2.

2
Three
Questions
Once a certain king had an idea. If he always knew
the right time to begin everything, if he knew who
were the right people to listen to and whom to avoid
and above all, if he always knew what was the most
important thing to do, he would never fail in anything
that he would undertake. Since he was convinced that
he was right in thinking this way, he had a proclamation
made in his kingdom. He would give a great reward
a public to
or official
anyone who would teach him what the right time was for
announcement
every action, who the most necessary people were, and
how he might know the most important thing to do.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
What idea did the king have?
Ans. The king had an idea that he would never fail at anything that
he would undertake, if he knew the following three things:
i. the right time to begin everything
ii. the right people to listen to and the ones to avoid
iii. the most important thing to do

Once a certain king had an idea. If he always knew the right time to begin everything, if he knew
who were the right people to listen to and whom to avoid and above all, if he always knew what
was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything that he would undertake.
Since he was convinced that he was right in thinking this way, he had a proclamation made in his
kingdom. He would give a great reward to anyone who would teach him what the right time
was for every action, who the most necessary people were, and how he might know the most
important thing to do.
What proclamation did the king make?
Ans. The king made a proclamation that he would give a great reward to anyone who would
teach him how to decide the following three things:
i. What was the right time for every action?
ii. Who were the most necessary people?
iii. How would he know the most important thing to do?

Once a certain king had an idea. If he always knew the right time to begin everything, if he knew
who were the right people to listen to and whom to avoid and above all, if he always knew what
was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything that he would undertake.
Since he was convinced that he was right in thinking this way, he had a proclamation made in his
kingdom. He would give a great reward to anyone who would teach him what the right time
was for every action, who the most necessary people were, and how he might know the most
important thing to do.
Many learned people came to the court but they all
gave different answers. In reply to the first question,
knowledgeable/
some said
well that to know the right time for every action,
educated
one must draw up in advance a table of days, months
and years, and must live strictly according to it. Others
declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand
the right time for every action; but that, not letting
oneself be absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always
attend to all
to be that without
greatly was going
interested on, and then do that was
purpose
most
andessential.
engagedYet others said that it was impossible for
in something
one man to decide correctly the right time for every
action and that the king should, instead, have a council
of wise people, who would help him to fix athe proper
team of people
time for everything. appointed to
administrate a region
2) What different advice did the learned men give in response to the first question of the king?
Ans. The learned men gave different advices in response to the first question of the king. Some of
them are as follows:
i. One should prepare a timetable for everything in life and should strictly follow it.
ii. One should always be active without engaging in any pastime activities and do the most
essential thing at hand.
iii. The king should appoint a council of wise people to decide the right time for everything.

Many learned people came to the court but they all gave different answers. In reply to the first
question, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance a
table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Others declared that it was
impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action; but that, not letting oneself
be absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that was going on, and then do that
was most essential. Yet others said that it was impossible for one man to decide correctly the
right time for every action and that the king should, instead, have a council of wise people, who
would help him to fix the proper time for everything.
3) Why did some learned men suggest that the king should have a council of wise men?
Ans. According to some learned men, it was not possible for a single man to decide the right time
for every action. Hence, they suggested that the king should have a council of wise men,
who would help him to fix the right time for everything.

Many learned people came to the court but they all gave different answers. In reply to the first
question, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance a
table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Others declared that it was
impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action; but that, not letting oneself
be absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that was going on, and then do that
was most essential. Yet others said that it was impossible for one man to decide correctly the
right time for every action and that the king should, instead, have a council of wise people, who
would help him to fix the proper time for everything.
Equally varied were the answers to the second question.
Some said the people the king most needed were his
councilors; others the priests; others the doctors while
some said the warriors were the most necessary.
To the third question about what was the most important
occupation, some replied that the most important thing in
the world was science. Others said it was skill in
warfare; and others, again, that it was religious worship.
The
theking was convinced by none of these answers and
activities
gave the reward
involved in war to none.
He decided, instead to go to a hermit who was widely
renowned for his wisdom. The hermit lived in a small hut
in a forest which he never left.who
a monk He lives
spokealone,
only to common
folk. So the king put onaway
simple
fromclothes and approaching
the society
the hermit's cell, dismounted his horse and left his
people
bodyguard behind.
a small room
got down
of a monk
1) Complete the tree diagram according to the story.
Ans.
Most necessary
people needed by
the king, according
to different
learned men

_____________
councilors _____________
priests _____________
doctors _____________
warriors

Equally varied were the answers to the second question. Some said the people the king most
needed were his councilors; others the priests; others the doctors while some said the warriors were
the most necessary.
3) Why did the king go to the hermit in disguise?
Ans. The hermit spoke only to the common folk and would not have answered the king if he had
gone there in his royal outfit. Hence, the king disguised himself in simple clothes to go to the
hermit.

