewelry (8) aesthetics (180) symbolism (947) stoicism (18) poetic imagery (180)

कष्टे नोपार्जितं वित्तं हेलया क्वापि निर्गतम्।
किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि निर्भाग्योऽहं भुवस्तले॥

Wealth not earned with effort leaves carelessly, and the speaker laments their misfortune, feeling accursed on this Earth.

wealth (447) loss (191) fortune (115) effort (289) lament (41) destiny (289) karma (500) helplessness (100) poverty (128) despair (67)

कष्टो जनः कुलधनैरनुरञ्जनीयस्
तन्नो यदुक्तमशिवं न हि तत् क्षमं ते।
नैसर्गिकी सुरभिणः कुसुमस्य सिद्धा मूर्ध्नि
स्थितिर्न चरणैरवताडनानि॥

The noble do not retaliate when criticized by the lowly—just as a fragrant flower does not fall even when stepped upon.

nobility (253) insult (44) restraint (226) metaphor (1632) humility (596) forgiveness (114) virtue (726) flower (39) fragrance (199) self-worth (35)

कष्टोपार्जितमत्र वित्तम्खिलं द्यूते मया
योजितं विद्या कष्टतरं गुरोरधिगता व्यापारिता कुस्तुतौ।
पारम्पर्यसमागता च विनयो वामेक्षणायां कृतः सत्पात्रे
किमहं करोमि विवशः कालेऽद्य नेदीयसि॥

Hard-earned wealth gambled away, hard-won learning wasted, and inherited virtue lost for a woman’s smile—what can one do when fate rules?

fate (402) loss (191) gambling (12) knowledge (279) downfall (265) beauty (1797) helplessness (100) misfortune (65) impermanence (242) lament (41)

कस्तस्य जीवितार्थः सति
विभवे कश्च तस्य पुरुषार्थः।
योऽर्थिनमभिमुखमागतम् अनभिमुखः सन् विसर्जयति॥

What’s the point of wealth or life for one who sends away a supplicant empty-handed? Such a man lacks true purpose.

generosity (169) purpose (66) values (171) compassion (359) rejection (86) ethics (803) meaning of life (2) wealth (447) selfishness (62) giver (6)

कस्तां निन्दति लुम्पति
कः स्मरफलकस्य बर्णकं मुग्धः।
को भवति रत्नकण्टकम् अमृते कस्यारुचिरुदेति॥

Who mocks Cupid’s target—the beautiful woman’s forehead mark? Who rejects nectar? Only fools scorn what is universally cherished.

beauty (1797) love (1567) sarcasm (74) appreciation (18) divine charm (24) envy (48) irony (348) ornament (58) desire (898) poetic defense (4)