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.
कुत्रविधेयोयत्नो? विद्याभ्यासेसदौषधेदाने।
अवधीरणाकाकार्या? खलपरयोषित्परधनेषु॥
kutravidheyoyatno? Vidyaabhyaasesadaushadhedaane
avadheeranaakaakaaryaa? Khalaparayoshitparadhaneshu
Q.
Where should one direct one’s efforts?
Ans.
In the acquisition of knowledge, healthy medicines and in generously giving to the needy.
Q.
What should one disregard (not care about)?
Ans.
Bad characters, other men’s wives and others’ wealth
काऽहर्निशमनुचिन्त्या? संसारासारता न तु प्रमदा।
काप्रेयसीविधेया? करुणादीनेषुसज्जनेमैत्री॥
kaa’harnishamanuchintyaa? Samsaaraasaarataa na tupramadaa
Kaapreyaseevidheya? Karunaadeeneshusajjanemaitree
Q.
What should one think of day and night?
Ans:
Evanescence of this world (samsaara), not beautiful women
Q.
What should be the object of one’s love?
Ans:
Kindness towards the miserable and friendship with the good.
कण्ठगतैरप्यसुभिःकस्यह्यात्मा न शक्यतेजेतुम्?
मूर्खस्यशंकितस्यविषादिनोवाकृतघ्नस्य॥
kanthagatairapyasubhih kasyahyaatmaa na sakyatejetum?
Moorkhasyashankitasyavishaadinovaakritaghnasya
Q.
Whose aatmaa (mind, soul) cannot be conquered (brought to the righteous path) even when he is on his death bed?
Ans: The aatmaa of a fool, of an incorrigible doubter, of one steeped in sorrow or of one who is ungrateful
कःसाधुः? सद्वृत्तःकमधममाचक्षते? त्वसद्वृत्तं।
केनजितंजगदेतत्? सत्यतितिक्षावतापुंसा॥
kahsaadhuh? Sadvrittahkamadhamamaachakshate? Twasadvrittam
kenajitamjagadetat? Satyatitikshaavataapumsaa Q.
Who is a saadhu?
Ans: One whose conduct and character are good
Q.
Who is considered the worst kind of person?
Ans: One whose conduct and character are bad
Q.
By whom is this world conquered?
Ans: By one who is established in truth and forbearance (capacity to suffer)
कस्मैनमांसिदेवाःकुर्वन्ति? दयाप्रधानाय।
कस्मादुद्वेगस्स्यात्? संसारारण्यतःसुधियः॥
kasmainamaamsidevaahkurvanti? Dayaapradhaanaaya
kasmaadudwegasyaat? Samsaaraaranyatahsudhiyah
Q.
To whom the celestials (devas) offer their salutations?
Ans:
To the one whose chief virtue is kindnessQ.
What causes fear in the mind ?
Ans: The forest of samsaara creates fear in the mind of wise men.
कस्यवशेप्राणिगणः? सत्यप्रियभाषिणोविनीतस्य।
क्वस्थातव्यं? न्याय्येपथिदृष्टादृष्टलाभाढ्ये॥
kasyavashepraaniganah? satyapriyabhaashinovineetasya
kwasthaatavyam? Nyaayepathidrishtaadrishtalaabhaadhye Q.
In whose control are living beings?
Ans:
One whose words are true and soothing and whose virtue is humilityQ.
Where should one stay?
Ans:
On the righteous path which yields good in this world and the other world.
कोऽन्धो? योऽकार्यरतःकोबधिरो? योहितानि न शृणोति।
कोमूको? योकालेप्रियाणिवक्तुं न जानाति॥
ko’ndho? Yo’kaaryaratah, kobadhiro? Yo hitaani na shrinoti
komooko? Yah kaalepriyaanivaktum na jaanaati
Q.
Who is blind?
Ans:
One whose actions are bad.
Q.
Who is deaf?
Ans:
One who does not listen to sage advice.
Q.
Who is dumb?
Ans:
One who cannot utter kind and sweet words at the appropriate time.
