All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कान्तं वक्ति कपोतिकाकुलतया नाथान्तकालोऽधुना
व्याधोऽधो धृतचापसज्जितशरः श्वेनः परिभ्रामति।
इत्थं सत्यहिना स दष्ट इषुणा श्येनोऽपि तेनाहतस् तूर्णं तौ
तु यमालयं प्रति गतौ दैवी विचित्रा गतिः॥

A tragic tale: a woman speaks of her beloved, unaware he has just died. He was killed by fate — poisoned, then pierced by an arrow. Destiny’s strange ...

fate (402) tragedy (24) death (241) love (1567) irony (348) timing (92) misfortune (65) destiny (289) sorrow (325) divine will (29)

कान्तं विचिन्त्य सुलभेतरसंप्रयोगां
श्रुत्वा विदर्भपतिमानमितं बलैश्च।
धाराभिरातप इवाभिहतं सरोजं दुःखायते
च हृदयं सुखमश्नुते च॥

Remembering his beloved, so near yet unreachable, causes a bittersweet ache — like a lotus burned by sun yet soothed by rain.

longing (690) memory (202) ambivalence (1) passion (501) love (1567) heartache (23) contrast (206) desire (898) rain (91) burning (9)

कान्तं विना नदीतीरं मदमालोक्य केकिनी।
अत्र क्रियापदं गुप्तं यो जानाति स पण्डितः॥

A clever verse hides its verb, just as a peahen reacts in joy seeing her mate. Understanding the hidden motion makes one a true scholar.

poetry (588) hidden meaning (4) grammar (17) metaphor (1632) scholar (13) intelligence (52) peacock (45) observation (90) mastery (34) wit (31)

कान्तं वीक्ष्य विपक्षपक्ष्मलदृशः पादाम्बुजालक्तकैर्
आलिप्ताननमानतीकृतमुखी चित्रार्पितेवाभवत्।
रूक्षं नोक्तवती न वा कृतवती निःश्वासकोष्णे दृशौ
प्रातर्मङ्गलमङ्गना करतलादादर्शमादर्शयत्॥

A betrayed wife, upon seeing signs of infidelity, says nothing but shows him a mirror. A silent, dignified confrontation through reflection, not words...

betrayal (168) silence (94) dignity (146) confrontation (10) infidelity (5) mirror (14) emotion (652) restraint (226) expression (146) poise (8)

कान्तः कटाक्षपातेन भ्रामयन्नयनद्वयम्।
सुगन्धिमारुतो तात शृङ्गाररससेवितः॥

The beloved’s glance is like scented breeze soaked in the nectar of love, stirring hearts with refined erotic delight.

glance (185) sensuality (306) breeze (68) love (1567) romance (506) passion (501) fragrance (199) subtlety (175) delight (52) stimulation (2)

कान्तः करं स्पृशति जल्पति
चाटुवाचम् आलोकते मुखमपाकुरुते दुकूलम्।
इत्येव केवलमनङ्ग विलासभीता स्वप्नेऽपि
पश्यति नवोढसरोरुहाक्षी॥

A newlywed maiden dreams of her beloved’s touch, voice, and gaze. Even in her sleep, she is filled with shy joy and fear.

dream (23) intimacy (234) shyness (81) love (1567) maiden (32) romance (506) gaze (69) touch (54) speech (345) subconscious (1)

कान्तः कुचादेककरेण वेणीम् एणीदृशः कर्षति कौतुकेन।
अन्याङ्गनासङ्गमशुद्धिहेतोः श्यामां
भुजङ्गीमिव हेमकुम्भात्॥

A jealous man pulls his beloved’s braid from her chest like a golden serpent from a pot — an intense, symbolic act of exclusive love.

jealousy (88) possessiveness (7) braid (12) serpent (37) love (1567) exclusivity (14) symbolism (947) beauty (1797) gold (62) romantic tension (8)

कान्तः कृतान्तचरितः कुटिला तदम्बा
वज्रोपमानि वचनानि च दुर्जनानाम्।
प्रत्यङ्गमन्तरतनोः प्रहरन्ति बाणाः प्राणाः
पुनः सखि बहिर्न खलु प्रयान्ति॥

A lover's words, a mother’s sarcasm, and a villain’s insults all strike like internal arrows — yet the pain remains unspoken, piercing the soul.

pain (225) words (29) emotional hurt (1) inner wounds (1) sarcasm (74) love (1567) insult (44) mother (35) concealment (30) sorrow (325)

कान्तः पदेन हत इति सरलामपराध्य किं प्रसादयथ।
सोऽप्येवमेव सुलभः पदप्रहारः प्रसादः किम्॥

After hurting her with his foot, the man offers an easy apology. She questions — if injury is easy, why should forgiveness be too? A challenge to shal...

hurt (7) apology (10) forgiveness (114) betrayal (168) sarcasm (74) relationship (80) ethics (803) emotion (652) questioning (27) love (1567)

कान्तः पुत्रि हठाद् गतश्चरणयोर्न त्वं निपत्य
स्थिता बद्धो मेखलयानया रतिरहः सख्या न वा फूत्कृतम्।
का लज्जा मुषितासि किं प्रकटितैरेभिर्विलक्षस्मितैर् आः
पापे विरहानलस्य न शिखा जानासि मर्मच्छिदः॥

A mother mocks her daughter’s modesty after a secret union, noting how her faint smiles fail to hide the burning fire of separation within.

sarcasm (74) modesty (103) fire (219) separation (258) mother-daughter (1) longing (690) emotional pain (21) societal norms (9) love (1567) irony (348)