Question	Answer
Oh venerated one, what should one adhere to?	The words of the guru.
What is to be abandoned (not committed)?	That which is prohibited.
Who is a guru?	One who having understood the Ultimate Reality, continues to strive always for the welfare of the disciple.
What is proper?	Dharma.
Who is the one who is clean/pure?	He who has a clean mind.
Who is the scholar?	One who uses discretion.
What is toxic?	Disregarding the guru.
What can be called -a life?	That which is lived without blemish.
What is apathy?	When the educated person fails to put his knowledge to use.
Who is the truly awakened one?	The one who practices discretion.
What is sleep?	Persistent foolishness in man.
What yields worthless results?	Conceit.
What yields happiness?	Friendship with the good.
Who is skilled at destroying all distress?	The one who can sacrifice.
What is death?	The condition of stupidity.
What is priceless?	The gift given at the proper time.
What bothers one until death?	The sin committed in secrecy.
What practice should one engage in?	One should engage in educating oneself, taking good medicine and giving alms.
What interests are disgusting?	To be interested in another’s wife and another’s wealth.
Who is the blind one?	The one who does not work/perform.
Who is the deaf one?	The one who heeds not words meant for his welfare.
Who is the mute one?	Who fails to speak nicely at the proper time.
What is charity?	When it is given without expectations.
Who is a friend?	The one who saves you from incurring demerits (paapa).
What is an ornament?	Good Conduct.
What decorates speech?	Truth accompanying it.
What is rare like the chintamani gem?	There are four rare ones. Charity accompanied by kind words. Knowledge bereft of arrogance. Strength coupled with patience. Wealth that can be distributed.
Whom does Lakshmi bless?	One who perseveres on his own through law abiding means.
Whom does she quickly abandon?	One who censures those who help maintain the sacraments, those who criticize the guru, those who find fault with the wise and those who are lazy.
Who is the lame one?	The one who visits holy places only during old age.
Which is the most important pilgrimage?	Removing impurities from one’s mind is the best teerta yaatra.
What should man accumulate?	Knowledge, wealth, strength, good reputation and merits.
What can destroy all good qualities?	Greed.
Who is the real enemy?	Unbridled Passion.
What is dearer than life?	Maintenance of one’s traditional dharma and association with the good.
What should be protected?	Fame associated with achievement, chastity, and intelligence gathered over the years.
Where is poison located?	In wicked men.
What is unclean?	Incurring debts.
How can one be truly unafraid?	By proper management of relationship with people and things.
What incurs fear?	Accumulated wealth.
Where does success come from?	From diligence.
Who are the wise?	Those who pursue the divine while alive on earth.
Where can wisdom be found?	It is found while in the service of the Elders.
Who are Elders?	Those who are well grounded in the knowledge of dharma and live by dharma.
When can one tell a lie and yet not incur any demerit?	When it is uttered to protect one’s dharma.
What is dharma?	That which is endorsed by the wise and by those who are cultured amongst us.
What is hard for men to achieve?	To be able to handle the mind all the time.
Who is a brhmachari?	One who has control over his energies.
Who is a hero?	The one who protects the fear-ridden.
Who is the protector?	The guru.
Who is the Guru for the whole world?	Shambhu (Shiva).
From whom should knowledge be asked?	From Lord Shiva himself.
Who is the visible devata?	The mother.
Who is to be venerated?	The father.
In whom can you see the essence of all the devatas?	In the one who has knowledge of the divine and lives in conjunction with that.
Who should receive alms?	The needy.
Who is to be adored?	The incarnations of Bhagavan.
Who is Bhagavan?	The Great Lord who is the essence of both Shankara and Narayana.

Translation of Shri Prashnottara-ratna-maalika For better Reading SHUBHAM