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 arise in devotees, are sought to be cleared. The English translation is given alongside the original Sanskrit text to facilitate understanding by those who are not well versed in the Sanskrit language. This translation is in simple words.

कस्मात्सिद्धिः? तपसः, बुद्धिः क्व नु? भूसरे।
कुतोबुधिः? वृद्धोपसेवया, के व्रिद्धा: ये
धर्मतत्त्वज्ञा:॥

kasmaat siddhih? Tapasah, buddhih kwa nu? Bhoosure, kuto
buddhih? Vriddhopasevayaa, ke vriddhaah? Ye dharmatattvajnaah
Yatashcheshtam

Q. What is the source of achievement?

A: Penance (Tapas).

Q: Where is intelligence?

A: In a Brahmin.

Q: From where intelligence?

A: In a Brahmin.

Q: Who are aged (vriddhaah)?

A: Those who know the essence of dharma.

संभावितस्य मरणादधिकं किं? दुर्यशो भवति।
लोके सुखी भवेत् को? धनवान्, धनमपि च किं? यतश्चेष्टं॥

sambhaavitasya maranaadadhikam kim? Duryasho bhavati
Loke sukhee bhavetko? Dhanavaan, dhanamapi cha kim?
Yatashcheshtam

Q: What is worse than death for a person who is honoured by men?

A: In the proximity of good people or in Kashi (Varanasi)

Q: Who is comfortable in this world?

A: A wealthy person.

Q: What is wealth?

A: That by which one can get what one likes.

सर्वसुखानां बीजं किं? पुण्यम्, दु:खमपि कुतः पापात्।
कस्यैश्वर्यं? यःकिल शंकरमाराधयेत्भक्त्या॥

Sarvasukhaanaam beejam kim? Punyam, dukhamapi kutah? papaat
Kasyaishwaryam? Yah kila shamkaramaaraadhayet bhaktyaa

Q: What is the seed of all happiness (comforts)?

A: Punya (the fruit of meritorious deeds).

Q: From where comes sorrow?

A: From paapa (the fruit of sins).

Q: Who has affluence and exerts control over others?

A: One who worships Lord Shiva with devotion.

को वर्धते? विनीतः, को वा हीयते? यो दृप्तः।
को न प्रत्येतव्यो? ब्रूते यश्चानृतम् शश्वत्॥

Ko vardhate? Vineetah, ko vaa heeyate? Yo driptah
Ko na pratyetavyo? Broote yashchaanritam shashwat

Q: Who achieves progress?

A: One who is meek (full of humility).

Q: Who goes down?

A: One who is vain and arrogant.

Q: Who cannot be trusted?

A: One who always tells lies.

कुत्राऽनृतेप्यपापं? यच्चोक्तं धर्मरक्षणार्थं।
को धर्मो? अभिमतो यः शिष्टानां निजकुलीनानां॥

kutraa’nritepyapaapam, yachchoktam dharmarakshaartham
ko dharmo? Abhimato yah shishtaanaam nijakuleenaanaam

Q: When is uttering a lie not a sin?

A: When it is done for the protection of dharma.

Q: What is dharma?

A: Such conduct and values as have been accepted as the right ones by the noble souls amongst one’s forebears.

साधुबलं किं? दैवं, कः साधु:? सर्वदा तुष्टः।
दैवं किं? यस्सुकृतं कः सुकृती? श्लाघ्यते यस्सद्भि:॥

saadhubalam kim? Daivam, kah saadhuh? Sarvadaa tushtah
daivam kim ? yassukritam, kah sukritee? Shlaaghyate yah sadbhih

Q: What is the strength of a saintly person?

A: Daivam

Q: Who is a sadhu?

A: One who is always content and happy.

Q: What is daivam?

A: Good actions of a person (sukritam).

Q: Who is sukrite (one whose actions are good)?

A: One who is praised by good people.

गृहमेधिनश्च मित्रं किं? भार्या, को गृही च? यो यजते।
को यज्ञो? यः श्रुत्या विहितः श्रेयस्करो नृणां॥

Grihamedhinashcha mitram kim? Bhaaryaa, ko grihee cha? Yo yajate
Ko yajno? Yah shrutyaa vihitah shreyaskaro nrinaam

Q: Who is the friend of a householder?

A: His wife.

Q: Who is a householder?

A: One who performs yagnas (sacrifices).

Q: What is a yagna?

A: That which is prescribed in the Vedas for the welfare of humanity.

