The Three Questions
Leo Tolstoy
👉 The Three Questions –
Questions and Answers
1. Who is a Tsar? What once occurred to a certain Tsar?
Answer: Tsar is the ruler of Russia until 1917, better to say the former Russian King.
As a head of a state, a king or an emperor has to face a thousand and one problems. Naturally a true and benevolent king remains worried all the time to ensure the wellbeing of his subjects.
Once it occurred to such a certain Tsar that as he has to attend to an unending number tasks, it would be helpful to him if he knew the right time to begin everything and who the right people were to listen to and whom to avoid. He also required knowing what the most important thing to do was. The Tsar thought that if he knew the answers to these questions, he would never fail to perform anything he might undertake.
2. What did the Tsar proclaim throughout the kingdom and why?
Answer: To get satisfactory answers to his thoughts the Tsar made an announcement throughout his kingdom. He proclaimed that a great reward would be given to any person who would provide the satisfactory answers to his questions. The king had to undertake various actions and the timing of the action was to be appropriate. So, the first question was what the right time for every action was. Next he wanted to know who the most necessary and the right time for every action and the most necessary people to seek advice from were. People might tell him about the right time for every action and the most necessary people but he also needed to know what the most important thing to do was.
3. How did the learned men answer the first question?
Answer: The first question was what the right time for every action was. To this question some replied that one must prepare in advance a table of events and actions thereon and also a table of days, months and years and to follow them strictly. In this way everything could be done at its proper time. Other said it was impossible to choose the right time for every action. So, one should keep track of all that was going on and accordingly do the most needful. Some said it was impossible for one person to choose the right time. So he should have a council of Wiseman. But others said that in case of an emergency a council might not get the time. To know beforehand what was going on to happen.
4. What were the answers to the second and third questions?
Answer: Various answers were provided to the second question. According to some wise men, the people most needed by the Tsar were the councilors. This was not agreed top by others. Some suggested priests while others suggested that doctors were the most necessary people. Yet others suggested warriors were the people most necessary to the Tsar.
Equally varied were the answers to the third question as to what the most important thing to do was. Some opined that the world of science was the most important thing. This opinion was contested by some and skill in warfare was considered most important. But some preferred the suggested that religious worship was most important thing to do.
5. What did the Tsar ask the hermit and what did the hermit do?
Answer: As the Tsar received different answers, he agreed none and did not give the reward to any of them. He then approached to a hermit, known for his wisdom. Subsequently, the Tsar told him that he (Tsar) had come to seek answers to three questions. But instead of answering him the hermit continued to dig the ground in front of his hut. The Tsar then wanted to do the work for the decrepit old hermit as he seemed to be tired. Giving him the spade the hermit sat down to take rest. After digging two beds the Tsar again requested him to give answers to his questions. The hermit gave no answer and the Tsar continued to dig until the sun set. Then, stopping his work he said if the hermit could not tell him the answers he would return home. The hermit then drew his attention to a man who was running towards them.
6. What happened to the bearded man?
- How did the Tsar and the hermit react seeing him?
Answer:
The Tsar saw an old bearded man running out of the forest towards the place
where the Tsar was digging the ground. The man was pressing his hands against
his stomach. He was severely wounded and bleeding profusely. On reaching the
place he fell down on the ground and fainted. He was also moaning feebly. The
Tsar and the hermit immediately untied his clothing. They found a large wound
in his stomach. The Tsar washed the wound as well as he could and bandaged it
with his handkerchief and a towel given by the hermit. But the wound did not
stop bleeding. So the Tsar replaced the bandage soaked with worm blood again
and again. He washed and re-bandaged the wound.
7. What did the Tsar do when the bleeding stopped?
What did the Tsar do when the bleeding of the bearded man finally stopped? What was revealed to the Tsar when he woke up the next morning? How did the Tsar react?
