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    2.2 Three Questions - Std 10 - Kumarbharati

    • Aug 6
    • 5 min read

    Updated: Aug 9

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    Author: Leo Tolstoy

    Genre: Parable (Fiction with a Moral Lesson)

    Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std X

    Board: Maharashtra State Board



    Summary:


    This story by Leo Tolstoy revolves around a king who was determined to find the answers to three important life questions:

    1. What is the right time to do things?

    2. Who are the most important people?

    3. What is the most important action?

    He invited scholars and wise men to answer them but found their suggestions contradictory. Disappointed, he sought out a humble hermit known for his wisdom. The hermit gave no direct answers, but through a sequence of real events - where the king helps dig the ground and saves a wounded man - the king experiences the answers firsthand. He learns that the most important time is now, the most important person is the one you are with, and the most important action is to do good. The story teaches that real wisdom comes from practical experience and acts of kindness.



    Theme / Central Idea:


    The central idea of the story is that life’s greatest wisdom lies in living in the present moment, caring for the people around us, and performing acts of kindness. These simple truths guide us toward a meaningful and fulfilling life.


    Character Sketches


    The King

    • Curious and thoughtful; seeks answers to deep life questions

    • Patient and humble; works alongside the hermit

    • Compassionate and forgiving; saves the life of his enemy

    • Open to learning from experiences

    • Becomes wiser by accepting practical lessons over theoretical advice

    The Hermit

    • Wise, spiritual, and humble

    • Lives a life of simplicity and service

    • Believes in teaching through actions rather than words

    • Helps the king discover life’s truths by experience

    • Represents moral guidance and timeless wisdom

    The Bearded Man

    • Once an enemy of the king, seeking revenge

    • Is injured and saved by the very person he wanted to kill

    • Repents and expresses sincere gratitude

    • His transformation symbolizes the power of compassion and forgiveness


    Word Meanings

    Word

    Meaning

    Proclamation

    An official announcement

    Frail

    Weak and delicate

    Spade

    A tool used for digging

    Revived

    Regained consciousness

    Ambush

    A surprise attack from a hidden place

    Crouching

    Bending down low

    Intently

    With full attention

    Feebly

    In a weak manner

    Grieve

    To feel deep sorrow


    Grammar Questions


    Q1. Identify the infinitive and its function:

    “I have come to you to ask you three questions.”

    → Infinitive: to ask

    → Function: It shows the purpose of the action.


    Q2. Change to passive voice:

    The king washed the wound.

    → The wound was washed by the king.


    Q3. Identify the modal and its function:

    He would have died if you had not helped him.

    → Modal: would

    → Function: It expresses a possibility in the past.


    Q4. Rewrite in indirect speech:

    The bearded man said, “Forgive me!”

    → The bearded man requested the king to forgive him.


    Q5. Identify the gerund and its function:

    Digging the ground tired the hermit.

    → Gerund: Digging

    → Function: It is the subject of the sentence.


    Personal Response Questions


    Q1. What do you learn from the king’s behaviour towards the wounded man?

    → The king’s behaviour teaches us the power of forgiveness and compassion. Even though the wounded man was his enemy, the king saved his life by cleaning and dressing his wounds. This act of kindness transformed the enemy into a friend. It shows that helping others, even those who may have wronged us, can lead to peace and reconciliation.


    Q2. Do you think real wisdom comes from actions rather than words? Explain.

    → Yes, I believe that real wisdom comes from experience and actions. In the story, the king learns his answers not from the scholars or direct words but through the actions he performs while helping the hermit and saving the wounded man. This shows that life's most important lessons are often learned through what we do, not what we are told.


    Q3. How did the hermit help the king learn the answers to his questions?

    → The hermit did not give the king verbal answers. Instead, he made the king experience the answers by involving him in real situations. By digging the ground, the king understood the importance of the present moment. By saving the wounded man, he realised the importance of caring for the person near us and doing good. These experiences taught the king more than words ever could.


    True or False


    1. The hermit answered all of the king’s questions immediately. → False

    2. The king’s enemy came to kill him. → True

    3. The hermit lived in a palace near the king’s court. → False


    Probable Board Questions

    Q1. Why did the king go to the hermit in simple clothes? → The hermit only received ordinary people. The king dressed like a commoner so that the hermit would speak to him without hesitation and give him the wisdom he sought.

    Q2. What are the three answers the king finally receives? → The king learns that:(1) The most important time is now,(2) The most important person is the one you are with, and(3) The most important action is to do good to that person.

    Q3. Why did the bearded man want to harm the king? How did his feelings change?→ The bearded man was the king’s enemy. He wanted to kill the king to take revenge for being punished earlier. However, when the king saved his life and treated him kindly, the man regretted his actions and pledged loyalty to the king.

    Q4. What lesson does this story teach about kindness and forgiveness? → The story shows that acts of kindness and forgiveness can change even the hardest of hearts. By saving the man who wanted to kill him, the king turned an enemy into a friend. It teaches us that helping others brings peace and harmony.


    Appreciation Paragraph

    Leo Tolstoy’s The Three Questions is a simple yet deeply meaningful parable. It teaches that the present moment is most important, the person before us deserves our full attention, and doing good is the highest duty. The story stands out because it does not preach but allows the reader to discover the truth through the king’s journey. I liked how the hermit used real situations to guide the king, showing that actions teach better than words. The transformation of the enemy into a friend adds a touching emotional layer to the story. This lesson is timeless and encourages us to live wisely and compassionately.


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