किंदानं? अनाकाङ्क्षं, किंमित्रं? योनिवारयतिपापात्।
कोऽलंकारःशीलं, किंवाचांमण्डनं? सत्यं॥ kimdaanam? Anaakaangksham, kimmitram? Yo nivaarayatipaapaat
Ko’lamkaarah? Sheelam, kimvaachaammandanam? Satyam
Q.
What is giving?
Ans: That which is given without being asked for
Q.
Who is a friend?
Ans: One who prevents from committing sinful actions.
Q.
What is adornment?
Ans: Good conduct.
Q.
What adorns speech?
Ans: Truth
विद्युद्विलसितचपलंकिं? दुर्जनसंगतिर्युवतयश्च।
कुलशीलनिष्प्रकंपा: केकलिकालेऽपि? सज्जनाएव॥
vidyudwilasitachapalamkim? Durjanasangatiryuvatayashcha
Kulasheelanishprakampaahkekalikaale’pi? Sajjanaa eva
Q.
Which is as fleeting (transient) as lightning?
Ans:
The company of bad persons and young womenQ.
Who, even in this age of Kali, do not deviate from the right conduct followed by their forebears?
Ans:
Good persons (sajjanaah)
चिन्तामणिरिवदुर्लभमिहकिं? कथयामितच्चतुर्भद्रं।
किंतद्वदन्तिभूयोविधूततमसोविशेषेण?
Chintaamanirivadurlabhamiha kim? Kathayaamitachchaturbhadram
Kim tadwadantibhooyo vidhootatamasovisheshena Q.
Which is rare as the chintamani which turns iron into gold?
Ans: Chaturbhadram (four auspicious things )
दानंप्रियवाक्यसहितंज्ञानमगर्वंक्षमान्वितंशौर्यं।
वित्तंत्यागसमेतंदुर्लभमेतच्चतुर्भद्रं॥
daanampriyavaaksahitam jnaanamagarvam kshamaanvitamshauryam
Vittamtyaagasametamdurlabhametatchaturbhadram
Q.
Which are those four auspicious things according to enlightened souls?
Ans:
A gift accompanied by soothing pleasant words, knowledge devoid of arrogance, valour tempered by forgiveness, Wealth accompanied by philanthropy (altruism or generosity) – these, known as chaturbhadram, are very rare indeed.
किंशोच्यम्? कार्पण्यं, सतिविभवेकिंप्रशस्तं? औदार्यं ।
कःपूज्यॊविद्वद्भिः? स्वभावतःसर्वदाविनीतोयः kimshochyam? Kaarpanyam, sati vibhavekimprashastam? Audaaryam
Kahpoojyovidwadbhih? Swabhaavatahsarvadaavineeto yah
Q.
What is to be lamented?
Ans: Stinginess (parsimony). (Karpanyam is the attribute of a kripana who neither enjoys his wealth nor uses it for the benefit of the needy, whose wealth is of use neither here in this world nor hereafter)
Q.
What is to be praised when one has the means for luxurious living?
Ans:
generosity (magnanimity)
Q.
Who deserves respect from the learned and the wise?
Ans:
One, who by his very nature, is full of humility
कःकुलकमलदिनेशः? सतिगुणविभवेऽपियोनम्रः।
कस्यवशेजगदेतत्? प्रियहितवचनस्यधर्मनिरतस्य॥ kahkulakamaladineshah? Sati gunavibhave’piyonamrah
kasyavashejagadetat? Priyahitavachanasyadharmaniratasya
Q.
Who is the Sun for the lotus which is one’s dynasty (kulakamala)?
Ans:
One who, in spite of possessing all good qualities, is meek (humble, full
of humility)
Q.
In whose control is this world?
Ans:
One whose speech is pleasing and beneficial and who always walks the righteous path (dharmaniratah)
विद्वन्मनोहराका? सत्कविताबोधवनिता च।
कं न स्पृशतिविपत्तिः? प्रवृद्धवचनानुवर्तिनंदान्तं॥
vidwanmanoharaakaa? Satkavitaabodhavanitaa cha
kam na sprishativipattih? Pravruddhavachanaanuvartinamdaantam Q.
What captivates the heart of the learned and the wise?
Ans:
Good poetry and the maid of knowledge.Q.
Whom does misfortune not touch?
Ans:
One who heeds the advice of elders and is meek (humble). |
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