All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कामः क्रोधो मदो मानो लोभो हर्षस् तथैव च।
एते वर्ज्याः प्रयत्नेन सादरं पृथिवीक्षिता॥

These six—lust, anger, arrogance, pride, greed, and exhilaration—must be deliberately avoided by rulers of the earth for just governance.

leadership (279) ethics (803) ruler (55) renunciation (267) lust (89) anger (185) pride (317) governance (214) responsibility (133) moral control (1)

एतेषां विजयं कृत्वा कार्यो भृत्यजयस् ततः।
कृत्वा भृत्यजयं राजा पौराञ्जनपदाञ्जयेत्॥

After conquering internal vices, a king should win over his ministers. Only then can he rule over towns and provinces successfully.

self-conquest (5) leadership (279) strategy (222) ruling (2) minister (17) progression (9) politics (111) ethics (803) hierarchy (46) discipline (380)

कामः सर्वात्मना हेयः स चेद्धातुं न शक्यते।
स्वभार्यां प्रति कर्तव्यः सैव तस्य हि भेषजम्॥

Desire must be renounced. But if not possible, it should be directed only toward one’s lawful spouse—it becomes its own medicine.

desire (898) moderation (48) marriage (104) ethics (803) dharma (540) self-control (91) redirection (4) fidelity (19) wisdom (1611) remedy (43)

काम एष महाशत्रुस् तमेकं निर्जयेद् दृढम्।
जितकामा महात्मानस् तैर्जितं निखिलं जगत्॥

Desire is the greatest enemy. One who conquers it becomes a great soul, mastering the entire world through inner victory.

desire (898) self-conquest (5) victory (118) mastery (34) great soul (1) world (25) enemy (92) strength (359) renunciation (267) spiritual greatness (5)

कामकारो महाप्राज्ञ गुरूणां सर्वदानघ।
उपपन्नेषु दारेषु पुत्रेषु च विधीयते॥

A wise man engages in desire only with propriety—towards one’s wife and children—never indiscriminately.

propriety (25) family (165) wisdom (1611) desire (898) control (139) ethics (803) boundaries (11) discipline (380) relationship (80) righteous action (5)

कामकार्मुकतया कथयन्ति भ्रूलतां मम पुनर्मतमन्यत्।
लोचनाम्बुरुहयोरुपरिस्थं भृङ्गशावकततिद्वयमेतत्॥

People call my curving eyebrows the bow of Cupid, but I see my two eyes as tiny baby bees resting upon them—poetic depiction of love.

eyebrows (10) love (1567) metaphor (1632) cupid (106) beauty (1797) eyes (211) bees (131) poetry (588) desire (898) imagery (157)

कामक्रोधं तथा लोभं स्वादु शृङ्गारकौतुके।
अतिनिद्रातिसेवे च विद्यार्थी ह्यष्ट वर्जयेत्॥

Students should avoid eight things—lust, anger, greed, sensual indulgence, excessive sleep, and overeating—if they seek learning.

student discipline (1) desire (898) sleep (38) greed (141) anger (185) control (139) learning (126) restraint (226) success (142) wisdom (1611)

कामक्रोधग्राहवतीं पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां नदीम्।
कृत्वा धृतिमयीं नावं जन्मदुर्गाणि संतर॥

The river of senses pulled by lust and anger can only be crossed by the boat of firm determination—thus one escapes life’s difficulties.

metaphor (1632) river (88) senses (65) desire (898) determination (49) journey (57) life (126) discipline (380) self-control (91) spiritual progress (6)

कामक्रोधभयादन्यैर् लोभ्यमानो न लुभ्यति।
यया शक्त्या युतः कार्ये
मन्त्रशक्तिस्तु सा स्मृता॥

He who remains undisturbed by lust, anger, fear, or greed—such steadiness is called the true power of counsel or mantrashakti.

counsel (25) discipline (380) detachment (573) mantra (53) wisdom (1611) clarity (135) power (396) advice (48) strength (359) calmness (29)

कामक्रोधमदोन्मत्ताः स्त्रीणां ये वशवर्तिनः।
न ते जलेन शुध्यन्ति स्नानतीर्थशतैरपि॥

Those intoxicated by lust, anger, and pride, under the sway of women, cannot be purified even by hundreds of sacred baths.

corruption (65) lust (89) anger (185) pride (317) impurity (28) unclean (2) women (268) temptation (79) failure (101) unredeemable (1)