The Varna Ratnakara, Maithili: वर्ण रत्नाकर, (IAST: Varṇa Ratnākara), literally "Ocean of description", is the oldest prose work of Maithili language, written in 1324[3] CE by the Maithil scholar, priest and poet Jyotirishwar Thakur.

[4][5][6] The author was a part of the court of King Harisimhadeva (r. 1304–1324) of the Karnat dynasty whose capitals were in both Simraungadh and Darbhanga.

This work provides valuable information about the life and culture of medieval India.

A manuscript of this text is preserved in the Asiatic Society, Kolkata[9][10] The word Abahattha was used for the very first time in this encyclopedic work.

[12] Varṇa Ratnākara was written by Jyotirīśvara Ṭhākura, also spelled Jyotirishwar Thakur.