Pre-Reading Task
Discussion:
If I want to start a new task, I will not wait for an auspicious time. I believe that the right time is now. Waiting for a particular day or time can delay progress. Success depends more on hard work, planning, and consistency than on luck or rituals. However, I respect people who believe in auspicious times, as it gives them mental peace and confidence.
Individual Work:
(a) What do you think is the most important occupation?
In my opinion, teaching is the most important occupation. Teachers shape the future of every profession by educating doctors, engineers, leaders, and others. A strong education system leads to a strong and responsible society.
(b) Who do you think are the most important people (soldiers, leaders, doctors, priests, etc.)?
I think soldiers are the most important people because they protect our country and ensure that we live in safety and peace. Without them, no profession or daily life would function smoothly.
Comparison and Discussion:
Some of my friends thought that doctors or political leaders are the most important because they save lives or lead the nation. While I respect their views, I believe safety and national security come first, and soldiers ensure that.
Word Meaning
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Summary in English: The Three Questions
The story is about a king who wanted to know the answers to three important questions:
- What is the right time to do anything?
- Who are the most important people?
- What is the most important task?
Many learned men gave him different answers, but none satisfied him. So, he went to a wise hermit, disguised as a common man, to seek the answers. The hermit did not respond directly, and the king helped him by digging his garden. Later, a wounded man appeared, and the king helped save his life. That man turned out to be an enemy who had planned to kill the king but became his friend after being saved.
The next day, the hermit explained that the king had already received the answers:
- The most important time is now, because it is the only time we have control over.
- The most important person is the one you are with, because you never know if you’ll meet anyone else.
- The most important task is to do good to others, because that is the purpose of life.
सारांश हिंदी में:
यह कहानी एक राजा की है जो तीन महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रश्नों के उत्तर जानना चाहता था:
- किसी कार्य को करने का सही समय क्या है?
- सबसे आवश्यक व्यक्ति कौन है?
- सबसे महत्त्वपूर्ण कार्य क्या है?
राजा ने अपने राज्य में घोषणा कर दी कि जो इन प्रश्नों के सही उत्तर देगा उसे इनाम मिलेगा। कई विद्वान आए, परंतु उनके उत्तर अलग-अलग थे, जिससे राजा संतुष्ट नहीं हुआ। फिर वह एक प्रसिद्ध साधु (तपस्वी) के पास साधारण वस्त्र पहनकर गया।
साधु ने कोई उत्तर नहीं दिया, पर राजा ने उसकी मदद की और खुद बगीचा खोदने लगा। तभी एक घायल व्यक्ति वहां आया, जिसकी राजा ने देखभाल की और उसकी जान बचाई। वह व्यक्ति राजा का शत्रु था, जो राजा को मारना चाहता था, लेकिन राजा की दया से वह उसका मित्र बन गया।
अंत में साधु ने राजा को समझाया कि:
- सबसे महत्त्वपूर्ण समय वर्तमान है, क्योंकि हमारे पास बस यही समय है।
- सबसे महत्त्वपूर्ण व्यक्ति वह है जो इस समय आपके साथ है, क्योंकि भविष्य अनिश्चित है।
- सबसे महत्त्वपूर्ण कार्य दूसरों की भलाई करना है, क्योंकि मानव जीवन का यही उद्देश्य है।
Understanding the Story
A. Tick (✓) the correct answers from the options given below.
- The king reached the hermit’s cell—
(i) on foot,
(ii) on horseback,
(iii) in a chariot.
Answer – (i) on foot
- When the king approached the hermit, the latter was—
(i) planting trees,
(ii) sowing seeds,
(iii) digging earth.
Answer – (iii) digging earth
- The man who came running from the woods had a wound in—
(i) his hands,
(ii) his stomach,
(iii) his head.
Answer – (ii) his stomach
- The king dressed the bearded man’s wounds with—
(i) the hermit’s handkerchief,
(ii) his towel,
(iii) his handkerchief and the hermit’s towel.
Answer – (iii) his handkerchief and the hermit’s towel.
- After dressing the bearded man’s wounds, the king slept—
(i) in the hermit’s bed,
(ii) on the threshold of the hermit’s cell,
(iii) in the woods outside the hermit’s cell.
Answer – (ii) on the threshold of the hermit’s cell
B. Answer the following questions in about 30 words each.
- What were the three questions that occurred to the king?
Answer – The king wanted to know the right time for every action, who were the most important people, and what was the most important thing to do in life.
- Why did the king go to the wise hermit? Why did he go there alone and dressed like a commoner?