4) The king took his horse and bodyguards along, to the hermit’s cell.
(State whether the sentence is True or False)
Ans. False.
The king left his horse and bodyguards behind in the forest, before reaching the hermit’s cell.

He decided, instead to go to a hermit who was widely renowned for his wisdom. The hermit lived
in a small but in a forest which he never left. He spoke only to common folk. So the king put on
simple clothes and approaching the hermit's cell, dismounted his horse and left his bodyguard
behind.
When the king arrived, the hermit was digging the
ground in front of his hut. He greeted the king but went
on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each
time he struck the groundweak
with the
andspade and
turned over a little earth, delicate
he breathed heavily. The king
a tool used
went upor
loosen toremove
him andearth
said, "I havefor
come to you, wise
digging
hermit, to ask you to answer three questions—How can I
learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are
the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore,
pay most attention? And what affairs are the most
important and need my first attention?"
matters
 3) What did the king do when the hermit continued to dig the ground?
Ans. The king went up to the hermit and politely asked him to answer the following three
questions:
i. How could he (the king) learn to do the right thing at the right time?
ii. Who were the people he (the king) needed the most and to whom should he pay the
most attention to?
iii. Which affairs were the most important and needed his (the king’s) first attention?
4) Did the king reveal his identity to the hermit?
Ans. No, the king did not reveal his identity to the hermit.

When the king arrived, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. He greeted the king
but went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he struck the ground with
the spade and turned over a little earth, he breathed heavily. The king went up to him and said,
"I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions—How can I learn to do the
right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore,
pay most attention? And what affairs are the most important and need my first attention?"
The hermit listened to the king but said nothing. He just
spat on his hand and resumed digging. The king
watched in silence for a while. Then, feeling sorry for
the hermit, he said, "You are tired, let me take the
spade and work a while for you." The hermit silently
handed over the spade and sat down on the ground.
When he had dug two beds, the king stopped and
repeated his questions. Theofhermit
patches land again gave no
answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade,
and said, "Now rest a while and let me work a bit". But
the king did not give him the spade and continued to
dig.
1) How did the king respond to the hermit’s questions?

Ans. The hermit heard the king’s questions but did not say
anything in response. He continued his digging once
the king had completed asking his questions.

The hermit listened to the king but said nothing. He just spat on his hand and resumed digging.
The king watched in silence for a while. Then, feeling sorry for the hermit, he said, "You are tired,
let me take the spade and work a while for you." The hermit silently handed over the spade and
sat down on the ground. When he had dug two beds, the king stopped and repeated his
questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and
said, "Now rest a while and let me work a bit". But the king did not give him the spade and
continued to dig.
2) How did the king behave when the hermit did not answer
his questions? Did he behave arrogantly or humbly?

Ans. The king behaved humbly and patiently when the hermit
did not answer his questions.
He even felt pity for the frail man and helped him to dig
more than two beds of soil.

The hermit listened to the king but said nothing. He just spat on his hand and resumed digging.
The king watched in silence for a while. Then, feeling sorry for the hermit, he said, "You are tired,
let me take the spade and work a while for you." The hermit silently handed over the spade and
sat down on the ground. When he had dug two beds, the king stopped and repeated his
questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and
said, "Now rest a while and let me work a bit". But the king did not give him the spade and
continued to dig.
One hour passed and another. The sun began to sink
behind the trees and the king at last stuck the spade
into the ground and said, "I came to you, wise one, for
an answer to my questions. If you can give me none,
please say so, and I will go home". "Here comes
someone running," said the hermit, "let us see who it is."
The king turned round and saw a bearded man come
running out of the forest. The man held his hands
pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing
from under them. When he reached the king, he fainted
and fell to the ground, moaning feebly. The king and the
hermit unfastenedmaking
the man's clothing.
a long,
withoutslow There was a large
strength,
wound sound
in his stomach.
opened, untied Thedue
kingtowashed
pain
weaklyit as well as he
could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and a
towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop
flowing, and the king again and again removed the
bandage soaked with warm blood and washed and
rebandaged the wound. When at last the blood
stopped flowing, the man revived and asked for
something to drink. The king brought some fresh water
and gave it to him.
2) How did the hermit and the king nurse the wounded man?
Ans. The hermit and the king unfastened the wounded man’s clothing. The king washed his
wound and bandaged it with the hermit’s handkerchief and towel. He continued to wash
and rebandage the wound till the blood stopped to flow. When the man revived, the king
gave him some fresh water to drink.
3) What quality of the king do we see in the extract?
Ans. From the extract, we see that the king was a compassionate, caring and humble man.

