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.

29. कस्मैस्पृहयतिकमला? त्वनलसचित्तायनीतिवृत्ताय।
त्यजतिचकंसहसा? द्विजगुरुसुरनिन्दाकरंचसालस्यं

kasmaisprihayatikamalaa? Twanalasachittaayaneetivrittaaya
tyajati cha kam sahasaa? Dwijagurusuranindaakaram cha saalasyam

Q. Whom does Goddess Lakshmi like?

A: One whose mind is not lazy and whose conduct and character are righteous

Q: Whom does Goddess Lakshmi forsake instantly?

A: One who talks ill of brahmins, gurus and devas and is lazy

3०. कुत्रविधेयॊवासः? सज्जननिकटेऽथवाकाश्यां।
कःपरिहार्यॊदेशः? पिशुनयुतोलुब्धभूपश्च॥

kasmaisprihayatikamalaa? Twanalasachittaayaneetivrittaaya
tyajati cha kam sahasaa? Dwijagurusuranindaakaram cha saalasyam

Q: Where should one reside?

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

Q: Which place should be avoided?

A: A place inhabited by mean people and ruled by a greedy and stingy king.

३१ केनाशोच्यःपुरुषः? प्रणतकलत्रेणधीरविभवेन।
इहभुवनेकःशोच्यः? सत्यपिविभवेयोनदाता॥

kenaashochyahpurushah? Pranatakalatrenadheeravibhavena
Iha bhuvanekahshochyah? Satyapivibhaveyo na daataa

Q: In this world about whom one should feel sorry?

A: One, though affluent, does not give (to the poor and needy).

३२. किंलघुतायाःमूलं? प्राकृतपुरुषेषुयाच्ञा।
रामादपिकःशूरःस्मरशरनिहतोनयश्चलति॥

kim laghutaayaamoolam? Praakritapurusheshuyaachjnaa
Raamaadapikahshoorah? Smarasharanihato na yashchalati

Q: What is the root cause of derision (contempt)?

A: Begging from mean persons

Q: Who is more valiant than Rama?

A: One whose mind, struck by the arrows of Cupid, does not falter (waver)

३३. किमहर्निशमनुचिन्त्यं? भगवच्चरणंनसंसारः।
चक्षुष्मन्तोऽप्यन्धाःकेस्युः? येनास्तिकामनुजाः॥

kimaharnishamanuchintyam? Bhagavachcharanam na samsaarah
Chakshushmanto’piandhaahkesyuh? Ye naastikaamanujaah

Q: What should one think of day and night?

A: The lotus feet of the Lord, not worldly things

Q: Who are blind in spite of having eyes?

A: Those who say that God does not exist or those who deride the Vedas (naastikovedanindakah –Amarakosam)

३४. कःपंगुरिहप्रथितो? व्रजतिचयोवार्धकेतीर्थं।
किंतीर्थमपिचमुख्यं? चित्तमलंयन्निवर्तयति॥

kahPangurihaprathito? Vrajati cha yovaardhaketeertham
kim teerthamapi cha mukhyam? Chittamalamyannivartayati

Q: Who is said to be lame?

A: One who undertakes a pilgrimage (teeerthayaatraa) in ripe old age (meaning he should have done it while still young)

Q: Which is the most important teertha (a holy river, lake, sea or other water body a dip in which, it is believed, absolves one of one’s sins)?

A: That which washes away the accumulated dirt (bad vasanas) in the mind.

३५. किंस्मर्तव्यंपुरुषैः?हरिनामसदा,नयावनीभाषा।
कोहिनवाच्यःसुधिया? परदोषश्चानृतंतद्वत्॥

kim smartavyampurushaih? Harinaamasadaa, na yaavaneebhaashaa
Ko hi na vaachyahsudhiyaa? Paradoshashchaanrutamtadwat

Q: What is unutterable by one who is wise?

