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THE MOTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE QUARTER

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.

कस्य न शोको? यः स्यादक्रोधः, किं सुखं तुष्टिः।
को राजा? रञ्जनकृत्, कश्च श्वा? नीचसेवको य: स्यात्॥

kasya na shoko? Yah syaadakrodhah, kim sukham? Tushtih,
ko raajaa? Ranjanakrit, kashcha shwaa? Neechasevako yah syaat

Q.Q: Who is without sorrow?

A: One who never gets angry

Q: What is happiness?

A: Contentment

Q: Who is king?

A: One who keeps his subjects happy.

Q: Who is a dog?

A: One who serves a mean person.

को मायी? परमेशः, क इन्द्रजालायते? प्रपञ्चोऽयं।
कः स्वप्ननिभॊ? जाग्रद्व्यवहारः सत्यमपि किं? ब्रह्म॥

ko maayee? Parameshah, ka indrajaalaayate? Prapancho’yam
kah swapnanibho? Jaagradvyavahaarah, satyamapi kim? Brahma

Q: Who is the master of maayaa?

A: The Lord of all

Q: What is indrajaala (the great magic)?

A: The whole of this universe

Q: What is dream-like?

A: Whatever is happening in the waking state.

Q: What is Truth?

A: Brahman

किं मिथ्या? यद्विद्यानाश्यं, तुच्छं तु? शशविषाणादि।
का चानिर्वचनीया? माया, किं कल्पितं द्वैतं॥

kim mithyaa? Yadwidyaanaashyam, tuchchham tu? shashavishaanaadi
kaa chaanirvachaneeyaa? maayaa, kim kalpitam? Dwaitam

Q: What is mithyaa (illusion, non-existent which appears as existent)?

A: That which disappears when true knowledge dawns.

Q: What is tuchchha?

A: Things like horns of a hare which do not exist at all

Q: What is indefinable?

A: Maayaa

Q: What is imagined?

A: Duality

किं पारमार्थिकं स्यात्? अद्वैतं चाज्ञता कुतो? अनादिः।
वपुषश्च पोषकं किं? प्रारब्धं चान्नदायी किं? चायुः

Kim paaramaarthikam syaat? Adwaitam, chaajnataa kuto? anaadih
Vapushashcha poshakam kim? Praarabdham, chaannadaayi kim? Chaayuh

Q: What is the highest goal?

A: Adwaitam (non-duality)

Q: From whence ignorance?

A: Without beginning

Q: What is nourishment to the body?

A: praarabdham ( past actions which have started yielding their fruits)

Q: Which provides food (anna)?

A: Aayuh (years of life one is destined to live)

को ब्राह्मणैरुपास्यॊ? गायत्र्यर्काग्निगोचरो शंभुः।
गायत्र्यामादित्ये चाग्नौ शम्भौ च किं नु? तत्तत्वं
ko braahmanairupaasyo? Gaayatryarkaagnigocharo shambhuh gaayatryaamaaditye chaagnau shambhau cha kim nu? Tattatwam

Q: Who is to be worshipped by brahmanas?

A: Shambhuh (Lord Shiva) who is manifest in Gaayatri, the Sun and Agni (the Fire)

Q: What is there in Gaayatri, the Sun, the Fire and Shambhuh?

A: Sivatattwa (the Ultimate Reality)

प्रत्यक्षदेवता का? माता, पूज्यो गुरुश्च कः? तातः।
कः सर्वदेवतात्मा? विद्याकर्मान्वितो विप्रः॥
pratyaksha devataa kaa? Maataa, poojyo gurushcha kah? taatah
Kah sarvadevataatmaa? Vidyaakarmaanwito viprah

Q: Who is the manifest devataa (God)?

A: Mother

Q: Who deserves worship and is also guru?

A: Father

Q: In whom is manifest all the gods?

A: Brahmana in whom there is true knowledge and who performs vedic karmas, without attachment, as an offering to God.

कश्च कुलक्षयहेतुः? संतापः सज्जनेषु योऽकारि।
केषाममोघवचनं? ये च सत्यमौनशमशीलाः॥
kashcha kulakshayahetuh? Samtaapah sajjaneshu yo’kaari keshaamamoghavachanam? Ye cha punah satyamaunashamasheelaah

Q: What leads to the fall of a dynasty?

A: Such actions as cause mental and physical agony to the good (noble men)

Q: Whose words never fail to be true and effective?

A: One who is truthful, who keeps silence ( has control over his speech) and whose mind is tranquil.

किं जन्म? विषयसंगः किमुत्तरं जन्म? पुत्रः स्यात्।
कोऽपरिहार्यॊ? मृत्युः कुत्र पदं विन्यसेच्च? दृक्पूते॥
kim janma? Vishaya sangah, kimuttaram janma? Putrah syaat
ko’parihaaryo? Mrityuh, kutra padam vinyasechcha? Drikpoote

Q: What is the cause of birth?

A: Attachment to sensual pleasures

Q: What is after-birth?

A: After-birth is the son

Q: What cannot be avoided?

A: Death.

Q: Where should one place one’s foot?

A: Where one’s eyes tell that the place is clean.

पात्रं किमन्नदाने? क्षुधितं, कोऽर्च्योहि? भगवदवताराः।
कश्च भगवान्? महेशः शंकरनारायणात्मैकः॥
paatram kimannadaane? Kshudhitam, ko’rchyo hi? Bhagavadavataarah
kashcha bhagavaan? Maheshah shankaranaaraayanaatmaikah

Q: Who is the fit person to receive alms?

A: One who is hungry.

Q: Who is to be worshipped?

A: The incarnations of the Lord (God, Bhagavaan)

Q: Who is Bhagavaan?

A: The one Spreme Lord in whom Shankara and Naraayana are united.

फलमपि भगवत्भक्तेः किं? तल्लोकसाक्षात्वं।
मोक्षश्च को? ह्यविद्यास्तमयः कः सर्ववेदभूः अथचॊं॥
phalamapi bhagavat bhakteh kim? Tallokasaakshaatwam
Mokshashcha ko? Hyavidyaastamayah, kah sarvavedabhooh? Atha chom

Q: What is the fruit of devotion to God?

A: Attaining the abode of the Lord

Q: What is moksha (liberation)?

A: Liberation from ignorance (the end of avidya)

Q: What is the source of all the Vedas

A: The syllable ‘OM’