Story: Three Questions

                   

             Once the king of Udaipur asked few questions to his courtiers to examine their knowledge and intelligence. The questions were not very hard but king was not satisfied by their answers. The three questions that the king asked in the court were- What is the faster thing than the air? How does man protect himself from any danger? And what is the sweetest thing in the world? The ministers of the court answered in many different ways, but the king not satisfied at all and said- “No one gave the accurate answers. You should try once again.” The minister discussed and grant them two days to find out the accurate answers. The king had given two days and ordered his guards to announce that the person who will give the accurate answers of these three questions will be rewarded by the king.

         After king’s announcement, many people across the state came and tried to give answer, but the king not satisfied at all. Few people answered that tiger is faster than air. Some said arms protects people from danger and other said ones physical power protects people. In the third question, most of them of said that sugar is the sweetest thing in the world and other said, honey is the accurate answer. But the king not satisfied at all of their answers. Thus the people departed the royal court.

        The next day, a guard had come in front of the king and said, “Your Majesty, a blind man has come to answer your answers.” The king ordered him to take the man to the court. The blind man had came and expressed his respect to the king. Then he answered, “Your majesty, the mind of human being is faster than the air, no one can measure the motion of mind. In case of second question, I think courage can protects one from any danger. Coward people see tiger in shadow, so we cannot die in fear if we have courage. My third answer- ones fair words is the sweetest thing in the world. One can triumph the heart of his enemy.” The answers of the blind man satisfied the king. He had found the exact answers of his questions. He announced, “He is physically blind, but his knowledge is bright.” He praised the blind man and rewarded him by many precious things.

(Translated from ‘Arhoi Kuri Sadhu’ by Jugalochan Das)