PRASNOTTARA RATNA MALIKA of Sankara Bhagavatpada

1.

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O Lord, which is to be taken ? Utterances of the preceptor.

2.

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What is more beneficial than anything else? Righteousness.

3.

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What is poison ? Transgression of preceptors orders.

4.

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What is most desirable for human beings ?

Life dedicated to ones and others welfare.

5.

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Who are thieves ? Objects of sense.

6.

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Who is the foe ?

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It is but idleness. 7.

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What is the cause of greatness ? That which is known as not asking favours.

8.

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What is unhappiness ? Cheerlessness.

9.

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What is unintelligence ? Not repeating what is learnt.

10.

What is transient like the water on the lotus leaf ?

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Youth, wealth and life. 11.

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What is priceless ? That which is given at the right moment.

12.

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What paids like a shaft till death ? The sin committed in secrecy.

13.

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Where is the effort ordained ? In learning, good medicine, charity.

14.

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By whom is this world conquered ?

By the person who has truthfulness and endurance. 15.

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In whom control lies the community of creatures ?

One who speaks the truth, is kindly and humble.

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To what should one stick ?

profits abound. 17.

To the right path wherein the seen and the unseen

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What is charity ? Expecting no return.

18.

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Who is a friend ? One who saves from sin.

19.

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What do those who have destroyed dark ignorance specially urge repeatedly ?

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Charity along with sweet words, knowledge with humility, courage with patience, wealth with renunciation. These four auspicious things are hard to attain.

20.

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What is to be grieved over ? Miserliness.

21.

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Which place is to be shunned ? One abounding in wicked people and ruled by a greedy king.

22.

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Who is to be grieved over in this world ? One who is not a giver even when there is wealth.

23.

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What is to be contemplated day and night ? The feet of the Lord, not the worldly life.

24.

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What is to be earned by people ?

Knowledge, wealth, strength, fame, merit.

25.

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Which is the destroyer if all good qualities ? Greed.

26.

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Who is the enemy ? Lust.

27.

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What is to be well protected ? Good name, devoted wife and discernment.

28.

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What is the Kalpa creeper in the world ? Knowledge imparted to the earnest student.

29.

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What, too, is heinous ? Cruelty.

30. person ? Infamy. 31.

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What is more painful than death to a respected

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Who grows ? The humble.

32.

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What is good fortune for those who have body ? Health.

33.

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Who is the protector of the world ? The Sun.

34.

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What is the cause of livelihood for everyone? That is rain.

35.

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Who is brave ? One who protects those in fright.

36.

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And who is the protector ? It is the preceptor.

37.

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Who is the perceptible goddess ? Mother.

38.

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And who is the preceptor to be honoured? Father.

39.

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Who is the fit recipient of the gift of food ? The hungry.