Three Questions

Leo Tolstoy – Summary, Think It Out Answers & 20 MCQs

📖 Summary of “Three Questions”

“Three Questions” is a famous short story by Leo Tolstoy. The story deals with three important questions about life and teaches us the value of living in the present and doing good to others.

A King once thought that if he knew the answers to three important questions, he would never fail in any undertaking. His three questions were: What is the right time to begin everything? Who are the right people to listen to? What is the most important thing to do?

The King offered a great reward to anyone who could provide satisfactory answers. Many learned men came to him, but they gave different answers. Some advised him to prepare a strict timetable, while others suggested that he should observe everything carefully. Some said that a council of wise men was necessary, while others believed that magicians alone could predict the right time.

The learned men also gave different answers to the other two questions. Some said that councillors, priests, doctors or soldiers were the most necessary people. Others claimed that science, warfare or religious worship was the most important occupation. The King was not satisfied with any of these answers.

Finally, the King decided to visit a hermit who was famous for his wisdom. The hermit lived in a wood and rarely received visitors. The King disguised himself in simple clothes and went to meet him.

When the King arrived, the hermit was digging seedbeds. The hermit was weak and tired, so the King took the spade from him and began digging. The King patiently continued helping the hermit even though he did not receive an immediate answer to his questions.

Suddenly, a wounded bearded man came running from the woods. He had a severe wound in his stomach. The King washed and bandaged the wound and gave him water. He continued caring for the wounded man until the bleeding stopped.

Later, the King discovered that the wounded man was actually his enemy. The man had planned to kill the King because the King had punished his brother. However, the King's kindness and mercy saved his life. The man felt grateful, asked for forgiveness and promised to serve the King faithfully.

Finally, the hermit explained the answers to the King's three questions. The most important time is “Now”, because the present is the only time when we have power to act. The most important person is the person who is with us at the present moment. The most important thing to do is to do good to that person.

🌟 Central Idea / Message

The story teaches us that we should live in the present instead of worrying too much about the past or future. The person who is with us at the present moment is the most important person, and our most important duty is to do good to that person. Kindness, compassion and service are the true answers to the three questions.

📝 Think It Out – Answers

Unit I

1. What were the three questions?

Answer: The three questions were: (1) What is the right time for every action? (2) Who are the most necessary people? (3) What is the most important thing to do?

2. What answers were given to the first question?

Answer: Some people suggested preparing a strict timetable. Others advised the King to attend to everything happening around him. Some suggested consulting a council of wise men, while others believed that magicians could know the right time.

3. What answers were given to the second question?

Answer: The learned men suggested that councillors, priests, doctors or warriors were the most necessary people.

4. What answers were given to the third question?

Answer: Some learned men said that science was the most important occupation. Others considered warfare or religious worship to be the most important.

5. Why did the King decide to consult a hermit?

Answer: The King was dissatisfied because the learned men gave different answers. He therefore decided to consult a hermit who was famous for his wisdom.

Unit II

1. Where did the King meet the hermit?

Answer: The King met the hermit in a wood where the hermit lived and rarely left.

2. How did the King help the hermit?

Answer: The hermit was weak and tired from digging. The King took the spade from him and dug the seedbeds for him.

3. How did the King nurse the wounded stranger?

Answer: The King washed the man's wound, bandaged it carefully and repeatedly, and gave him fresh water. He continued caring for him until the bleeding stopped.

4. Why did the wounded man want to serve the King?

Answer: The wounded man was actually the King's enemy and had intended to kill him. The King saved his life instead. Feeling grateful, the man asked for forgiveness and promised to serve the King faithfully.

Unit III

1. How did the hermit answer the King's questions?

Answer: The hermit used the events that had happened as examples. He explained that the King had already discovered the answers through his actions.

2. Was the King satisfied with the hermit's answers?

Answer: Yes. The King understood that the most important time is the present, the most important person is the person with us, and the most important task is to do good to that person.

⭐ The Three Final Answers

1. What is the most important time?
   Now – the present moment.
2. Who is the most important person?
   The person who is with you at the present moment.
3. What is the most important thing to do?
   To do good to the person who is with you.

📝 20 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

Instructions: Choose the correct answer from the four options.

1. Who is the author of “Three Questions”?

A. Robert Frost
B. Leo Tolstoy
C. R.K. Narayan
D. Manoj Das

Answer: B. Leo Tolstoy

2. What was the King's first question?

A. What is the right time to begin everything?
B. Who is the strongest warrior?
C. How much gold is in the treasury?
D. Where does the hermit live?

Answer: A. What is the right time to begin everything?

