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ப்ரஶ்நோத்தரரத்நமாலிகா

Prasnottara Ratna Malika in Tamil · தமிழ்

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× ஜபம்·🕐 Morning study time (svadhyaya), or anytime for reflection and contemplation·📜 Didactic prakarana ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya
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தோற்றம் & கதை

Didactic prakarana ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya (traditional attribution) · Classical (traditionally 8th century CE)

The Prasnottara Ratna Malika is a beloved short work of Sanskrit gnomic verse cast as a dialogue of questions and answers. Tradition attributes it to Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have composed it as a 'garland of gems' of wisdom that any seeker might wear at the throat — that is, keep ever in memory. Each crisp answer crystallizes a lesson of ethics, discrimination or the spiritual path. Its blend of worldly prudence and Vedantic insight has kept it popular for centuries as a guide for students and seekers alike; some manuscripts also associate it with the Jain teacher Vimala or with King Amoghavarsha, but the Advaita tradition holds it as Shankara's.

சாத்திரங்களில் கூறியபடி

It is traditionally said that whoever keeps this 'gem-garland' at the throat — committing its question-and-answer verses to heart — is adorned more truly than by any jewel, for its wisdom quietly guards him from folly and ripens, verse by verse, into the discrimination that leads to liberation.

பொருளுடன் முழுப் பாடல்

எந்த வரியையும் அல்லது ▶ பொத்தானைத் தொட்டு கேளுங்கள்

சுலோகம் 1

கஃ கலு நாலங்க்ரியதே த்ரு'ஷ்டாத்ரு'ஷ்டார்தஸாதநபடீயாந்। அமுயா கண்டஸ்திதயா ப்ரஶ்நோத்தரரத்நமாலிகயா॥௧॥

kaḥ khalu nālaṅkriyate dṛṣṭādṛṣṭārtha-sādhana-paṭīyān | amuyā kaṇṭha-sthitayā praśnottara-ratna-mālikayā ||1||

பொருள்:Who, indeed, skilled in attaining the goals both of this world and the next, is not adorned by this gem-garland of questions and answers, worn ever at the throat (kept in memory)? (1)

சுலோகம் 2

பகவந் கிமுபாதேயம் குருவசநம் ஹேயமபி கிமகார்யம்। கோ குருரதிகததத்த்வஃ ஶிஷ்யஹிதாயோத்யதஃ ஸததம்॥௨॥

bhagavan kim upādeyaṃ guru-vacanaṃ heyam api kim akāryam | ko gurur adhigata-tattvaḥ śiṣya-hitāyodyataḥ satatam ||2||

பொருள்:O Lord, what is worth accepting? — the word of the guru. What ought to be shunned? — every forbidden deed. Who is a true guru? — one who has realized the Truth and is ever intent on the welfare of his disciples. (2)

சுலோகம் 3

த்வரிதம் கிம் கர்தவ்யம் விதுஷாம் ஸம்ஸாரஸந்ததிச்சேதஃ। கிம் மோக்ஷதரோர்பீஜம் ஸம்யக்ஜ்ஞாநம் க்ரியாஸித்தம்॥௩॥

tvaritaṃ kiṃ kartavyaṃ viduṣāṃ saṃsāra-santati-cchedaḥ | kiṃ mokṣa-taror bījaṃ samyag-jñānaṃ kriyā-siddham ||3||

பொருள்:What should the wise do without delay? — cut through the chain of birth and death. What is the seed of the tree of liberation? — right knowledge fulfilled in action. (3)

சுலோகம் 4

கஃ பத்யதரோ தர்மஃ கஃ ஶுசிரிஹ யஸ்ய மாநஸம் ஶுத்தம்। கஃ பண்டிதோ விவேகீ கிம் விஷமவதீரணா குருஷு॥௪॥

kaḥ pathyataro dharmaḥ kaḥ śucir iha yasya mānasaṃ śuddham | kaḥ paṇḍito vivekī kiṃ viṣam avadhīraṇā guruṣu ||4||