कस्य क्रिया हि सफला? यः पुनराचारवान् शिष्टः|
कः शिष्टो? यो वेदप्रमाणवान् को हतः?क्रियाभ्रष्टः॥

kasya kriyaa hi saphalaa? Yahpunaraachaaravaan shishtah
kah shishto? Yo vedapramaanavaan, ko hatah? kriyaabhrashtah

Q: Whose kriya (vedic karmas) bear fruit?

A: One who is of good conduct and also a shishta.

Q: Who is a shishta?

A: One who acknowledges the authority of the Vedas.

Q: Who is dead even while living?

A: One who does not perform the kriyas enjoined by the Vedas.

को धन्यः? संन्यासी, को मान्यः?पण्डितः साधुः।
कः सेव्यॊ? यो दाता, को दाता? योऽर्थितृप्तिमातनुते॥

ko dhanyah? Sanyaasee, ko maanyah? Panditah saadhuh
kah sevyo? Yo daataa, ko daataa? Yo’rthitriptimaatanute

Q: Who is a dhanya? (One who has attained the highest goal of life)?

A: Sanyasi (One who has broken the shackles which bind him to the samsaara).

Q: Who is a maanya? (One who commands respect)?

A: One who is learned and at the same time of a saintly character.

Q: Who is a dhanya? (One who has attained the highest goal of life)?

A: Sanyasi (One who has broken the shackles which bind him to the samsaara).

Q: Who is sevya (one who deserves to be served)?

A: One who gives in charity.

Q: Who is a daataa(giver)?

A: One who satisfies those who beg from him.

किं भाग्यं देहवतां? आरोग्यं, कः फली? कृषिकृत्।
कस्य न पापं? जपतः, कः पूर्णो? यः प्रजावान् स्यात्

kim bhaagyam dehavataam? Aarogyam, kah phalee? Krishikrit
kasya na paapam? Japatah, kah poorno? Yah prajaavaan syaat

Q: What is blessing for one who has a body?

A: Health (absence of disease).

Q: Who enjoys the fruits?

A: One who tills the soil (puts in effort).

Q: Who has no sins?

A: One who does japa.

Q: Who is whole (full)?

A: One who has children.

किं दुष्करं नराणाम्? यन्मनसो निग्रह्स्सततं।
को ब्रह्मचर्यवान् स्यात्? यश्चास्खलितो ऊर्ध्वरेतश्च॥

kim dushkaram naraanaam? Yanmanaso nigrahah satatam
ko brahmacharyavaan syaat? Yashchaaskhalito oordhwaretaskah

Q: What is difficult to do for humans?

A: Keeping the mind under control always.

Q: Who is a brahmachaari?

A: One who has sublimated one’s sex energy.

का च परदेवता? चिच्छक्तिः, को जगत्भर्ता? सूर्यः।
सर्वेषां को जीवनहेतुः? स पर्जन्यः॥

kaa cha paradevataa? Chichchhaktih, ko jagatbhartaa?
Sooryah, sarveshaam ko jeevanahetuh? sa parjanyah

Q: Who is paradevata ?

A: The Divine mother, embodiment of pure consciousness.

Q: Who supports these worlds?

A: The Sun.

Q: What is the source of living for all?

A: Clouds which give rain.

कः शूरो? यो भीतत्राता, त्राता च कः? स गुरुः।
को हि जगद्गुरुरुक्तः शंभुः ज्ञानं कुतः? शिवादेव॥

kah shooro? Yo bheetatraataa, traataacha kah? sa guruh
Ko hi jagatgururuktah? Shambhuh, jnaanam kutah? Shivaadeva

Q: Who is valiant?

A: One who protects the frightened.

Q: Who is the protector?

A: A spiritual teacher.

Q: Who is the teacher for the whole world?

A: Lord Shiva.

Q: From whom comes true knowledge?

A: Only from Lord Shiva.

मुक्तिम् लभेत कस्मात्? मुकुन्दभक्तेः, मुकुन्दः कः?।
यस्तारयेदविद्यां, का चाविद्या? यदात्मनोऽस्फूर्तिः॥

(muktim labheta kasmaat? mukundabhakteh, mukundah kah?
Yastaarayedavidyaam, kaa chaavidyaa? Yadaatmano’sphoortih)

Q: From who does one get liberation?

A: From Mukunda.

Q: Who is Mukunda?

A: He who extricates one from the grip of ignorance (avidyaa).

Q: What is avidyaa?

A: Forgetting one’s real Self.