3. What reward did the King promise for the answers?

A. Half his kingdom
B. A title of nobility
C. A great reward
D. A golden crown

Answer: C. A great reward

4. According to some learned men, who could know the right time?

A. Warriors
B. Doctors
C. Magicians
D. Priests

Answer: C. Magicians

5. For the second question, some said the most necessary people were:

A. Magicians
B. Councillors
C. Merchants
D. Farmers

Answer: B. Councillors

6. According to some learned men, what was the most important occupation?

A. Magic
B. Money-making
C. Science
D. Agriculture

Answer: C. Science

7. Why did the King give the reward to none of the learned men?

A. Their answers were all different.
B. They were too slow to answer.
C. They asked for more money.
D. The hermit told him not to.

Answer: A. Their answers were all different.

8. The hermit the King consulted was renowned for his:

A. Strength
B. Wealth
C. Wisdom
D. Magic

Answer: C. Wisdom

9. How did the King disguise himself to meet the hermit?

A. As a priest
B. As a warrior
C. In simple clothes
D. As a merchant

Answer: C. In simple clothes

10. What was the hermit doing when the King arrived?

A. Praying
B. Sleeping
C. Digging the ground
D. Eating

Answer: C. Digging the ground

11. The hermit was described as:

A. Tall and strong
B. Frail and weak
C. Young and energetic
D. Angry and gruff

Answer: B. Frail and weak

12. Why did the King take the spade from the hermit?

A. He wanted to show off his strength.
B. The hermit was tired and breathing heavily.
C. He was looking for buried treasure.
D. The hermit ordered him to.

Answer: B. The hermit was tired and breathing heavily.

13. Who came running out of the wood?

A. The King's bodyguard
B. A wild animal
C. A bearded man
D. A magician

Answer: C. A bearded man

14. Where was the bearded man wounded?

A. His leg
B. His head
C. His stomach
D. His arm

Answer: C. His stomach

15. The bearded man intended to ____ the King on his way back.

A. Rob
B. Follow
C. Kill
D. Greet

Answer: C. Kill

16. The King's ____ had recognized and wounded the enemy.

A. Hermit
B. Bodyguard
C. Councillors
D. Physician

Answer: B. Bodyguard

17. What did the King promise to restore to the man?

A. His health
B. His brother
C. His property
D. His sword

Answer: C. His property

18. According to the hermit, the only time that is important is:

A. The past
B. The future
C. Now
D. Midnight

Answer: C. Now

19. Who is the most necessary person?

A. The King
B. A wise councillor
C. The person who is with you
D. A magician

Answer: C. The person who is with you

20. What is the most important affair in life?

A. To gain wealth
B. To win wars
C. To do good to others
D. To study science

Answer: C. To do good to others

📚 Quick Revision Points

• Author: Leo Tolstoy
• Main Character: The King
• Wise Person: The Hermit
• Important Stranger: The wounded enemy
• First Question: What is the right time?
• Second Question: Who are the most necessary people?
• Third Question: What is the most important thing to do?
• Answer to Time: Now
• Answer to Person: The person who is with you
• Answer to Action: Do good to that person
• Major Themes: Kindness, compassion, forgiveness and living in the present

💡 Moral of the Story

The most important moment is now, the most important person is the person who is with us, and the most important thing is to do good to that person.

Three Questions – Leo Tolstoy

Summary • Think It Out • MCQs • Quick Revision • 

ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ – Three Questions

ଲେଖକ: ଲିଓ ଟଲଷ୍ଟୟ (Leo Tolstoy)

📖 ସାରାଂଶ

“ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ” କାହାଣୀଟି ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ରୁଷୀୟ ଲେଖକ ଲିଓ ଟଲଷ୍ଟୟଙ୍କ ଏକ ନୀତିମୂଳକ କାହାଣୀ। ଏହି କାହାଣୀରେ ଜୀବନର କିଛି ମୂଲ୍ୟବାନ ସତ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ମଣିଷର କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ବିଷୟରେ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଦିଆଯାଇଛି।

ଜଣେ ରାଜା ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରୁଥିଲେ ଯେ ଯଦି ସେ ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ସଠିକ୍ ଉତ୍ତର ଜାଣିପାରିବେ, ତେବେ ସେ ନିଜର କୌଣସି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ କେବେବି ବିଫଳ ହେବେ ନାହିଁ। ତାଙ୍କର ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ଥିଲା—

❓ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ

1. କୌଣସି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବାର ସଠିକ୍ ସମୟ କ’ଣ?
2. କେଉଁମାନେ ସବୁଠାରୁ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି?
3. ସବୁଠାରୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କ’ଣ?

