PRASNOTTARA RATNA MALIKA
Prasnottara Ratna Malika, The Gem Garland of Questions and Answers, is one among the many works by Adi Sankaracharya/ SANKARA BHAGAVATPADA. In this work, in the form of questions and answers, various issues on which doubts that may arise to ardent devotees, are sought to be cleared. English translation is given alongside the original Sanskrit text to facilitate understanding by those who are not well versed in Sanskrit language. This translation is in simple words.
2. भगवन् किमुपादेयं? गुवचनं हेयमपिचकिम्?
अकार्यं। कॊ गुरुरधिगततत्त्वः शिष्यहितायोद्यतस्सततम् ॥
Bhagavan kimupaadeyam? guruvachanam heyamapicha kim? akaaryam
Ko gururadhigata tathwah? shishyahitaayodyatah satatam
Q.
What is to be accepted without reservation?
Ans.
The words of the guru.
Q.
What is to be given up?
Ans.
Action which is against dharma
Q.
Who is guru?
Ans:
One who has realized the Truth and has the good of the disciple always in his heart.
३. त्वरितं किं कर्तव्यं विदुषां? संसारसंततिच्छेदः।
किं मॊक्षतरॊर्बीजं? सम्यग्ज्ञानं क्रियासिद्धम् ॥
Twaritam kim kartavyam vidushaam? samsaara santatichchhedah
Kim mokshatarorbeejam? samyagjnaanam kriyaasiddham
Q.
What is to be done by wise men with the utmost urgency?
Ans:
Breaking the cycle of births and deaths
Q.
Which is the seed of moksha tree (liberation)?
Ans: True knowledge which is put to actual practice
४.कः पथ्यतरो? धर्मः कश्शुचिरिह? यस्य मानसं शुद्धं ।
कः पण्डितो? विवेकी किं विषं? अवधीरणा गुरुषु॥
Kah pathyataro? dharmah, kah shuchiriha? Yasya maanasam shuddham
Kah pandito? Vivekee kim visham? avadheeranaa gurushu
Q.
Which is the greatest good?
Ans: Dharma Q.
Who is clean in this world?
Ans: He who is pure in mind. Q.
Who is wise?
Ans: He who has discrimination, who can discriminate good from bad, dharma from adharma, eternal from the ephemeral etc.
Q. What is poison?
Ans: Disregarding the words of one’s guru and elders
५. किं संसारे सारं? बहुशॊपि चिन्त्यमानमिदमेव ।
किं मनुजेष्विष्टतमं? स्वपरहितायोद्यतं जन्म॥
Kim samsaare saaram? Bahusho’pi chintyamaanamidameva
Kim manujeshwishtatamam? Swaparahitaayodyatam janma
Q. What is the essence of this samsaara (cycle of births and deaths)
Ans: It is the frequent contemplation on the question ‘What is this samsaara?’
Q. What should a man ask for?
Ans: Take birth in this world for the benefit of oneself and others
६. मदिरेव मोहजनकः कः? स्नेहः, के च दस्यवो? विषयाः।
का भववल्ली? तृष्णा, को वैरी? यस्त्वनुद्योगः
madireva mohajanakah kah? Snehah, ke cha dasyavo? Vishayaah
Kaa bhavavallee? Trishna, ko vairee? yastwanudyogah
Q. Which is as intoxicating as liquor?
Ans: Love
Q. Who are thieves?
Ans: Pleasures of the senses
Q. Which is the samsaara-creeper?
Ans: desire
Q. Who is the enemy?
Ans: Laziness
७. कस्माद्भयमिह? मरणात्, अन्धादिह को विशिष्यते? रागी।
कः शूरो? यो ललनालोचनबाणैर्नव्यथितः॥
kasmaad bhayamiha? maranaat, andhaadiha ko vishishyate? Raagee
Kah shooro? Yo lalanaa lochanabaanairna vyathitah
Q. From who is fear?
Ans: From death
Q. Who is worse than a blind person?
Ans: One who is in the grip of love (desire)
Q. who is valiant
Ans: One who does not become afflicted by the eye-arrows (gaze) of beautiful women
८. पातुम् कर्णाञ्जलिभिः किममृतमिह युज्यते? सदुपदेशः।
किं गुरुताया मूलं? यदेतदप्रार्थनं नाम
paatum karnaanjalibhih kimamritamiha yujyate? Sadupadeshah
Kim gurutaayaa moolam? Yadetadapraarthanam naama
Q. What is fit to be drunk like nectar by cupping the ears?
Ans: Advice of good (saintly) persons Q.