The king turned round and saw a bearded man come running out of the forest. The man held his
hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached
the king, he fainted and fell to the ground, moaning feebly. The king and the hermit unfastened
the man's clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The king washed it as well as he
could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and a towel the hermit had. But the blood would
not stop flowing, and the king again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood
and washed and rebandaged the wound. When at last the blood stopped flowing, the man
revived and asked for something to drink. The king brought some fresh water and gave it to him.
"You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy
of yours who swore to revenge himself on you because
you executedtook
his brother
an oathand seized his property. I knew
youcarried
had gone
out alone
a to see legally
the hermit,
tookand
the I resolved to
killdeath
you on your way back. But
sentence the day passed
possession of and you
did not return. So I came out of my ambush to find you.
Your bodyguards recognised me and placewounded
of hidingme. I
escaped from them but would havebefore bled to death had
attack
you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you but you
have saved my life. Now if I live, and if you wish it, I'll
serve you all my life."
 3) State whether the following statements are True or False.
i. The bearded man had already left when the king woke up the next morning.
Ans. False. The bearded man was lying by the king’s side and gazing at him intently when the
king woke up the next morning.
ii. The bearded man thanked the king for his help.
Ans. False. The bearded man asked for forgiveness from the king.
iii. The king did not recognize the bearded man.
Ans. True.
Meanwhile the sun had set and it had become cool. So the king, with the hermit's help, carried
the wounded man into the hut. The man lay there quietly with his eyes closed. By now, the king
was so tired after his walk and the work he had done, that he lay down himself and also fell
asleep. When he awoke in the morning, it took his some time to remember where he was and
who was the strange bearded man lying by his side and gazing intently at him. "Forgive
me !" said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the king was awake and was
looking at him. "I do not know you, and I've nothing to forgive you for," said the king.
2) Why did the bearded man come out of his ambush?
Ans. The bearded man came out of his ambush as the king did not return even though the day
had passed. So, he thought of searching for the king and then killing him.

3) What would have happened to the wounded man if the king had not dressed his wound?
Ans. The wounded man would have bled to death if the king had not dressed his wound.

"You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge himself on
you because you executed his brother and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see
the hermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not
return. So I came out of my ambush to find you. Your bodyguards recognised me and wounded
me. I escaped from them but would have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished
to kill you but you have saved my life. Now if I live, and if you wish it, I'll serve you all my life."
The king was very glad to have made peace with an
enemy so easily and to have gained him for a friend.
He not only forgave him but said he would send his men
and his own physician to attend to him. The king then
took leave of doctor
him and went out of the hut to look for the
hermit. Before going away he wished once more to
beg for an answer to the questions he had asked. The
hermit wasfor
request outside,
an on his knees, sowing seeds in the
beds answer
that had been dug the day before.
The king approached him and said, "For the last time, I
pray you to answer my questions, wise man."
"You have already been answered!" said the hermit still
crouching on his thin legs and looking up at the king who
stood before him.
bending
"What do you mean?" asked the king.
2) What did the king do before leaving the hermit’s place?
Ans. Before leaving the hermit’s place, the king politely made a last request to the hermit to
answer the questions that he had asked on the previous day.

The king was very glad to have made peace with an enemy so easily and to have gained him for
a friend. He not only forgave him but said he would send his men and his own physician to attend
to him. The king then took leave of him and went out of the hut to look for the hermit. Before
going away he wished once more to beg for an answer to the questions he had asked. The hermit
was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.
The king approached him and said, "For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise
man."
"You have already been answered!" said the hermit still crouching on his thin legs and looking up
at the king who stood before him.
"What do you mean?" asked the king.
3) What was the hermit doing the next morning?
Ans. The hermit was crouching on his knees and sowing seeds in the beds outside his hut that the
king and the hermit had dug on the previous day.