பொருள்:Which is the most wholesome dharma? (that which harms none). Who is pure here? — one whose mind is pure. Who is learned? — the man of discrimination. What is poison? — disrespect toward one's teachers. (4)

சுலோகம் 5

கிம் ஸம்ஸாரே ஸாரம் பஹுஶோऽபி விசிந்த்யமாநமிதமேவ। கிம் மநுஜேஷ்விஷ்டதமம் ஸ்வபரஹிதாயோத்யதம் ஜந்ம॥௫॥

kiṃ saṃsāre sāraṃ bahuśo'pi vicintyamānam idam eva | kiṃ manujeṣv iṣṭatamaṃ sva-para-hitāyodyataṃ janma ||5||

பொருள்:What, though pondered again and again, is the (only) essence in worldly life? — just this (the wisdom taught here). What is most worth having among men? — a birth devoted to the good of oneself and others. (5)

சுலோகம் 6

மதிரேவ மோஹஜநகஃ கஃ ஸ்நேஹஃ கே தஸ்யவோ விஷயாஃ। கா பவவல்லீ த்ரு'ஷ்ணா கோ வைரீ யஸ்த்வநுத்யோகஃ॥௬॥

madireva moha-janakaḥ kaḥ snehaḥ ke ca dasyavo viṣayāḥ | kā bhava-vallī tṛṣṇā ko vairī yas tv anudyogaḥ ||6||

பொருள்:What attachment intoxicates and deludes like wine? — excessive fondness. Who are the thieves? — the objects of the senses. What is the creeper of worldly bondage? — craving. Who is the (true) foe? — one's own lack of effort. (6)

சுலோகம் 7

கஸ்மாத்பயமிஹ மரணாதந்தாதிஹ கோ விஶிஷ்யதே ராகீ। கஃ ஶூரோ யோ லலநாலோசநபாணைர்ந வ்யதிதஃ॥௭॥

kasmād bhayam iha maraṇād andhād iha ko viśiṣyate rāgī | kaḥ śūro yo lalanā-locana-bāṇair na ca vyathitaḥ ||7||

பொருள்:Of what should one be afraid here? — of death (i.e. of the bondage that leads to repeated death). Who is more blind than the blind? — the passion-driven man. Who is the (real) hero? — he who is not wounded by the arrow-like glances of women. (7)

சுலோகம் 8

பாதும் கர்ணாஞ்ஜலிபிஃ கிமம்ரு'தமிஹ யுஜ்யதே ஸதுபதேஶஃ। கிம் குருதாயா மூலம் யதேததப்ரார்தநம் நாம॥௮॥

pātuṃ karṇāñjalibhiḥ kim amṛtam iha yujyate sad-upadeśaḥ | kiṃ gurutāyā mūlaṃ yad etad aprārthanaṃ nāma ||8||

பொருள்:What nectar is fit to be drunk through the cupped hands of the ears? — good counsel. What is the root of (true) greatness? — to ask nothing (of anyone). (8)

சுலோகம் 9

கிம் கஹநம் ஸ்த்ரீசரிதம் கஶ்சதுரோ யோ கண்டிதஸ்தேந। கிம் துஃகமஸந்தோஷஃ கிம் லாகவமதமதோ யாச்ஞா॥௯॥

kiṃ gahanaṃ strī-caritaṃ kaś caturo yo na khaṇḍitas tena | kiṃ duḥkham asantoṣaḥ kiṃ lāghavam adhamato yācñā ||9||

பொருள்:What is unfathomable? — the ways of the deceitful. Who is (really) clever? — he who is not deceived by them. What is sorrow? — discontent. What is (real) degradation? — begging from a base person. (9)

சுலோகம் 10

கிம் ஜீவிதமநவத்யம் கிம் ஜாட்யம் பாடதோऽப்யநப்யாஸஃ। கோ ஜாகர்தி விவேகீ கா நித்ரா மூடதா ஜந்தோஃ॥௧௦॥

kiṃ jīvitam anavadyaṃ kiṃ jāḍyaṃ pāṭhato'py anabhyāsaḥ | ko jāgarti vivekī kā nidrā mūḍhatā jantoḥ ||10||

