All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

कामस्तु तस्य नैवास्ति प्रत्यक्षेणोपलक्ष्यते।
दम्पत्योः सहधर्मेण त्रयीधर्ममवाप्नुयात्॥

Desire is not seen openly in one who follows dharma in married life. Through righteous conduct between spouses, even Vedic dharma is upheld.

marriage (104) desire (898) dharma (540) vedas (53) hidden desire (2) conduct (143) righteousness (134) harmony (120) virtue (726) balance (185)

कामस् तु बाणावसरं प्रतीक्ष्य
पतङ्गवद् वह्निमुखं विविक्षुः।
उमासमक्षं हरबद्धलक्ष्यः शरासनज्यां मुहुराममर्श॥

Cupid waits like a moth for the right moment to attack, and repeatedly plucks the bowstring to release arrows of desire, especially in divine unions.

cupid (106) desire (898) arrows (32) divine love (53) anticipation (23) symbolism (947) union (125) attack (4) fire (219) metaphor (1632)

कामस्य कश्चिच् चतुरः शरांश्चेद्
विलङ्घयामास कथंचिदन्यान्।
उन्मज्जता कोकिलकण्ठयन्त्रात् न
पञ्चमास्त्रेण वशीवभूव॥

A clever person may dodge Cupid’s first few arrows, but even he succumbs to the enchanting fifth—melodious voice—thus love finally prevails.

desire (898) love (1567) cupid (106) music (96) voice (36) cleverness (15) surrender (223) passion (501) subtle power (3) metaphor (1632)

कामस्य जेतुकामस्य मिलनाय महीपतेः।
दिवो मीनं त्विषामीशो द्वारीकर्तुमिवाययौ॥

For a king burning with desire, even the Lord of light seems to send down stars as gatekeepers, to aid him in gaining union with his beloved.

desire (898) divine (346) love (1567) king (200) passion (501) metaphor (1632) stars (39) pursuit (20) yearning (59) poetic imagery (180)

कामस्य वेषशोभा पेशलता चारुता गुणोत्कर्षः।
नानाविधाश्च लीलाश् चित्तज्ञानं च कान्तानाम्॥

The charm of women lies in their appearance, speech, grace, virtues, playful actions, and understanding of the lover’s mind.

beauty (1797) desire (898) charm (252) women (268) qualities (18) love (1567) grace (359) appeal (8) mind reading (1) attraction (147)

कामस्यापि निदानमाहुरपरे मायां महाशासनां
निश्चित्कां सकलप्रपञ्चरचनाचातुर्यलीलावतीम्।
यत्सङ्गाद् भगवानपि प्रभवति प्रत्यङ्महामोहहा श्रीरङ्गो
भुवनोदयावनलयव्यापारचक्रेऽक्रियः॥

Even desire is said to be rooted in cosmic illusion. Through its association, the Lord himself becomes the actor in the drama of creation and destruct...

desire (898) maya (36) cosmic illusion (2) creation (117) vishnu (122) divine play (96) causation (2) metaphysics (29) illusion (355) philosophy (290)

कामस्वभावो यो यस्य न स शक्यः प्रमार्जितुम्।
न हि दुष्टात्मनामार्य मा वसत्यालये चिरम्॥

Those whose very nature is desire-driven cannot easily be purified. Just as a noble guest doesn’t linger in a wicked host’s home, purity leaves the im...

nature (950) desire (898) impurity (28) habits (8) ethics (803) purification (85) transformation (252) inner quality (4) goodness (36) character (259)

कामाग्निः परिवर्धितो विरहिणीश्वासानिलैर्निर्भरं
तूर्णं तेन कृशानुना कृशतनुर्मुग्धा न दग्धा कथम्।
बाला लोलविलोचनाम्बुजगलत्सद्वारिधाराभरैः सिक्ता सम्प्रति
तेन जीवसि हरे तां त्वं समुल्लासय॥

The fire of love grows through the sighs of separation. The beloved, though not burned, is kept alive by the showers of her own tears. O Lord, please ...

longing (690) separation (258) love (1567) fire (219) tears (84) prayer (89) desire (898) feminine (63) compassion (359) emotional suffering (4)

कामतुरो नाधिगच्छेन् महापुरुषकामिनीम्।
सहस्रयोनिदेहोऽभूद् इन्द्रोऽहल्यापरिग्रहात्॥

A man driven by lust should not approach the wife of a great soul. Even Indra, who coveted Ahalya, suffered with a thousand wounds.

lust (89) caution (269) myth (65) ahalya (2) indra (54) ethics (803) adultery (13) punishment (78) dignity (146) boundaries (11)

कामात् क्रोधाद् भयादन्यैर् लोभ्य्मानो न लुम्पति।
यया शक्त्या युतः कार्ये
मन्त्रशक्तिस्तु सा स्मृता॥

The strength by which a person resists desire, anger, fear, and greed in critical tasks is the true ‘mantra shakti’—the power of wise counsel.

desire (898) control (139) fear (252) greed (141) anger (185) wisdom (1611) self-mastery (25) counsel (25) power (396) resilience (105)