Answer – The king went to the hermit to get answers to his questions. He went alone and in simple clothes because the hermit met only common people, not royalty.
- Who was the bearded man who came running from the woods? How had he got wounded?
Answer – The bearded man was the king’s enemy. He planned to kill the king but was wounded by the king’s bodyguards when he came out from hiding to find him.
- How did digging of beds for the hermit save the king’s life?
Answer – By staying to dig for the hermit, the king avoided the ambush set by the bearded man. Had he left earlier, the man would have attacked and possibly killed him.
C. Write the given adjectives against the characters (the king, the hermit, the bearded man) they belong to. Also, find extracts from the story to justify your choice.
inquisitive, wise, considerate, practical, impulsive, grateful
Characters | Adjectives | Extracts from the story |
King | (i) Inquisitive | “The king had a strong desire to know the answers to three important questions.” |
(ii) Practical | “He decided to seek help from a wise hermit known for his wisdom.” | |
Hermit | (i) Wise | “The hermit was renowned for his wisdom and answered the king’s questions through actions, not words.” |
(ii) Considerate | “He listened patiently and continued digging despite his old age and tiredness.” | |
Bearded man | (i) Impulsive | “He planned to kill the king to avenge his brother’s death and the loss of his property.” |
(ii) Grateful | “He asked for the king’s forgiveness and promised to serve him faithfully.” |
HOTS
Briefly explain the answer the king got to his three questions. Making these answers your base, comment on the importance of the present moment in our life. (About 80-100 words)
Answer – The king got the answers to his three questions not through words but through his experiences with the hermit and the bearded man. He learned that the most important time is “now” because it is the only moment we have control over. The most important person is the one you are with at that moment, and the most important duty is to do good to that person. These answers emphasize the value of living in the present. The present moment holds the key to shaping our future, building relationships, and doing meaningful actions. Ignoring the present leads to regret, while using it wisely brings peace and purpose.
Life Skills
‘Knowledge gained through experience is far superior to and many times more useful than theoretical knowledge.’
Discuss the above statement in the light of the fact that the hermit did not answer the king’s questions as soon as they were put to him.
Answer – The statement rightly highlights that knowledge gained through experience is often more valuable than just theoretical knowledge. In the story, the hermit did not give direct answers to the king’s questions. Instead, he allowed the king to live through experiences—helping him dig the beds, aiding the wounded man, and spending time in selfless service. These actions taught the king more than words ever could. The hermit’s silence was intentional, as practical situations help one realize the true meaning of life’s lessons. This shows that real understanding comes when theory is tested and applied in real-life experiences.
Values
‘For that purpose alone, was man sent into this life.’ What is this purpose? Discuss some means of fulfilling this purpose.
Answer – The purpose referred to in the statement is to serve others selflessly and do good to people. Human life finds true meaning when it is dedicated to helping, healing, and supporting others in need. In the story, the king learns that the most important time is now, the most important person is the one with you, and the most important action is to do good to that person.
We can fulfil this purpose by:
Showing kindness and compassion to others
Helping those in need without expecting returns
Respecting everyone equally
Living in the present and making it meaningful through good deeds
This is the true value and dignity of human life.
Writing Skills
On behalf of the king, write a notice inviting people to respond to his three questions
Mention the questions also.
Answer – Notice
King’s Invitation for Responses
The King of the kingdom invites all wise men, scholars, and learned individuals to present their answers to the following three important questions. The king believes that the right answers to these questions will guide him in making wise decisions for the well-being of the kingdom.
The questions are:
What is the right time for every action?
Who are the most important people to listen to and focus on?
What is the most important thing that one should do in life?
The king promises a generous reward for the most insightful and thoughtful responses.
Date: [00.00.0000]
Location: [_______]
For further inquiries, contact: [________]
Issued by
The Royal Court
King [Insert King’s Name]
The Three Questions – Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Answers
- What was the king’s primary goal in asking his three questions?
- a) To gain wealth
- b) To never fail in anything he undertook
- c) To become a hermit
- d) To defeat his enemies
Answer: b) To never fail in anything he undertook
- What reward did the king offer for answers to his questions?
- a) A new palace
- b) A great reward
- c) A position in his court
- d) A magical item
Answer: b) A great reward
- According to some learned men, how could the king know the right time for every action?
- a) By consulting magicians
- b) By following a strict timetable
- c) By listening to his councillors
- d) By observing nature
Answer: b) By following a strict timetable
- What did some learned men suggest the king needed to know the future?
