Game 4

Question:
वृक्षस्याग्रे फलं दृष्टं फलाग्रे वृक्ष एव च ।
अकारादि सकारान्तं यो जानाति स पण्डितः ॥

vRukShasyaagre phalaM dRuShTaM phalaagre vRukSha eva cha |
akaaraadi sakaaraantaM yo jaanaati sa paNDitaH ||

Exposition:
Solve this प्रहेलिका (prahelikaa - riddle).

After splitting the composite words (sandhis), it could be read as -

वृक्षस्य अग्रे फलं दृष्टं फल-अग्रे वृक्ष एव च ।
अकार अदि सकार अन्तं यः जानाति सः पण्डितः ॥
vRukShasya agre phalaM dRuShTaM phala-agre vRukSha eva cha |
akaara adi sakaara antaM yaH jaanaati saH paNDitaH ||

Meaning:
At the tip of the tree is the fruit, at the tip of the fruit is the tree; starts with 'a' and ends with 'sa'; he who knows is a wise person.

This is an Antarlāpikā (अन्तर्लापिका) riddle. The answer is hidden inside the verse itself, within the description.

Answer:
अनानस  
anaanasa
Pineapple

Now, the picture and the meaning make the answer self-explanatory!

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Game 3

Question:
न तस्यादिर्न तस्यान्तं मध्ये यस्तस्य तिष्ठति ।
तवाप्यस्ति ममाप्यस्ति यदि जानासि तद्वद ॥

na tasyaadirna tasyaantaM madhye yastasya tiShThati |
tavaapyasti mamaapyasti yadi jaanaasi tadvada ||

Exposition:
Solve this प्रहेलिका (prahelikaa - riddle).

After splitting the composite words (sandhis), it could be read as -

न तस्य आदिः न तस्य अन्तं मध्ये यः तस्य तिष्ठति ।
तव अपि अस्ति मम अपि अस्ति यदि जानासि तत् वद ॥
na tasya aadiH na tasya antaM madhye yaH tasya tiShThati |
tava api asti mama api asti yadi jaanaasi tat vada ||

Meaning:
It has a 'न' in the beginning, 'न' in the end.  In between sits a 'य'.
You have it too, I have it too, if you know it, say it!

This is an Antarlāpikā (अन्तर्लापिका) riddle. The answer is hidden inside the verse itself, within the description.

Answer:
If the clues are put together, the word comes out to be 'नयन' (nayana)!  नयन means 'eye'.  It starts with a 'na' and ends with a 'na', has a 'ya' in between.  You have it and I have it too.  That would be an eye!  That is the answer!

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Game 2

Question:
कृष्णमुखी न मार्जारी द्विजिह्वा न च सर्पिणी ।
पञ्चभर्ता न पाञ्चाली यो जानाति स पण्डितः ॥

kRuShNamukhI na maarjaarI dvijihvaa na cha sarpiNI |
pa~nchabhartaa na paa~nchaalI yo jaanaati sa paNDitaH ||

Exposition:
This verse is a प्रहेलिका(prahelikaa), a riddle.  The challenge is to solve it!

कृष्ण-मुखी न मार्जारी द्वि-जिह्वा न च सर्पिणी ।
पञ्च-भर्ता न पाञ्चाली यः जानाति सः पण्डितः ॥
kRuShNa-mukhI na maarjaarI dvi-jihvaa na cha sarpiNI |
pa~ncha-bhartaa na paa~nchaalI yaH jaanaati saH paNDitaH ||

Meaning:
Black-faced, not a cat; double-tongued, not a snake;
Has 5 care-takers, not draupadI (of mahaabhaarata); he who knows is a clever person.

Answer:
This is a Bahirlāpikā (बहिर्लापिका) riddle, as the answer lies outside the verse and must be guessed based on the clues provided.

लेखनी
lekhanI
A Pen!

The nib of a pen is black with ink, and the nib is split in the middle to allow the flow of ink.  The 5 fingers that hold it are its caretakers.  Did you know the answer?  Aren't you clever! :).

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Game 1

Question:
वृक्षाग्रवासी न च पक्षिराजः
त्रिनेत्रधारी न च शूलपाणिः ।
त्वग्वस्त्रधारी न च सिद्धयोगी
जलञ्च बिभ्रन्न घटो न मेघः ॥

vRukShaagravaasI na cha pakShiraajaH
trinetradhaarI na cha shUlapaaNiH |
tvagvastradhaarI na cha siddhayogI
jala~ncha bibhranna ghaTo na meghaH ||

Exposition:
This verse is a प्रहेलिका(prahelikaa), a riddle.  The challenge is to solve it!

वृक्ष अग्र वासी न च पक्षि-राजः
त्रि-नेत्र-धारी न च शूल-पाणिः ।
त्वक् वस्त्र-धारी न च सिद्ध-योगी
जलं च बिभ्रत् न घटः न मेघः ॥
vRukSha agra vaasI na cha pakShi-raajaH
tri-netra-dhaarI na cha shUla-paaNiH |
tvak vastra-dhaarI na cha siddha-yogI
jalaM cha bibhrat na ghaTaH na meghaH ||

Meaning:
Lives in treetops, but not the king of birds
Has three eyes, but isn't Lord Shiva (one who holds the trident)
Robed in clothes of bark, but isn't an ascetic
Bearing water, but neither a pot nor a cloud!

Answer:
This is a Bahirlāpikā (बहिर्लापिका) riddle, as the answer lies outside the verse and must be guessed based on the clues provided.

नारिकेलः
naarikelaH
A coconut!

Now, that's self-explanatory!

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