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The story, “Three Questions” conveys very realistic message on human lives. The renowned philosopher Leo Tolstoy frames a short story to teach us some realistic and applied lessons. The story ”Three Questions” depicts an anxious king and his eagerness to know some questions. To get his answers the king travels inside the forest to meet a hermit. There he gets his answer after some unwanted events.
The story ‘Three Questions’ opens with a king and his restlessness to get answers of three questions which arises in his mind. He thinks that he will never fall if he know these answers. The questions were- “What is the right time to begin something?” Which people should he listen to? What is the most important thing for him to do?
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Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy NCERT Class 7-A Philosophical and Lovely Outlook on Life
To get the answers , the king asked for many wise men. But they answered differently, which did not satisfy the king. Some said the king to keep councillors, magician, priest, doctors, soldiers and religious personality. The king announced reward for right and satisfactory answer. As nobody could satisfy the king with practical answer the king gave no reward. Instead he decided to visit a wise hermit who lived ‘in a wood’. The hermit was known for his wisdom.
Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy NCERT Class 7-A Philosophical Outlook on Life
Deceiving in a common people’s dress, the king went to meet the hermit. His bodyguard was waiting near the hermit’s place. After meeting the hermit, the king questioned him the three questions. But the hermit only listened. He continued his work. Sympathizing, the king asked for the spade from the hermit and started to dig with the spade. After sometime a bearded and wounded person had come running out of the forest and asked for help. The king along with the hermit helped the man to be cured.
The king stayed the whole night with the wounded person in the hermit’s hut. When the sun rose, the bearded person told how he planned to kill the king, and how he was wounded by king’s bodyguard. The bearded and wounded man revealed that he was the enemy of the king. The king killed his brother and seized his property. So he planned to kill the king.
As the king saved his life, the man yarned for forgiveness in gratitude. The king not only forgave him but also promised to give back his property and send his personal doctor with him. The king made him a friend. And forgave the man.
Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy NCERT Class 7-A Brilliant Philosophical Outlook on Life
Then the king was to return back, he asked the hermit three questions. The hermit beautifully made the king understood that “the most beautiful time was when you were digging the beds”. And for the answer of second question the hermit said that he was the most important man to deal with. And to the answer of the third question, the hermit said that to do good for him was the important business for the king.
If the king had not worked for the hermit, the king could be killed by the man. So doing the work at the work at the present situation is the most important time to begin. The most important time is ‘now’ . Because we have most control to act in present moment. And the most important persons are those with whom we are at a particular moment, “for no one knows what will happen in the future and whether we will meet anyone else”. The most important work is to do everybody’s good. Because we are sent in the world to help person by doing good for them.