Question the Question
A reflection on the art of inquiry — twelve kinds of questions, drawn from
śāstra and thirty-five years of teaching.
By Sri Satyanārāyaṇa Dāsa Babaji
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The 4 Kinds of Desirable Questions
01
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A question that brings good to everyone
Loka-hitam Praśna
The finest questions. They are not personal but universal — their answers delight the speaker and benefit all who listen. In the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, Sūta Gosvāmī honored the sages of Naimiśāraṇya before he began his reply, so pleased was he by their inquiry.
02
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A question for one's own good
Sva-hita Praśna
Rooted in the questioner's own life, yet often carrying wider benefit. Vyāsa's question to Nārada about his own dissatisfaction gave rise to the Śrīmad Bhāgavata itself.
03
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A question that brings clarity
Viṣaya-śodhaka Praśna
An attentive student, listening carefully, notices where the argument does not quite meet. He raises his hand not to challenge, but to refine. Such questions delight the teacher and lift the whole class.
04
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A question related to the topic
Prasaṅga Praśna
Not about the logic itself, but about the details, the stories, the historical thread. This is how the Purāṇas unfold — one inquiry naturally opening the door to the next.
The 8 Kinds of Undesirable Questions
01
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An improper question
Ati Praśna
Some things are personal, some are confidential, some transcend the reach of reason. Gārgī pressed sage Yājñavalkya until he warned her: cross this limit, and your head may fall off.
02
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A question unrelated to the topic
Viṣayāntara Praśna
The subject is Kṛṣṇa-līlā, and the question is about Rāmacandra abandoning Sītā. Asked about mangoes, the questioner describes the Kovidāra tree.
03
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A question like an itch
Kaṇḍūti Praśna
Impulse, not inquiry. The person cannot wait for the sentence to end before scratching — asking without weighing what has just been said.
04
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Childish questions
Bāliśa Praśna
A child asks his parents something, forgets it, and moves on. Sometimes a student presents 'two doubts,' asks the first, and quietly forgets the second was ever there.
05
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A provocative question
Vitaṇḍa Praśna
Meant to provoke, expose, or refute — sometimes deliberately, sometimes as a habit of critical mind. Rarely pleasing to the teacher, rarely fruitful for the class.
06
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A rambling question
Prajalpa Praśna
The questioner is unsure what he wants to ask. The teacher must interrupt: 'What exactly is your question?' The rambling continues. The mind has not yet clarified itself.
07
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A question to show one's scholarship
Darpa Praśna
The intent is to impress the room, or to quietly diminish the speaker. The question is really an announcement.
08
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A question that serves no purpose
Nirarthaka Praśna
It seems valid, even relevant. But its answer adds nothing to understanding. Did Brahmā see the real cowherd boys or their expansions? Ask yourself: what would change either way?
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Doubt is not a Question
We should know the difference between a doubt — saṁśaya — and a question — praśna. A doubt signifies uncertainty: two or more possibilities present themselves, and one is unsure which is true. A question opens a door where none was seen.
Practical Application
How would you ask your question?
Three inner tendencies, three ways of framing the same inquiry.