பொருள்:What life is blameless? — (one free of fault). What is dullness? — failure to practise even what one has studied. Who is awake? — the man of discernment. What is the sleep of a creature? — its delusion. (10)

சுலோகம் 11

நலிநீதலகதஜலவத்தரலம் கிம் யௌவநம் தநம் சாயுஃ। கதய புநஃ கே ஶஶிநஃ கிரணஸமாஃ ஸஜ்ஜநா ஏவ॥௧௧॥

nalinī-dala-gata-jalavat taralaṃ kiṃ yauvanaṃ dhanaṃ cāyuḥ | kathaya punaḥ ke śaśinaḥ kiraṇa-samāḥ sajjanā eva ||11||

பொருள்:What is as fickle as a water-drop on a lotus leaf? — youth, wealth and life. And tell again, who are cool and gracious as the rays of the moon? — the virtuous, and they alone. (11)

சொல்-சொல்லாகப் பொருள்

உச்சரிப்பைக் கேட்க எந்தச் சொல்லையும் தட்டவும்

கஃ கலு ந அலங்க்ரியதே🔊kaḥ khalu na alaṅkriyatewho indeed is not adorned (made better)?
த்ரு'ஷ்டாத்ரு'ஷ்டார்தஸாதநபடீயாந்🔊dṛṣṭādṛṣṭārtha-sādhana-paṭīyān(this garland) skilful in achieving both seen (worldly) and unseen (spiritual) goals
அமுயா கண்டஸ்திதயா🔊amuyā kaṇṭha-sthitayāby this (garland) kept at the throat (i.e. committed to memory)
ப்ரஶ்நோத்தரரத்நமாலிகயா🔊praśnottara-ratna-mālikayāthe gem-garland of questions and answers
பகவந் கிம் உபாதேயம்🔊bhagavan kim upādeyamO Lord, what is worth accepting? — the word of the guru
ஹேயம் அபி கிம் அகார்யம்🔊heyam api kim akāryamand what is to be shunned? — that which ought not to be done
த்வரிதம் கிம் கர்தவ்யம்🔊tvaritaṃ kiṃ kartavyamwhat should be done quickly (by the wise)? — cutting off the chain of samsara
கிம் மோக்ஷதரோஃ பீஜம்🔊kiṃ mokṣa-taror bījamwhat is the seed of the tree of liberation? — right knowledge perfected by action
கஃ பத்யதரஃ தர்மஃ🔊kaḥ pathyataro dharmaḥwhich is the most beneficial dharma?
கஃ ஶுசிஃ🔊kaḥ śuciḥwho is (truly) pure? — one whose mind is pure
கிம் ஸம்ஸாரே ஸாரம்🔊kiṃ saṃsāre sāramwhat is the essence (worth) in worldly existence? — (this, the knowledge taught here)
கிம் மநுஜேஷு இஷ்டதமம்🔊kiṃ manujeṣv iṣṭatamamwhat is most desirable among humans? — a life devoted to the good of oneself and others
மதிரா இவ மோஹஜநகஃ கஃ ஸ்நேஹஃ🔊madireva moha-janakaḥ kaḥ snehaḥwhat attachment deludes like wine? — affection (excessive fondness)
கே ச தஸ்யவஃ விஷயாஃ🔊ke ca dasyavo viṣayāḥwhat are the robbers? — the sense-objects
கா பவவல்லீ த்ரு'ஷ்ணா🔊kā bhava-vallī tṛṣṇāwhat is the creeper of worldly existence? — craving (trishna)
கோ வைரீ யஃ து அநுத்யோகஃ🔊ko vairī yas tv anudyogaḥwho is the (real) enemy? — lack of effort (laziness)
கஃ ஶூரஃ🔊kaḥ śūraḥwho is the (true) hero? — he who is not pierced by the arrow-glances of women
கிம் குருதாயாஃ மூலம்🔊kiṃ gurutāyā mūlamwhat is the root of greatness (being esteemed)? — not begging / asking for favours
கிம் துஃகம் அஸந்தோஷஃ🔊kiṃ duḥkham asantoṣaḥwhat is (real) sorrow? — discontent
கிம் லாகவம் அதமதஃ யாச்ஞா🔊kiṃ lāghavam adhamato yācñāwhat is humiliation (loss of dignity)? — begging from a base person
கஃ ஜாகர்தி விவேகீ🔊kaḥ jāgarti vivekīwho is (truly) awake? — the person of discrimination (viveka)
கா நித்ரா மூடதா ஜந்தோஃ🔊kā nidrā mūḍhatā jantoḥwhat is (real) sleep? — the delusion of a creature
நலிநீதலகதஜலவத் தரலம்🔊nalinī-dala-gata-jalavat taralamfleeting like a drop of water on a lotus leaf — such are youth, wealth and life
கே ஶஶிநஃ கிரணஸமாஃ ஸஜ்ஜநாஃ ஏவ🔊ke śaśinaḥ kiraṇa-samāḥ sajjanā evawho are cool and soothing like the moon's rays? — the virtuous (good people) alone