A: Faults of others and untruth

३६. किंसम्पाद्यं मनुजैः?विद्याबलंयशःपुण्यं।
कःसर्वगुणविनाशी? लोभःशत्रुश्चकः? कामः॥

kim sampaadyammanujaih? Vidya balamyashahpunyam
kahsarvagunavinaashee? Lobhahshatrushchakah? Kaamah

Q: What should be earned by men?

A: Knowledge, strength, fame and meritorious deeds (punya)

Q: Which is the destroyer of all good qualities?

A: Greed

Q: Who is the enemy?

A: Lust, desire.

३७. काचसभापरिहार्या? हीनायावृद्धसचिवेन।
इहकुत्रअवहितस्यान्मनुष्यःकिलराजसेवायां॥

kaa cha sabhaaparihaaryaa? Heenaayaavriddhasachivena
Iha kutraavahitahsyaanmanujah? Kila raajasevaayaam

Q: Which assembly should be avoided

A: One which is devoid of an experienced minister

Q: Where should a person be careful in this world?

A: In the service of the King.

38. प्राणादपिकोरम्यः? कुलधर्मःसाधुसंगश्च।
कासंरक्ष्या? कीर्तिःपतिव्रतानैजबुद्धिश्च॥

Praanaadapi ko ramyah? Kuladharmahsaadhusangashcha
Kaasamrakshyaa? Keertihpativrataanaijabuddhishcha

Q: What is dearer than life?

A: The dharma followed by the forebears and company of saintly persons

Q: Who deserve to be protected?

A: Fame, chaste woman and one’s own intellect (common sense)

३९. काकल्पलतालोके? सच्छिष्यायार्पिताविद्या।
कोऽक्षयवटवृक्षस्यात्? विधिवत्सत्पात्रदत्तंदानंयत्॥।

kaakalpalataa loke? Sachchhishyaayaarpitaavidyaa
Ko’kshayavatavrikshasyaat? Vidhivatsatpaatradattadaanamyat

Q: Which is the wish-yielding creeper (kalpalataa) in this world?

A: Knowledge imparted to a deserving disciple.

Q: Which is the eternal banyan tree (akshayavatavriksha)?

A: A gift to a fit recipient given in accordance with scriptural injunctions.

४०. किंशस्त्रंसर्वेषां? युक्तिः, माताचका? धेनु:।
किंनुबलम्? यद्धैर्यं. कोमृत्युः? यदवधारणारहितत्वं॥

kim sastramsarveshaam? Yuktih, maataa cha kaa? Dhenuh
Kim nu balam? Yaddhairyam,komrityuh? Yadavadhaanarahitatwam

Q: Which is the weapon for everybody?

A: Stratagem (ruse, trick)

Q: Who is the mother of all?

A: The cow

Q: What is strength?

A: Courage, adamantine heart

Q: Which is death?

A: Carelessness

४१. कुत्रविषं? दुष्टजने, किमिहाशौचम्भवेत्? ऋणंनृणां।
किमभयमिह? वैराग्यंभयमपिकिं? वित्तमेवसर्वेषां॥

kutravisham? Dushtajane, kimihaashauchambhavet? Rinamnrinaam
kimabhayamiha? Vairaagyambhayamapi kim? Vittamevasarveshaam

Q: Where is poison?

A: In bad persons

Q: What is ceremonial pollution (aashaucham)?

A: Indebtedness of men

Q: What is it which gives fearlessness?

A: Non-attachment to worldly things

Q: What is fear?

A: For everyone wealth is the source of fear

४२. कादुर्लभानराणाम्? हरिभक्तिः, पातकंचकिम्? हिंसा।
कोहिभगवत्प्रियःस्यात्? योऽन्यमुद्वेजयेदनुद्विग्नः

kaadurlabhaanaraanaam? Haribhaktih, paatakam cha kim? himsaa
Ko hi bhagavatpriyahsyaat? Yo’nyamnodwejayedanudwignah

Q: What is difficult to acquire for men?

A: Devotion to Hari

Q: What is sin?

A: Himsaa (causing physical or mental injury to living beings)

Q: Who is dear to God?

A: One who does not cause mental agitation to others and himself does not get mentally agitated.