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𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾

प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

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.

✦ As told in scripture

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.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌕𑌃 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌨𑌾𑌲𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌸𑌾𑌧𑌨𑌪𑌟𑍀𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍। 𑌅𑌮𑍁𑌯𑌾 𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌯𑌾 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌯𑌾॥௧॥

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

Meaning:इस लोक और परलोक दोनों के साधनों में निपुण ऐसा कौन है जो कण्ठ में धारण की हुई (कण्ठस्थ) इस प्रश्नोत्तर-रत्नमालिका से अलंकृत (सुशोभित) नहीं होता? (१)

Verse 2

𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌨𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌵𑌚𑌨𑌂 𑌹𑍇𑌯𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍। 𑌕𑍋 𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌰𑌧𑌿𑌗𑌤𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌃 𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌯𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑌤𑌤𑌮𑍍॥௨॥

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

Meaning:हे भगवन्! ग्रहण करने योग्य क्या है? — गुरु का वचन। त्यागने योग्य क्या है? — प्रत्येक अकार्य (न करने योग्य कर्म)। सच्चा गुरु कौन है? — जो तत्त्व को जान चुका है और सदा शिष्यों के हित में तत्पर रहता है। (२)

Verse 3

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍁𑌷𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌤𑌿𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍇𑌦𑌃। 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤𑌰𑍋𑌰𑍍𑌬𑍀𑌜𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌗𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌮𑍍॥௩॥

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

Meaning:विद्वानों को शीघ्र क्या करना चाहिए? — संसार की परम्परा (जन्म-मरण की शृंखला) को काटना। मोक्षरूपी वृक्ष का बीज क्या है? — क्रिया से सिद्ध सम्यक् ज्ञान। (३)

Verse 4

𑌕𑌃 𑌪𑌥𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌰𑍋 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌃 𑌕𑌃 𑌶𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌹 𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌸𑌂 𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌮𑍍। 𑌕𑌃 𑌪𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌕𑍀 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌮𑌵𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌣𑌾 𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌷𑍁॥௪॥

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

Meaning:सबसे हितकर धर्म कौन-सा है? (जो किसी को पीड़ा न दे)। यहाँ शुद्ध (पवित्र) कौन है? — जिसका मन शुद्ध है। पण्डित कौन है? — विवेकी। विष क्या है? — गुरुजनों का अनादर। (४)

Verse 5

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌬𑌹𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌮𑍇𑌵। 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌤𑌮𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌪𑌰𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌯𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌂 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮॥௫॥

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

Meaning:बार-बार विचार करने पर भी संसार में सार क्या है? — यही (यहाँ बताया गया ज्ञान)। मनुष्यों में सबसे इष्ट क्या है? — अपने और दूसरों के हित में लगा हुआ जन्म। (५)

Verse 6

𑌮𑌦𑌿𑌰𑍇𑌵 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌜𑌨𑌕𑌃 𑌕𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌨𑍇𑌹𑌃 𑌕𑍇 𑌚 𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌵𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌯𑌾𑌃। 𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍀 𑌤𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾 𑌕𑍋 𑌵𑍈𑌰𑍀 𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌃॥௬॥

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

Meaning:मदिरा के समान मोह उत्पन्न करने वाला स्नेह (आसक्ति) कौन है? — अत्यधिक प्रेम। दस्यु (चोर) कौन हैं? — विषय। संसाररूपी लता क्या है? — तृष्णा। शत्रु कौन है? — अनुद्योग (आलस्य)। (६)

Verse 7

𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌹 𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌹 𑌕𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌰𑌾𑌗𑍀। 𑌕𑌃 𑌶𑍂𑌰𑍋 𑌯𑍋 𑌲𑌲𑌨𑌾𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌬𑌾𑌣𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌨 𑌚 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌃॥௭॥

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

Meaning:यहाँ किससे भय करना चाहिए? — मरण (बन्धन) से। अन्धे से भी अधिक अन्धा कौन है? — रागी (विषयासक्त) पुरुष। शूर कौन है? — जो स्त्रियों के नेत्र-बाणों से व्यथित नहीं होता। (७)

Verse 8

𑌪𑌾𑌤𑍁𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌲𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌮𑌿𑌹 𑌯𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌦𑍁𑌪𑌦𑍇𑌶𑌃। 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌯𑌾 𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌂 𑌯𑌦𑍇𑌤𑌦𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌨𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌮॥௮॥

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

Meaning:कानों की अञ्जलि से पीने योग्य अमृत क्या है? — सदुपदेश। गुरुता (महत्ता) का मूल क्या है? — अप्रार्थन अर्थात् किसी से कुछ न माँगना। (८)

Verse 9

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌗𑌹𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌚𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍋 𑌯𑍋 𑌨 𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌨। 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌮𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌷𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌲𑌾𑌘𑌵𑌮𑌧𑌮𑌤𑍋 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑍍𑌞𑌾॥௯॥

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

Meaning:गहन (दुर्बोध) क्या है? — स्त्री-चरित्र। चतुर कौन है? — जो उससे खण्डित (ठगा) न जाए। दुःख क्या है? — असन्तोष। लाघव (अपमान) क्या है? — नीच से याचना। (९)

Verse 10

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌮𑌨𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌜𑌾𑌡𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌠𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌨𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑌃। 𑌕𑍋 𑌜𑌾𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌕𑍀 𑌕𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾 𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌤𑌾 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌃॥௧௦॥