ରାଜା ଘୋଷଣା କଲେ ଯେ ଯିଏ ଏହି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନଗୁଡ଼ିକର ସଠିକ୍ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେବ, ତାଙ୍କୁ ସେ ଏକ ବଡ଼ ପୁରସ୍କାର ଦେବେ। ଅନେକ ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଓ ଜ୍ଞାନୀ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ରାଜାଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଆସିଲେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଉତ୍ତର ପରସ୍ପରଠାରୁ ଭିନ୍ନ ଥିଲା। କେହି ଏକ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ ସମୟସାରଣୀ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କରିବାକୁ କହିଲେ, ଆଉ କେହି ସବୁକିଛି ଧ୍ୟାନର ସହିତ ଦେଖିବାକୁ କହିଲେ।

କେହି କହିଲେ ଯେ ଜ୍ଞାନୀମାନଙ୍କର ଏକ ପରିଷଦ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ, ଆଉ କେହି କହିଲେ ଯେ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଜାଣିବା ପାଇଁ ଯାଦୁକରମାନଙ୍କର ସାହାଯ୍ୟ ନେବା ଦରକାର। ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କେହି ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ, ପୁରୋହିତ, ଡାକ୍ତର କିମ୍ବା ସୈନିକମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ବୋଲି କହିଲେ।

ତୃତୀୟ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କେହି ବିଜ୍ଞାନ, କେହି ଯୁଦ୍ଧକଳା ଏବଂ କେହି ଧାର୍ମିକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ସବୁଠାରୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବୋଲି କହିଲେ। ଏହି ସମସ୍ତ ଉତ୍ତରରେ ରାଜା ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ ହେଲେ ନାହିଁ।

ଶେଷରେ ରାଜା ଜଣେ ଜ୍ଞାନୀ ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସୀଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟିବାକୁ ସ୍ଥିର କଲେ। ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସୀ ଜଣକ ଏକ ଜଙ୍ଗଲରେ ରହୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କର ଜ୍ଞାନ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଥିଲେ। ରାଜା ସାଧାରଣ ପୋଷାକ ପିନ୍ଧି ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସୀଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଗଲେ।

ରାଜା ସେଠାରେ ଦେଖିଲେ ଯେ ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସୀ ଜଣକ ବହୁତ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଏବଂ କଷ୍ଟରେ ମାଟି ଖୋଳୁଥିଲେ। ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କୁ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ନିଜେ କୋଦାଳ ଧରି ମାଟି ଖୋଳିବା ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲେ।

ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଜଣେ ଦାଢ଼ିଆ ଆହତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ଭିତରୁ ଦୌଡ଼ି ଆସିଲେ। ତାଙ୍କ ପେଟରେ ଗଭୀର କ୍ଷତ ଥିଲା। ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କର କ୍ଷତ ସଫା କରି ପଟି ବାନ୍ଧିଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପାଣି ପିଇବାକୁ ଦେଲେ। ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କର ଯତ୍ନ ନେବାରେ ଲାଗି ରହିଲେ।

ପରେ ଜଣାପଡ଼ିଲା ଯେ ସେହି ଆହତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ରାଜାଙ୍କର ଜଣେ ଶତ୍ରୁ ଥିଲେ। ସେ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ହତ୍ୟା କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଆସିଥିଲେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଦୟା ଓ ସେବା ତାଙ୍କର ମନ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ କରିଦେଲା। ସେ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ କ୍ଷମା ମାଗିଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କର ବିଶ୍ୱସ୍ତ ସେବକ ହେବାକୁ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କଲେ।

ଶେଷରେ ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସୀ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ବୁଝାଇଲେ ଯେ ତାଙ୍କର ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ସେ ନିଜ ଅନୁଭବ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ପାଇସାରିଛନ୍ତି।

⭐ ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଶେଷ ଉତ୍ତର

୧. ସବୁଠାରୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସମୟ କ’ଣ?
ଉତ୍ତର: ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ (Now)। କାରଣ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ସମୟ ହିଁ ଏକମାତ୍ର ସମୟ ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ଆମେ କିଛି କରିପାରୁ।

୨. ସବୁଠାରୁ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି କିଏ?
ଉତ୍ତର: ଯିଏ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଆମ ସହିତ ଅଛନ୍ତି।

୩. ସବୁଠାରୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କ’ଣ?
ଉତ୍ତର: ଆମ ସହିତ ଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କର ଭଲ କରିବା।