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𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾

Prasnottara Ratna Malika 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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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: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)

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 Prasnottara Ratna Malika

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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 Prasnottara Ratna Malika

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 Prasnottara Ratna Malika 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.