- a) A council of wise men
- b) The help of priests
- c) The advice of magicians
- d) The knowledge of warriors
Answer: c) The advice of magicians
- Who did some learned men consider the most necessary people for the king?
- a) Doctors
- b) Warriors
- c) Councillors
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
- What did some learned men say was the most important occupation?
- a) Science
- b) Religious worship
- c) Skill in warfare
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
- Why did the king decide to consult the hermit?
- a) The hermit was his friend
- b) The hermit was widely renowned for wisdom
- c) The hermit lived in the palace
- d) The hermit was a magician
Answer: b) The hermit was widely renowned for wisdom
- How did the king approach the hermit?
- a) With his bodyguards
- b) In simple clothes and alone
- c) On horseback with an army
- d) With a group of wise men
Answer: b) In simple clothes and alone
- What was the hermit doing when the king arrived?
- a) Meditating
- b) Digging earth in front of his hut
- c) Sowing seeds
- d) Sleeping
Answer: b) Digging earth in front of his hut
- How did the king assist the hermit?
- a) By bringing him food
- b) By taking the spade and digging for him
- c) By giving him water
- d) By answering his questions
Answer: b) By taking the spade and digging for him
- Who interrupted the king and hermit’s conversation?
- a) A group of soldiers
- b) A bearded man running from the wood
- c) The king’s bodyguards
- d) A wise councillor
Answer: b) A bearded man running from the wood
- Why was the bearded man wounded?
- a) He fell while running
- b) He was attacked by the king’s bodyguards
- c) He fought with the hermit
- d) He was injured by a wild animal
Answer: b) He was attacked by the king’s bodyguards
- What did the king do to help the wounded man?
- a) Left him to die
- b) Washed and bandaged his wound
- c) Called for a doctor immediately
- d) Sent him to the palace
Answer: b) Washed and bandaged his wound
- What did the bearded man reveal to the king?
- a) He was the hermit’s brother
- b) He was the king’s enemy planning to kill him
- c) He was a magician
- d) He was a lost traveler
Answer: b) He was the king’s enemy planning to kill him
- How did the king react to the bearded man’s confession?
- a) He imprisoned him
- b) He forgave him and promised to help him
- c) He sent him away
- d) He refused to forgive him
Answer: b) He forgave him and promised to help him
- What was the hermit’s final answer to the king’s first question about the right time?
- a) The right time is in the future
- b) The right time is when you consult wise men
- c) The only important time is now
- d) The right time is when you plan ahead
Answer: c) The only important time is now
- According to the hermit, who is the most necessary person?
- a) The king’s councillors
- b) The person you are with at the moment
- c) The hermit himself
- d) The king’s family
Answer: b) The person you are with at the moment
- What did the hermit say was the most important affair?
- a) To plan for the future
- b) To do good to the person you are with
- c) To seek wisdom
- d) To gain power
Answer: b) To do good to the person you are with
- What lesson did the king learn from the hermit?
- a) To trust magicians
- b) To focus on the present and help those around him
- c) To rely on his councillors
- d) To avoid enemies
Answer: b) To focus on the present and help those around him
- Why did the king fall asleep at the hermit’s hut?
- a) He was bored
- b) He was tired from walking and digging
- c) The hermit cast a spell on him
- d) He drank too much water
Answer: b) He was tired from walking and digging
Short Questions and Answers
- Question: What was the king’s main goal in asking his three questions?
Answer: To never fail in anything he undertook.
- Question: What reward did the king offer for answers to his questions?
Answer: A great reward.
- Question: What did some learned men suggest to know the right time for every action?
Answer: Follow a strict timetable.
- Question: According to some learned men, who could predict the right time for actions?
Answer: Magicians.
- Question: Who did some learned men consider the most necessary people for the king?
Answer: Councillors, priests, doctors, and warriors.
- Question: What occupations did some learned men consider most important?
Answer: Science, skill in warfare, and religious worship.
- Question: Why did the king consult the hermit?
Answer: The hermit was renowned for his wisdom.
- Question: How did the king approach the hermit?
Answer: In simple clothes and alone.
- Question: What was the hermit doing when the king arrived?
Answer: Digging earth in front of his hut.
- Question: How did the king help the hermit?
Answer: By taking the spade and digging for him.
- Question: Who interrupted the king and hermit’s conversation?
Answer: A bearded man running from the wood.
- Question: Why was the bearded man wounded?
Answer: He was attacked by the king’s bodyguards.
- Question: What did the king do to help the wounded man?
Answer: Washed and bandaged his wound.
- Question: What did the bearded man reveal to the king?
Answer: He was the king’s enemy planning to kill him.