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

Meaning:निर्दोष जीवन क्या है? (जो दोषरहित हो)। जड़ता क्या है? — पढ़कर भी अभ्यास न करना। जागता हुआ कौन है? — विवेकी। प्राणी की निद्रा क्या है? — उसकी मूढ़ता। (१०)

Verse 11

𑌨𑌲𑌿𑌨𑍀𑌦𑌲𑌗𑌤𑌜𑌲𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌲𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌯𑍗𑌵𑌨𑌂 𑌧𑌨𑌂 𑌚𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌃। 𑌕𑌥𑌯 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃 𑌕𑍇 𑌶𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌣𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌾 𑌏𑌵॥௧௧॥

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

Meaning:कमल के पत्ते पर पड़े जल के समान चंचल क्या है? — यौवन, धन और आयु। और फिर कहो, चन्द्रमा की किरणों के समान (शीतल) कौन हैं? — सज्जन ही। (११)

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌕𑌃 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌨 𑌅𑌲𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇🔊kaḥ khalu na alaṅkriyatewho indeed is not adorned (made better)?

𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌸𑌾𑌧𑌨𑌪𑌟𑍀𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍🔊dṛṣṭādṛṣṭārtha-sādhana-paṭīyān(this garland) skilful in achieving both seen (worldly) and unseen (spiritual) goals

𑌅𑌮𑍁𑌯𑌾 𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌯𑌾🔊amuyā kaṇṭha-sthitayāby this (garland) kept at the throat (i.e. committed to memory)

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌯𑌾🔊praśnottara-ratna-mālikayāthe gem-garland of questions and answers

𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌨𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑍍 𑌉𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊bhagavan kim upādeyamO Lord, what is worth accepting? — the word of the guru

𑌹𑍇𑌯𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌪𑌿 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊heyam api kim akāryamand what is to be shunned? — that which ought not to be done

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊tvaritaṃ kiṃ kartavyamwhat should be done quickly (by the wise)? — cutting off the chain of samsara

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤𑌰𑍋𑌃 𑌬𑍀𑌜𑌮𑍍🔊kiṃ mokṣa-taror bījamwhat is the seed of the tree of liberation? — right knowledge perfected by action

𑌕𑌃 𑌪𑌥𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌰𑌃 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌃🔊kaḥ pathyataro dharmaḥwhich is the most beneficial dharma?

𑌕𑌃 𑌶𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌃🔊kaḥ śuciḥwho is (truly) pure? — one whose mind is pure

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊kiṃ saṃsāre sāramwhat is the essence (worth) in worldly existence? — (this, the knowledge taught here)

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌤𑌮𑌮𑍍🔊kiṃ manujeṣv iṣṭatamamwhat is most desirable among humans? — a life devoted to the good of oneself and others

𑌮𑌦𑌿𑌰𑌾 𑌇𑌵 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌜𑌨𑌕𑌃 𑌕𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌨𑍇𑌹𑌃🔊madireva moha-janakaḥ kaḥ snehaḥwhat attachment deludes like wine? — affection (excessive fondness)

𑌕𑍇 𑌚 𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌃 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌯𑌾𑌃🔊ke ca dasyavo viṣayāḥwhat are the robbers? — the sense-objects

𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍀 𑌤𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾🔊kā bhava-vallī tṛṣṇāwhat is the creeper of worldly existence? — craving (trishna)

𑌕𑍋 𑌵𑍈𑌰𑍀 𑌯𑌃 𑌤𑍁 𑌅𑌨𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌃🔊ko vairī yas tv anudyogaḥwho is the (real) enemy? — lack of effort (laziness)

𑌕𑌃 𑌶𑍂𑌰𑌃🔊kaḥ śūraḥwho is the (true) hero? — he who is not pierced by the arrow-glances of women

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌮𑍍🔊kiṃ gurutāyā mūlamwhat is the root of greatness (being esteemed)? — not begging / asking for favours

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌷𑌃🔊kiṃ duḥkham asantoṣaḥwhat is (real) sorrow? — discontent

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌲𑌾𑌘𑌵𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌧𑌮𑌤𑌃 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑍍𑌞𑌾🔊kiṃ lāghavam adhamato yācñāwhat is humiliation (loss of dignity)? — begging from a base person

𑌕𑌃 𑌜𑌾𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌕𑍀🔊kaḥ jāgarti vivekīwho is (truly) awake? — the person of discrimination (viveka)

𑌕𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾 𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌤𑌾 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌃🔊kā nidrā mūḍhatā jantoḥwhat is (real) sleep? — the delusion of a creature

𑌨𑌲𑌿𑌨𑍀𑌦𑌲𑌗𑌤𑌜𑌲𑌵𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌰𑌲𑌮𑍍🔊nalinī-dala-gata-jalavat taralamfleeting like a drop of water on a lotus leaf — such are youth, wealth and life

𑌕𑍇 𑌶𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌣𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌃 𑌏𑌵🔊ke śaśinaḥ kiraṇa-samāḥ sajjanā evawho are cool and soothing like the moon's rays? — the virtuous (good people) alone

Benefits of Chanting प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Chant प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका

Repetitions1times

Best TimeMorning 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

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.