The king was very glad to have made peace with an enemy so easily and to have gained him for
a friend. He not only forgave him but said he would send his men and his own physician to attend
to him. The king then took leave of him and went out of the hut to look for the hermit. Before
going away he wished once more to beg for an answer to the questions he had asked. The hermit
was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.
The king approached him and said, "For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise
man."
"You have already been answered!" said the hermit still crouching on his thin legs and looking up
at the king who stood before him.
"What do you mean?" asked the king.
"Do you not see?" replied the hermit. "If you'd not pitied
my weakness yesterday and stayed to dig these beds for
me, you would have gone back and been killed by that
man. So the most important time was when you were
digging the beds, and I was the most important man and
to do me good was your most important business.
Afterwards, the most important time was when you were
be beneficial
attending to that man, for if you'd not bound his wounds,
to someone
he would have died without having made peace with you.
restricted
So he was the most important man and what you did for
him was your most important business. Remember then,
there is only one time that is important-now ! It is the most
important time because it's the only time when we have
any power. The most necessary person is the one with
whom you are, for you do not know whether you will ever
have dealings with anyone else; and the most important
thing is to do
relations, this person good, because for that purpose
contacts
alone were you sent into this life !"
2) How many examples did the hermit use to answer the king’s questions?
Ans. The hermit used two examples to answer the king’s questions – the pity that the king felt for
the hermit and the nursing that the king did for the wounded man.

"Do you not see?" replied the hermit. "If you'd not pitied my weakness yesterday and stayed to dig
these beds for me, you would have gone back and been killed by that man. So the most
important time was when you were digging the beds, and I was the most important man and to
do me good was your most important business. Afterwards, the most important time was when
you were attending to that man, for if you'd not bound his wounds, he would have died without
having made peace with you. So he was the most important man and what you did for him was
your most important business. Remember then, there is only one time that is important-now ! It is
the most important time because it's the only time when we have any power. The most necessary
person is the one with whom you are, for you do not know whether you will ever have dealings
with anyone else; and the most important thing is to do this person good, because for that
purpose alone were you sent into this life !"
3) What were the answers to the three questions in the first example?
Ans. In the first example, the most important time was when the king was digging the beds. The
hermit was the most important man and to do good to the hermit was the king’s most
important business.

"Do you not see?" replied the hermit. "If you'd not pitied my weakness yesterday and stayed to dig
these beds for me, you would have gone back and been killed by that man. So the most
important time was when you were digging the beds, and I was the most important man and to
do me good was your most important business. Afterwards, the most important time was when
you were attending to that man, for if you'd not bound his wounds, he would have died without
having made peace with you. So he was the most important man and what you did for him was
your most important business. Remember then, there is only one time that is important-now ! It is
the most important time because it's the only time when we have any power. The most necessary
person is the one with whom you are, for you do not know whether you will ever have dealings
with anyone else; and the most important thing is to do this person good, because for that
purpose alone were you sent into this life !"
4) What were the answers to the three questions in the second example?
Ans. In the second example, the most important time was when the king was attending to the
wounded man. The wounded man was the most important man and the king’s actions for
him became his most important business.

"Do you not see?" replied the hermit. "If you'd not pitied my weakness yesterday and stayed to dig
these beds for me, you would have gone back and been killed by that man. So the most
important time was when you were digging the beds, and I was the most important man and to
do me good was your most important business. Afterwards, the most important time was when
you were attending to that man, for if you'd not bound his wounds, he would have died without
having made peace with you. So he was the most important man and what you did for him was
your most important business. Remember then, there is only one time that is important-now ! It is
the most important time because it's the only time when we have any power. The most necessary
person is the one with whom you are, for you do not know whether you will ever have dealings
with anyone else; and the most important thing is to do this person good, because for that
purpose alone were you sent into this life !"
5) Did the king get satisfactory answers from the hermit to his questions?
What were the answers?

Ans. Yes the king got satisfactory answers from the hermit to his questions. They are as follows:
i. The most important time is ‘now’, that is the present time, because that is the only time
"Do you when youreplied
not see?" have any power. "If you'd not pitied my weakness yesterday and stayed to dig
the hermit.
theseii.beds
Theformost
me,important
you wouldperson is theback
have gone one with whomkilled
and been you presently are, because
by that man. you do not
So the most
important know
timewhether
was when youyou
willwere
havedigging
any dealings withand
the beds, anyone
I waselse.
the most important man and to
do meiii. good
The was
mostyour
important thing is tobusiness.
most important do goodAfterwards,
to the person thewith you,
most because time
important that was
is thewhen
only
you werepurpose of life.
attending to that man, for if you'd not bound his wounds, he would have died without
having made peace with you. So he was the most important man and what you did for him was
your most important business. Remember then, there is only one time that is important-now ! It is
the most important time because it's the only time when we have any power. The most necessary
person is the one with whom you are, for you do not know whether you will ever have dealings
with anyone else; and the most important thing is to do this person good, because for that
purpose alone were you sent into this life !"