What is the root of dignity?
Ans: Not requesting any one anything
९. किं गहनं? स्त्रीचरितं, कश्चतुरो? यो न खण्डितस्तेन ।
को दु:खं असंतोषः किं लाघवं? अधमतो याच्ञा॥
kim gahanam? Streecharitam, kashchaturo? Yo na khanditastena
Ka dukham? Asamtoshah kim laaghavam? Adhamato yaachjnaa
Q. Which is deep?
Ans: Character of women
Q. Who is clever?
Ans: One who is not deceived by the conduct of a woman
Q. What is sorrow?
Ans: Want of contentment
Q. What makes one light (laughing stock) in the eyes of others?
Ans: Begging from a mean person
१०. किं जीवितं? अनवद्यं, किं जाड्यं? पाठतॊप्यनभ्यासः।
को जागर्ति? विवेकी, का निद्रा? मूढता जन्तोः॥
kim jeevitam? Anavadyam, kim jaadyam? Paathatopyanabhyaasah
Ko jaagarti? Vivekee, kaa nidraa? Moodhataa jantoh
Q. What is life as it should be?
Ans: That which is unblemished
Q. What is stupidity (foolishness)?
Ans: Not practicing what one has learned
Q. Who is awake?
Ans: He who has discrimination, who can discriminate good from bad, dharma from adharma, the eternal from the ephemeral
Q. What is sleep?
Ans: Ignorance of a person
११. नलिनीदलगतजलवत्तरलं किं? यौवनं धनं चायुः।
कथय पुनः के शशिनः किरणसमानाः? सज्जना एव॥
nalineedalagatajalavattaralam kim? Yauvanam dhanam chaayuh
Kathaya punah ke shashinah kiranasamaah? Sajjanaa eva
Q. Which is volatile like a drop of water on a lotus leaf?
Ans: Youth, wealth and life span of a person (aayuh)
Q. Who are those who, like the rays of the moon, make people happy?
Ans: Good persons (sajjanaah)
१२. को नरकः? परवशता, किं सौख्यं?सर्वसङ्गविरतिर्या।
किं साध्यं भूतहितं, प्रियं च किं प्राणिनां? असवः॥
Ko narakah? Paravashataa, kim saukhyam? Sarvasangaviratiryaa
Kim saadhyam? Bhootahitam, priyam cha kim praaninaam? Asavah
Q. Which is Hell?
Ans: Being under the control of another
Q. What is happiness?
Ans: Giving up all attachments
Q. What is to be achieved?
Ans: Doing good to all living beings
Q. What is dear to all beings?
Ans: One’s own life
१३. कॊऽनर्थफलो? मानः, का सुखदा? साधुजनमैत्री ।
सर्वव्यसनविनाशे को दक्षः? सर्वथा त्यागी॥
ko’narthaphalo? Maanah, kaa sukhadaa? Saadhujanamaitree
Sarvavyasana vinaashe ko dakshah? Sarvathaa tyaagi
Q. What will result in misfortune?
Ans: conceitedness
Q. What will give happiness?
Ans: Friendship with the good.
Q. Who is good at wiping out all sorrows?
Ans: One who gives up everything in every way
१४. किं मरणं? मूर्खत्वं, किं चानर्घं? यदवसरे दत्तं ।
आमरणात्किं शल्यं? प्रच्छन्नं यत्कृतं पापं॥
Kim maranam? Moorkhatwam, kim chaanargham? Yadavasare dattam
Aamaranaath kim shalyam? Prachchhannam yatkritam paapam
Q. What is death?
Ans: Stupidity (foolishness)
Q. What is invaluable?
Ans: That which is given at the appropriate moment when it is most needed by the recipient
Q. What will be a thorn in the flesh until one’s death?
Ans: A sin committed secretly. |
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