All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कान्तदूत्य इव कुङ्कुमताम्राः
सायमण्डलमभित्वरयन्त्यः।
सादरं ददृशिरे वनिताभिः सौधजालपतिता रविभासः॥

The crimson rays of the setting sun, appearing like messengers from a beloved smeared with vermilion, spread through the palace lattices. Women watch ...

sunset (36) crimson light (2) palace lattice (1) romantic imagery (28) nature’s symbolism (1) beauty (1797) feminine gaze (2) metaphor (1632) sunrays (2) poetic vision (16)

कान्तप्रकर्षं दशनच्छदेन
सन्ध्याघने बद्धपदं हरन्त्याः।
तस्या गृहोद्यानसरोगतस्य हस्तस्य
एवाम्बुरुहस्य रागः॥

A beloved’s soft red palms, shining through the delicate fingers while plucking a flower in the garden, appear as if a lotus itself bears love’s hue. ...

love (1567) garden (22) lotus (346) femininity (225) red hue (7) beauty (1797) hands (16) romance (506) metaphor (1632) passion (501)

कान्तर्मूर्ध्नि दधती विधित्सया
तन्मणेः श्रवणपूरमुत्पलम्।
रन्तुमर्चनमिवाचरत् पुरः सा स्ववल्लभतनो मनोभुवः॥

The lady places a lotus near her beloved’s ear, enacting what appears to be a ritual. The act mirrors the worship of Cupid himself through the beloved...

love (1567) worship (89) ritual (164) beauty (1797) beloved (86) lotus (346) affection (216) symbolism (947) romance (506) sacred love (2)

कान्तया कान्तसंयोगे किमकारि नवोढया।
अत्रापि चोत्तरं वक्तुम् अवधिर्ब्रह्मणो वयः॥

What joy does a newlywed woman experience in union with her beloved? Even Brahma’s eternal life is too short to fully describe it. A hyperbolic celebr...

romance (506) hyperbole (29) divine love (53) marriage (104) joy (342) bliss (77) brahma (37) poetic exaggeration (31) intimacy (234) celebration (51)

कान्तयानुगतः कोऽयं पीनस्कन्धो मदोद्धतः।
मृगाणां पृष्ठतो याति शम्बरो रूढयौवनः॥

Who is this broad-shouldered, arrogant youth following the beloved like a deer in rut? His pride and youthful swagger raise questions about his intent...

jealousy (88) youth (261) desire (898) arrogance (135) animal metaphor (10) pursuit (20) masculinity (8) suspicion (21) drama (36) rivalry (27)

कान्तया सपदि कोऽप्युपगूढः प्रौढपाणिरपनेतुमियेष।
संहतस्तनतिरस्कृतदृष्टिर्
भ्रष्टमेव न दुकूलमपश्यत्॥

As a woman is tightly embraced, a bold hand seeks to remove the embrace — but her breasts obscure the vision, and not even her garment is seen. It’s a...

embrace (93) intimacy (234) eroticism (60) subtlety (175) passion (501) physicality (30) metaphor (1632) garment (9) sensuality (306) romance (506)

कान्तवेश्म बहु संदिशतीभिर् यातमेव रतये रमणीभिः।
मन्मथेन परिलुप्तमतीनां प्रायशः स्खलितमप्युपकारि॥

Though Manmatha makes women lose sense and err, their eager invitations to the beloved's house often result in joy, despite social missteps. A romanti...

love (1567) passion (501) mischief (16) invitation (8) romance (506) error (14) beauty (1797) forgiveness (114) seduction (89) justification (7)

कान्तसंगमपराजितमन्यौ वारुणीरसनशान्तविवादे।
मानिनीजन उपाहितसंधौ संदधे धनुषि नेषुमनङ्गः॥

After lovers’ quarrels subside under wine’s influence, even proud women are open to reconciliation. Manmatha seizes this opportunity and strings his b...

reconciliation (32) wine (19) quarrel (29) pride (317) love (1567) cupid (106) desire (898) timing (92) intimacy (234) poetry (588)

कान्तस्ते कमलाभिरामनयने कल्पे हि देशान्तरं
गन्तेति श्रुतमद्य लोकवचनात् तथ्यं किमेतद् वचः।
पृष्टा सेति मया दयाधननिधे प्रोवाच दीनानना यत् तद्
वक्तुमपि क्षमा न रसना मे जायते साम्प्रतम्॥

Upon hearing rumors that her beloved plans to leave, the lady—trembling with emotion—cannot even speak. Her tearful face conveys heartbreak beyond wor...

separation (258) rumor (5) heartbreak (65) speechless (3) emotion (652) sorrow (325) beloved (86) longing (690) despair (67) love (1567)

कान्तां कामपि कामयत्यनुदिनं ध्यानापदेशादयं
येनामुं मुनयोऽप्यनादिनिधनं ध्यायन्ति धौतस्पृहाः।
इत्यङ्कात् स्वकरे हृते गिरिजया पादे च पद्मासनाद् विश्वं
पातु पुरन्ध्रिनद्धवपुषः शम्भोः समाधिव्ययः॥

The destruction of Shiva’s meditation (when Parvati took his lap) is seen as a sacrifice to protect the world — such is the divinely overwhelming beau...

divine love (53) shiva (328) parvati (56) meditation (82) distraction (51) cosmic duty (3) beauty (1797) affection (216) myth (65) devotion (933)