- Question: How did the king react to the bearded man’s confession?
Answer: He forgave him and promised to help him.
- Question: What was the hermit’s answer to the king’s first question about the right time?
Answer: The only important time is now.
- Question: According to the hermit, who is the most necessary person?
Answer: The person you are with at the moment.
- Question: What did the hermit say was the most important affair?
Answer: To do good to the person you are with.
- Question: What lesson did the king learn from the hermit?
Answer: To focus on the present and help those around him.
- Question: Why did the king fall asleep at the hermit’s hut?
Answer: He was tired from walking and digging.
Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion) and Answers
- Question:
Assertion (A): The king believed that knowing the right time, people, and actions would ensure his success in all endeavors.
Reason (R): The king had failed in many tasks due to poor timing and advice.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: c) A is true, but R is false.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the king sought answers to never fail, as the story states. However, the reason is false because the story does not mention the king’s past failures due to poor timing or advice; it only describes his thought to avoid future failures.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The learned men’s varied answers confused the king and led him to seek the hermit’s wisdom.
Reason (R): The hermit was known to provide clear and practical answers to all questions.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the varied answers led the king to the hermit, as the story notes. The reason is also true since the hermit was renowned for wisdom, but it does not explain why the king sought him—rather, it was the lack of consensus among learned men that drove the king’s decision.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The king’s act of digging for the hermit saved his life.
Reason (R): By staying to dig, the king avoided an ambush by his enemy.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the hermit explains that digging delayed the king, saving him from the ambush, as the story details. The reason directly explains how staying to dig prevented the attack, as the bearded man’s confession confirms.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The hermit taught the king that the present moment is the most important time.
Reason (R): The king’s actions in the present, like helping the hermit and the wounded man, led to positive outcomes.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the hermit states the only important time is now, as the story concludes. The reason explains this by showing how the king’s present actions (digging and helping the wounded man) saved his life and made peace, directly supporting the hermit’s lesson.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The king forgave the bearded man because he wanted to gain a loyal servant.
Reason (R): The bearded man promised to serve the king faithfully if he lived.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the king forgave the man, who offered loyal service, as the story notes. The reason is true since the man promised to serve, but the king’s forgiveness stemmed from gladness at making peace easily, not solely to gain a servant, as the narrative suggests.
Long Questions and Answers
- Question: Analyse the king’s journey in the story and explain how his interaction with the hermit and the bearded man helped him find answers to his three questions.
Answer: The king’s journey in Tolstoy’s The Three Questions begins with his intellectual quest to ensure success by knowing the right time, people, and actions, as he proclaims a reward for answers, reflecting his initial reliance on external wisdom, as the story states. Dissatisfied with the learned men’s conflicting responses—ranging from timetables to magicians—he seeks the hermit, approaching humbly in simple clothes, as the narrative details, showing his openness to true wisdom. His interaction with the hermit starts with a practical act: digging for the frail hermit, which delays his departure, as the story notes. This delay, as the hermit later reveals, saves him from the bearded man’s ambush, answering the first question: the right time is now, as the present moment (digging) protected him. The bearded man’s arrival, wounded by the king’s bodyguards, as the narrative describes, prompts the king to act compassionately, bandaging his wound and saving his life, despite the man’s intent to kill him, as his confession reveals. This act answers the second question— the most necessary person is the one you are with (the wounded man)—and the third— the most important affair is to do good to that person, as the king’s kindness transforms an enemy into a friend, as the story concludes. Through these experiences, the king learns to focus on the present, value those around him, and prioritize kindness, internalizing the hermit’s wisdom that these principles ensure meaningful action, aligning with Tolstoy’s moral philosophy of living in the moment and serving others.
- Question: Discuss the significance of the hermit’s answers to the king’s questions and how they reflect Tolstoy’s moral philosophy.
Answer: The hermit’s answers in The Three Questions—the only important time is now, the most necessary person is the one you are with, and the most important affair is to do them good— encapsulate Tolstoy’s moral philosophy of mindfulness, human connection, and altruistic action, as the story and Tolstoy’s broader works reflect. The first answer, emphasizing the present as the only time we have power, aligns with Tolstoy’s belief in living fully in the moment, as seen in his essays like What Men Live By, where he stresses immediate moral action over future concerns, as the king’s digging and wound-dressing illustrate. The second answer highlights the value of the person present, reflecting Tolstoy’s Christian ethic of loving one’s neighbor, as the king’s aid to the bearded man, an enemy, shows, echoing Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God Is Within You, which advocates universal compassion. The third answer, prioritizing doing good, mirrors Tolstoy’s philosophy of selfless service, as in A Confession, where he finds purpose in helping others, exemplified by the king’s transformation of enmity into friendship, as the narrative details. Collectively, these answers underscore Tolstoy’s rejection of material ambition—seen in the king’s initial quest for success—and his advocacy for a life of moral immediacy and kindness, ensuring actions align with divine purpose, as the story’s conclusion suggests, offering a timeless guide for ethical living.