Prasnottara Ratna Malika பாராயணப் பலன்கள்

Imparts practical wisdom and ethical discrimination (viveka) in an easy question-and-answer form

Each verse is a memorable maxim, ideal for daily reflection on right conduct and values

Guides the seeker toward the 'seed of liberation' — right knowledge fulfilled in action

Cultivates contentment, self-effort and dispassion by naming the real enemy, foe and sorrow

Excellent for teaching children and students the essentials of dharma and discernment

Steadies the mind in sattvic values and turns it gently toward the goal of moksha

Prasnottara Ratna Malika பாராயண முறை

ஜப எண்ணிக்கை1முறை
சிறந்த நேரம்Morning study time (svadhyaya), or anytime for reflection and contemplation

Read or recite the question-and-answer verses slowly, pausing after each to absorb the lesson it teaches. Because the work is meant to be 'worn at the throat' (kept in memory), it is best learned by heart a few verses at a time and recalled through the day as a guide to conduct. Reflect on each answer and apply it to your own life; a single thoughtful reading is more valuable than rapid repetition.

அடிக்கடி கேட்கப்படும் கேள்விகள்

இந்தப் பக்கத்தில் முழு Prasnottara Ratna Malika தமிழ் எழுத்தில் உள்ளது — அதே மூல சுலோகங்கள், எழுத்துக்கு-எழுத்து ஒலிபெயர்க்கப்பட்டு, நீங்கள் எளிதாகப் படித்து ஓத முடியும். எந்த வரியையும் (அல்லது ▶ பொத்தானை) தொட்டு அதன் ஓதலைக் கேளுங்கள்.
ஆம் — எழுத்து மட்டுமே மாறுகிறது; சொற்களும் பொருளும் மூலமே. இந்தப் பக்கத்தின் வரிக்கு-வரி பொருள், பலன்கள், பாராயண முறை அப்படியே பொருந்தும்.
It is a short didactic Sanskrit text built entirely as a series of questions and answers ('prashna' = question, 'uttara' = answer, 'ratna-malika' = gem-garland). It packs ethical and spiritual wisdom into terse, quotable maxims and is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.
Each verse poses one or more brief questions — such as 'Who is the real hero?' or 'What is the seed of liberation?' — and immediately gives a pithy answer. The complete work contains about 67 such question-and-answer verses; the selection here begins with its opening verses.
Among its celebrated answers: the real enemy is one's own laziness (anudyoga); the true hero is unmoved by sense-temptation; the essence of life is wisdom; the most desirable birth is one spent for the good of self and others; and the good are cool and gracious like the moon's rays.
It is traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya, though some scholars debate the attribution. Regardless of authorship, it has long been cherished within the Advaita tradition as a compact treasury of practical and spiritual wisdom.

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முழு Prasnottara Ratna Malikaஐ வரிக்கு-வரி பொருளுடன் படியுங்கள், அல்லது மேலும் புனித பாடல்களைக் காணுங்கள்