Sanskrit Humor :)


If you think that Hinduism and the Hindus of the olden days were very serious people and that their texts and literature had no sense of humor, think again! Let's enjoy today few such Sanskrit humor with English translation. Stay tune to our blog. Express YourSelf !


  • Here is a Subhashita--wisdom words, that speaks about the samudra mathana--churning the ocean of milk, and says humorously that ultimately it was the dress that made the difference for the gods Vishnu and Shiva!

किं वाससा इत्यत्र विचारणीयं
वासः प्रधानं खलु योग्यतायै ।
पीताम्बरं वीक्ष्य ददौ स्वकन्यां
दिगम्बरं वीक्ष्य विषं समुद्रः ॥

kiM vAsasA ityatra vichAraNIyaM
vAsaH pradhAnaM khalu yogyatAyai |
pItAmbaraM vIkShya dadau svakanyAM
digambaraM vIkShya viShaM samudraH ||

"What's in one's dress"—-is a point for contemplation;
apparel is indeed important for appropriateness;
Looking at the one dressed in bright yellow clothes (MahAviShNu), the ocean gave him his daughter;
seeing the one dressed in nothing (Shiva) it gave him poison!

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  • This subhAShita says that a doctor is like the brother of Yama, the Lord of Death!

vaidhyarAja namaH tubhyaM yamarAjasahodara |
yamaH tu harati prANAm vaidhyarAjaH dhanAni cha ||

वैध्यराज नमः तुभ्यं यमराजसहोदर ।
यमः तु हरति प्राणाम् वैध्यराजः धनानि च ॥

O Doctor, I salute you! You are the brother of Yama Raja!
While Yama only takes the life, the doctor takes the money too!

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  • A doctor contemplates on a burning body in the pyre!

chitAM prajvalitAM dRuShTvA vaidyo vismayamAgataH |
nAhaM gataH na me bhrAtA kasyaidaM hastalAghavaM ||

चितां प्रज्वलितां दृष्ट्वा वैद्यो विस्मयमागतः ।
नाहं गतः न मे भ्राता कस्यैदं हस्तलाघवं ॥

Seeing a body burning on a pyre, a doctor remarks in surprise:
"He is gone not by me, or by my brother, then whose sleight of hand is this?"

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  • Do our three gods of the Trinity have any fear? This subhAShita says indeed they have!

kamale brahmA shete haraH shete himAlaye |
kshIrabdhau cha hariH shete manye matkuNashankaya ||

कमले ब्रह्मा शेते हरः शेते हिमालये ।
क्शीरब्धौ च हरिः शेते मन्ये मत्कुणशन्कय ॥

BrahmA sleeps on a lotus, Shiva sleeps in HimAlaya, 
ViShNu sleeps in Ksheersaagar--it's all due to the fear of bugs in their bed!

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  • This one is about the persistent itch of becoming famous in us.

ghaTaM bhindyAt paTaM ChindyAt kuryAt rAsabharohaNaM |
yena kena prakareNa prasiddhaH puruSho bhavet ||

घटं भिन्द्यात् पटं छिन्द्यात् कुर्यात् रासभरोहणं ।
येन केन प्रकरेण प्रसिद्धः पुरुषो भवेत् ॥

Breaking a pot, tearing a cloth, or riding on a donkey--
doing something by hook or crook, (everyone) tries to be famous!

(Reminded of the Guinness Book of World Records?)

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  • Blessed are the poor!

bho dAridryaM namastubhyaM siddho&haM tatprasAdAtaH |
pashyAmyahaM jagat sarvaM na mAM pashyati kashchana ||

भो दारिद्र्यं नमस्तुभ्यं सिद्धोऽहं तत्प्रसादातः ।
पश्याम्यहं जगत् सर्वं न मां पश्यति कश्चन ॥

O poverty, homage to you; by your grace I have obtained magical powers:
I see the whole world, and nobody sees me!

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