- Question: Evaluate the role of compassion in the story and how it transforms the relationship between the king and the bearded man.
Answer: Compassion plays a pivotal role in The Three Questions, transforming the king and bearded man’s relationship from enmity to friendship, as the narrative illustrates, highlighting Tolstoy’s emphasis on empathy as a moral force. The king’s initial compassion is practical—digging for the frail hermit, as the story notes, showing his willingness to serve despite his royal status, setting the stage for deeper empathy. When the bearded man arrives, wounded and fainting, as the narrative describes, the king’s immediate response—washing, bandaging, and re-bandaging the wound despite exhaustion— demonstrates profound compassion, prioritizing the man’s life over his own questions, as the story details. This act, rooted in selfless care, as Tolstoy often advocates in works like The Death of Ivan Ilyich, saves the man, who then reveals his intent to kill the king in revenge, as his confession states. The king’s subsequent forgiveness, promising aid and restoring property, as the narrative concludes, transforms their relationship, turning a sworn enemy into a “faithful slave,” as the man pledges. This shift underscores compassion’s power to heal division, aligning with Tolstoy’s belief in love as a unifying force, as seen in Resurrection. The transformation not only resolves conflict but also answers the king’s questions, showing that doing good in the present to those around you fosters peace, a lesson the king internalizes, as the hermit’s wisdom confirms.
- Question: How does Tolstoy use the events in the story to illustrate the importance of living in the present moment, and what broader lessons can be drawn from this theme?
Answer: Tolstoy uses the events in The Three Questions to illustrate the importance of living in the present by structuring the king’s experiences to reveal the consequences of his actions in real-time, as the narrative unfolds, reflecting his philosophy of mindfulness, as seen in works like What Men Live By. The king’s initial quest for future-oriented answers—through timetables or magicians, as the learned men suggest—fails, leading him to the hermit, as the story states. His act of digging for the hermit, a present-focused task, delays his departure, as the narrative details, saving him from the bearded man’s ambush, as the hermit explains. Later, his immediate response to the wounded man—bandaging and caring for him, as the story describes—prevents the man’s death and fosters reconciliation, as the man’s confession and the king’s forgiveness show. These events culminate in the hermit’s lesson: the only important time is now, as the story concludes, because only in the present can one act meaningfully. Broader lessons include the futility of overplanning, as the learned men’s varied answers suggest, and the value of mindfulness in ethical decision-making, aligning with Tolstoy’s belief in living morally in each moment, as A Confession reflects. This theme encourages prioritizing immediate kindness and presence, fostering peace and purpose in personal and societal interactions, a timeless principle applicable to modern life’s distractions.
- Question: Explore the moral and philosophical lessons in the story and discuss how they can be applied to modern leadership challenges.
Answer: The Three Questions offers moral and philosophical lessons—living in the present, valuing those around you, and prioritizing good deeds—that resonate with Tolstoy’s ethical framework and apply to modern leadership challenges, as the story and contemporary contexts show. The hermit’s lesson that the only important time is now, as the king learns through digging and aiding the bearded man, as the narrative details, counters modern leaders’ obsession with long-term planning, as seen in corporate strategies often neglecting immediate crises, like employee burnout (2023 workplace reports). Focusing on the present, leaders can address urgent needs—like team morale—ensuring sustainable success, aligning with Tolstoy’s mindfulness in What Men Live By. The second lesson, that the most necessary person is the one you are with, as the king’s care for the hermit and enemy shows, encourages leaders to prioritize stakeholders in the moment, such as listening to employees over distant shareholders, as servant leadership models advocate, fostering trust, as 2023 engagement studies confirm. The third lesson, to do good as the most important affair, as the king’s compassion transforms enmity, as the story concludes, urges leaders to act ethically, like prioritizing community welfare over profit, as CSR trends (e.g., Patagonia’s 2023 initiatives) reflect. These lessons, rooted in Tolstoy’s belief in universal kindness, as The Kingdom of God Is Within You suggests, help leaders navigate challenges like ethical dilemmas and team cohesion by emphasizing presence, empathy, and moral action, ensuring impactful leadership in a fast-paced world.