Adi Shankara: Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The Sanskrit text called Prasnottara Ratna Malika (Garland of Gems of Questions and Answers) is attributed to the illustrious Adi Shankara [Sanskrit adi means ‘first’]. Some verses might be later interpolations, and the others may originate in his words. Here is rendered gist in English along with direct quotations from some other Shankara sources, all in English.
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A complete person can amount to have progeny, is the bet.*
Abandoning the concerns of the world, abandoning concern about the body, and abandoning even concern about scriptures, see to the removal of wrong assumptions about yourself. – Adi Shankara
Actions that have started to yield results may sustain the body or the other way round (It depends on what one’s karma is).* – Cf. Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
As the mind becomes more and more inward-turned, it becomes gradually freed . . . self-realisation. . . . – Adi Shankara
[At bottom] Consciousness is one by nature. – Adi Shankara, Direct Realisation, v. 43
Bad company and young women do not last a long marriage.*
Being healthy is good fortune for those with a body. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Being in another’s control is a form of hell. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Bliss is self-resplendent consciousness in the heart. – Adi Shankara, From Hymn to Hari, 10, 11, 13, abr.
Charity along with sweet words, knowledge with humility, courage with patience, wealth with renunciation: these four auspicious things are hard to attain. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Charity is expecting no return. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Conceit results in evil. Mod. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Dear, truthful words should not fail.* – Cf. Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Duality is something imagined; non-duality is ultimately real. – With Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Dumb are those who do not know how to speak kind words at the right moment. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Enticed by the physical glamour of a woman, do not lose your senses; the body is nothing but a conglomeration of flesh, do not forget this any time. – Adi Shankara
Friendship with good people bestows happiness. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Friendship with the good is to be cultivated with affection. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Good people are quite unshaken by their noble lineage. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Good reason is a weapon for all to handle.* – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Grammar, which you are trying to cram and master, will not be able to rescue you at death’s door. – Adi Shankara
Illusory is that which is destroyed by knowledge. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Impart dear knowledge to the earnest student. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
It is a friend who saves from sin. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Life is dear to creatures. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Lust is an enemy. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Maya is indeterminable as either real or unreal. Who wields Maya? The Supreme Lord. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Much self-control is better than wasting one’s life and great opportunities away.*
Not repeating what is learnt may be a long way from bright. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
One of good conduct is deemed good. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
One should separate the grain of the pure inner self from the chaff of the body. – Adi Shankara, Atmabodha, 16
One should stick to the right path where the seen and the unseen profits abound. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
One who by nature is always humble ought to be revered by the learned. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
One who does not heed the good advice is hard of hearing. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
One who enjoys wrongdoing is blindfolded. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
One who is not shaken by the shafts of amorous glances of women is much brave. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
One who speaks the truth kindly and is humble controls the community of creatures. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Right knowledge, shown in practice, is the seed of the tree of release. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Righteousness is more beneficial than most other things. # – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Solid actions of one who is of good conduct and refined may prove fruitful. – With Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
That which is given at the right moment is priceless. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The Atman, the Sun of Knowledge that rises in the sky of the heart, destroys the darkness of the ignorance, pervades and sustains all and shines and makes everything to shine. – Adi Shankara
The Brahmin who is endowed with knowledge and action is the self of all deities. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The doer of good deeds is praised by the virtuous; by this you may know him. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The elderly know of duty and truth. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The four-fold good is rare like the Cintamani. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The great liar is not to be trusted. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The humble can grow. The conceited may degenerate. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The hungry are fit for gifts of food. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The man of bad conduct is said to be lowly. Certainly. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The one who follows the advice of the elders and has controlled his senses might not be overcome by minor disasters.* – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The pleasures and riches of worldly life are . . . but a passing show. Be [much] detached . . . – Adi Shankara
The resplendent light of consciousness shines within the heart. – Adi Shankara, Hymn to Hari, v 42
The right sorts of efforts are ordained for learning, good medicine, and charity. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
The seeking after one’s real nature is what devotion is for. – Adi ShankaraCf. Shankara
The self illumines the consciousness. – Adi Shankara, Atmabodha, v 28
The ungrateful may not be well chastened even at the cost of life?. ¤Mod – Mod. Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
There is no hope of getting immortal by means of material riches. – Shankara, mod.
These are to be well protected: A good name, a devoted wife and discernment. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Those who give up the highest and purest Brahmic consciousness live in vain and, though human, are like beasts. – Adi Shankara, Direct Realisation, v. 130
To produce heartaches in good people may cause decadence in one’s family. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Truthfulness and endurance may help greatly. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
What greater fool is there than the man who having obtained a rare human body, and a male body too, neglects to achieve the real end of this life. – Adi Shankara [The real end: the Great Liberation]. In Atmabodhi
What is heinous? Cruelty is. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
What is that which fascinates the hearts of the wise? Ennobling poetry and the lady called knowledge. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
What is that which is rare like the Cintamani? The four goods. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
What is the cause of greatness? That which is known as not asking favours. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
What is to be earned by people? Dear knowledge, wealth, stamina, credit and merit.*
What is to be reflected on day and night? – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
What is transient like the water on the lotus-leaf? Youth, wealth and life. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
When there is affluence, consideration for others is praiseworthy – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
When youth is gone, where is lust and its play? Where is the lake when its waters have dried up? Where are the kinsfolk when riches are gone? When Truth is realised, where is the snare of Samsara (the world)? – Adi Shankara
Where is indifference to be shown? Towards bad people, another’s wife, another’s property. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Who does the Goddess of Wealth love? One who is industrious without lethargy and is just in conduct. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Who is clever? The one who is not won over by the conduct of woman. – Adi Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Who is the friend of a householder? His wife should be. – With Shankara, Prasnottara Ratna Malika
Who is wise and good may be praised.*
Yearning for freedom is the desire to free oneself . . . – Adi Shankara
