श्लोकाः
Sanskrit Shlok (Slokas) — Meaning & Origin
श्लोक (śloka) is the classical Sanskrit verse form — a couplet of two lines, each of 16 syllables, that carries the vast majority of Sanskrit epic and devotional literature, from the Bhagavad Gita to daily prayers.
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता। या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना॥
yā kundendu-tuṣāra-hāra-dhavalā yā śubhra-vastrāvṛtā, yā vīṇā-vara-daṇḍa-maṇḍita-karā yā śveta-padmāsanā
An invocation to Saraswati, goddess of learning — described as fair as jasmine, moon and snow, robed in white, holding the veena, seated on a white lotus.
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः। गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥
gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇuḥ gurur devo maheśvaraḥ, guruḥ sākṣāt para-brahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ
Honours the teacher as embodying the creator, sustainer and transformer, and ultimately the Absolute itself.
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥
vakra-tuṇḍa mahā-kāya sūrya-koṭi-sama-prabha, nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarva-kāryeṣu sarvadā
O curved-trunked, mighty-bodied one, radiant as a million suns — remove obstacles from all my endeavours, always.
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय॥
dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ, māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya
"On the field of dharma, the field of the Kurus, gathered and eager to fight — what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, Sanjaya?" The Gita's opening line, spoken by the blind king Dhritarashtra.
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः। सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत्॥
sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarve santu nirāmayāḥ, sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścid duḥkha-bhāg bhavet
May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all see good fortune, and may no one suffer.
Looking for short wisdom sayings instead of devotional verses? See our Subhashita collection. For sacred chants specifically, see Sanskrit Mantras.