Answer: After the bleeding had finally stopped, the bearded man regained consciousness and wanted to drink water. The Tsar brought water for him. Then the Tsar and the hermit carried him into the hut and laid him on the bed. The man closed his eyes and remained quiet. The Tsar being tired after the walk and digging, crouched at the door and fell asleep. Waking up the Tsar could hardly remember where he was, nor could he recall who the bearded man was. The man then was looking at him intently with shining eyes.
When the Tsar woke up in the morning the bearded man begged the Tsar for mercy. Being surprised the Tsar said there was nothing to forgive him because he did not know the man. The man then revealed that he was the Tsar’s enemy and he wanted to avenge the execution of his brother. The man also said that he knew that the Tsar had gone alone to the hermit. So, he decided to kill the Tsar when he would return. He hid himself in an ambush but he (the tsar) did not return. When he came out of his hiding place his (Tsar’s) bodyguard recognized him and wounded him. He ran away and would have bled to death if the Tsar had not dressed his wound. Now if the Tsar pardoned him he would serve the Tsar as his most faithful servant.
The Tsar was very happy for having made peace with his enemy and also getting him for a friend. The Tsar forgave him, promised to send his physician and to restore his property.
8. What was the Tsar’s reaction to the hermit’s silence?
- What was the hermit’s answer to the Tsar?
Answer: The Tsar was highly disappointed with the hermit. In spite of repeated requests the hermit remained silent and did not provide him with any answer. So, the Tsar thought it was useless to stay there any longer. He took leave of the wounded man but before finally leaving the hermitage he decided for the last time to beg an answer from the hermit. The hermit was outside his hut then. He was kneeling and sowing seeds in the beds which had been dug the previous day. Approaching the hermit the Tsar prayed to him for the last time to answer his questions.
The hermit, renowned for his wisdom, surprised the Tsar saying that he had already been answered. The hermit explained that if he had gone away without pitying him, the bearded man would have attacked him and he would have repented for not staying with him. So, the most important time was when he was digging for the hermit. Later when the Tsar attended the injured man, it was the most important action. Moreover, when the Tsar attended the injured man, he was the most important person. Explaining it in a different way the hermit said the most important time is when one has power and the most necessary man is one with whom you are. Finally, the most important task is to do good because for that alone man is sent into this life.
9. Do you consider the hermit a wise man?
- Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer: The hermit is without any doubt a remarkable person. He is known for his wisdom. He makes no difference between a Tsar and a common man. When the Tsar approaches him he does not go out of the way to oblige him. He continues to dig the soil. He hears the Tsar’s questions but remains silent. . As he is a wise man he waits for a favorable moment. The Tsar’s questions are of such a nature that they can be answered best with examples from real events. Initially, the Tsar does not seem to be pleased with the hermit’s indifference to him. But as the subsequent events unfold the hermit answers the Tsar’s questions with live examples. This shows the sagacity and wisdom of the hermit.
10. Do you consider the Tsar a wise king?
- Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer: for any responsible and benevolent king, it is necessary to know the answers to the questions that are in the Tsar’s mind. There is nothing wrong in declaring a reward for the best answers. When no unanimous answer was forthcoming, he approached a wise hermit for answers. At the hermitage we find the Tsar to be a highly compassionate person. He himself digs the soil to allow the old hermit to have rest. Next we find him nursing the wounded man with all sincerity. When the wounded man who came to avenge the killing of his brother, begged for mercy the Tsar displayed his magnanimity by pardoning him and gained him as a friend. He also patiently bore with the peculiar manner of the hermit. Like the hermit the Tsar too proved himself to be a wise person.
*****
Read
also: 🔎
👉 The Three Questions – Questions and Answers (D.A.Q)
👉 Strong Roots - Questions and Answers (D.A.Q)
👉 Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day - S.A.Q
👉 The Poetry of Earth - (S.A.Q)
👉 Asleep in the Valley - Questions and Answers (D.A.Q)
.webp)
.webp)
){kind=link}
0 Comments
I'm pleased to hear from you. Without any hesitation, kindly leave your valuable words in the Comment Box