All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कान्ताजनं सुरतखेदनिमीलिताक्षं
संवाहितुं समुपयानिव मन्दमन्दम्।
हर्म्येषु माल्यमदिरापरिभोगगन्धान्
आविश्चकार रजनीपरिवृत्तिवायुः॥

As the night ends, a fragrant breeze flows through palaces, touching tired lovers. The wind knows the secrets of love, desire, and exhaustion.

breeze (68) night (145) lovers (18) intimacy (234) fatigue (36) fragrance (199) secrecy (61) desire (898) transition (25) romantic atmosphere (2)

कान्ताजनेन रहसि प्रसभं गृहीत-
केशे रते स्मरसहासवतोषितेन।
प्रेम्णा मनस्सु रजनीष्वपि हैमनीषु के
शेरते स्म रसहासवतोषितेन॥

Even when dragged roughly during union, the beloved smiles with joy. Their love play echoes through winter nights, full of playful surrender.

love-play (10) surrender (223) intimacy (234) passion (501) winter (21) secrecy (61) desire (898) smile (132) acceptance (68) eroticism (60)

कान्ता ददाति मदनं मदनः संतापमसममनुपशयम्।
संतापो मरणमहो तथापि शरणं नृणां सैव॥

The beloved gives love, love gives burning pain, pain brings death — yet still, man returns to her, helplessly. Love is irresistible despite suffering...

love (1567) pain (225) surrender (223) helplessness (100) desire (898) death (241) addiction (11) romantic tragedy (1) devotion (933) irony (348)

कान्ताधरसुधास्वादाद्यूनं यज्जायते सुखम्।
बिन्दुः पार्श्वे तदध्यात्मशास्त्रास्वादसुखोदधेः॥

The joy from sipping beloved’s nectar-like lips is but a drop compared to the ocean of bliss from tasting true spiritual wisdom.

comparison (402) spiritual bliss (5) sensuality (306) wisdom (1611) joy (342) lips (92) nectar (110) metaphor (1632) philosophy (290) taste (28)

कान्ताधरासवनिपानमुपास्य धीमान्
पीयूषपानकृतये न रुचिं प्रयाति।
तत्रास्ति चेन्मधुरिमा बत कोऽपि सत्यं किं नाम
तात तृषिटाः क्षुधिताः पुनः स्युः॥

One who has tasted the beloved’s lips seeks no nectar. If spiritual nectar is sweeter, why would hunger and thirst return? A question of ultimate sati...

desire (898) lips (92) nectar (110) wisdom (1611) paradox (167) satisfaction (26) sensuality (306) spiritual longing (12) taste (28) philosophy (290)

कान्तानवाधररसामृततृष्णयेव
बिम्बं पपात शशिनो मधुभाजने यत्।
निःशेषिते मधुनि लज्जितचित्तवृत्ति तत्
तन्मुखाब्जजितकान्तितया विनष्टम्॥

The moon appears to fall into the jar of nectar, much like one thirsty for the elixir from a beloved's lips. Yet, when the nectar is emptied, the moon...

moon imagery (6) nectar (110) beauty (1797) beloved (86) desire (898) symbolism (947) comparison (402) fading light (1) shame (67) poetic metaphor (101)

कान्तानां कुवलयमप्यपास्तमक्ष्णोः
शोभाभिर्न मुखरुचाहमेकमेव।
संहर्षादलिविरुतैरितीव गायंल् लोलोर्मौ
पयसि महोत्पलं ननर्त॥

So radiant are the eyes of the beloveds that blue lotuses are disregarded. Hearing the bees’ joy, even lotuses dance on the waves in sheer delight, as...

beauty (1797) lotus (346) eye imagery (3) bees (131) joy (342) romantic nature (4) water symbolism (2) feminine grace (48) comparison (402) poetic beauty (18)

कान्तानां कृतपुलकः स्तनाङ्गरागे
वक्त्रेषु च्युततिलकेषु मौक्तिकाम्भः।
संपेदे श्रमसलिलोद्गमो विभूषां रम्याणां
विकृतिरपि श्रियं तनोति॥

Even the disarray caused by the sweat of love play — smeared perfume, fallen ornaments, flushed cheeks — enhances the beauty of the beloved. Dishevelm...

love (1567) disarray (2) beauty (1797) ornaments (49) passion (501) enhancement (5) realism (46) sensual imagery (11) emotion (652) feminine charm (36)

कान्तानां वदनेन्दुकान्तिमधुना धत्ते सुधादीधितिः
खेलत्खञ्जनपङ्क्तयो मृगदृशां तन्वन्ति नेत्रश्रियम्।
पद्मानि श्वसितस्य सौरभमभिद्रुह्यन्ति वामभ्रुवाम्
अभ्यस्यन्ति च राजहंसवनिताः पीनस्तनीनां गतिम्॥

The beloveds' moonlike faces spread nectarous charm, their eyes like wagtails bring grace, breath perfumes the air, and swans imitate their curving mo...

moonface (2) beauty (1797) fragrance (199) swans (20) nature (950) elegance (171) divine feminine (40) eye imagery (3) poetic harmony (2) grace (359)

कान्तानुरागचतुरोऽसि मनोहरोऽसि
नाथोऽसि किं च नवयौवनभूषितोऽसि।
इत्थं निगद्य सुदृशा वदने प्रियस्य निश्वस्य
बाष्पलुलिता निहिता दृगन्ताः॥

“You’re charming, young, our lord!” says the beloved, with teary eyes and lowered gaze. Love expresses itself not just in speech, but in subtle emotio...

love (1567) emotion (652) affection (216) humility (596) speech (345) tears (84) longing (690) youth (261) romantic tension (8) devotion (933)