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.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
karmaṇy evādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācana, mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi
Your right is to action alone, never to its fruits. Let not the fruit of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.
विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद्याति पात्रताम्। पात्रत्वाद्धनमाप्नोति धनाद्धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥
vidyā dadāti vinayaṃ vinayād yāti pātratām, pātratvād dhanam āpnoti dhanād dharmaṃ tataḥ sukham
Knowledge gives humility, humility earns worthiness, worthiness brings wealth, wealth enables right conduct, and that leads to happiness.
Daily Sanskrit slokas, from morning to night
Short shlokas traditionally recited at fixed moments of the day — on waking, before meals, before study, at lamp-lighting and before sleep. For a longer daily recitation, see the Vishnu Sahasranamam. For the Gita's most famous verses, see Bhagavad Gita shlokas.
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती। करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम्॥
karāgre vasate lakṣmīḥ kara-madhye sarasvatī, kara-mūle tu govindaḥ prabhāte kara-darśanam
At the tips of the fingers dwells Lakshmi, in the middle of the palm Saraswati, and at its base Govinda — so look at your palms first thing in the morning.
समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डिते। विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे॥
samudra-vasane devi parvata-stana-maṇḍite, viṣṇu-patni namas tubhyaṃ pāda-sparśaṃ kṣamasva me
O Goddess Earth, clothed by the oceans and adorned with mountains, consort of Vishnu — I bow to you; forgive me for touching you with my feet.
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्। ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना॥
brahmārpaṇaṃ brahma havir brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam, brahmaiva tena gantavyaṃ brahma-karma-samādhinā
The offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, offered by Brahman into the fire that is Brahman. One who sees Brahman in every action reaches Brahman.
सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि। विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा॥
sarasvati namas tubhyaṃ varade kāma-rūpiṇi, vidyārambhaṃ kariṣyāmi siddhir bhavatu me sadā
Salutations to you, Saraswati, giver of boons who takes any form you wish. I am beginning my studies — may I always succeed.
शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसम्पदा। शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥
śubhaṃ karoti kalyāṇam ārogyaṃ dhana-sampadā, śatru-buddhi-vināśāya dīpa-jyotir namo 'stu te
The lamp's light brings what is auspicious, well-being, health and prosperity, and destroys hostile thoughts — salutations to you, light of the lamp.
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव। त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव॥
tvam eva mātā ca pitā tvam eva tvam eva bandhuś ca sakhā tvam eva, tvam eva vidyā draviṇaṃ tvam eva tvam eva sarvaṃ mama deva deva
You alone are my mother and my father, my relative and my friend; you are my knowledge and my wealth — you are everything to me, O God of gods.
कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात्। करोमि यद्यत् सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयामि॥
kāyena vācā manasendriyair vā buddhyātmanā vā prakṛteḥ svabhāvāt, karomi yad yat sakalaṃ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi
Whatever I do — by body, speech, mind or senses, by intellect or simply by my nature — I offer all of it to the Supreme, Narayana.
How to recognise a shloka
A shloka's defining feature is its structure: two lines (pāda-pairs), each of 16 syllables, for 32 syllables total, following the Anushtubh meter's light/heavy syllable pattern (see our Sanskrit Poem guide for the full metrical rules). If you count a Sanskrit verse's syllables and get roughly 32 across two lines, you're very likely looking at a shloka — the form used for the overwhelming majority of Sanskrit epic and devotional verse.
Shloka vs Subhashita vs Mantra
These three terms describe different things that can overlap: Shloka is a metrical form (the 32-syllable structure). Subhashita is a genre (a "well-spoken" wisdom saying, regardless of its exact meter). Mantra is a function (a sacred sound used in ritual repetition). A single verse can be a Shloka that is also a Subhashita, or a Mantra that happens to be composed in Shloka meter, or all three at once — the Gita's verses are a good example of Shlokas that are also treated as spiritually significant.
Frequently asked questions
Is every Sanskrit verse a shloka?
No — shloka specifically refers to the 32-syllable Anushtubh-based form. Sanskrit poetry uses many other meters too (Trishtubh, Gayatri, Vasantatilaka and dozens more), each with a different syllable count and pattern.
Why is the shloka form so common in Sanskrit epics?
Its relatively simple, flexible structure made it easier to compose and memorise at length compared to more ornate meters, which is likely why both the Mahabharata and Ramayana — each enormously long works — are composed almost entirely in shloka meter.
What's the difference between a shloka and a mantra?
A shloka is defined by its metrical structure; a mantra is defined by its ritual/meditative function. See our Sanskrit Mantra page for mantra-specific content.