Project on Indianization of the story Three Questions

Indianization of the story 

Three Questions

Out put of the project

In those days India was ruled by Rajas, the rulers of the country. There were many Rajas (Kings) who ruled different parts of India. This story is about one of those Rajas.

Once, it came to the Raja's mind that if he ever knew the correct time for every action, the correct person to listen to, and the correct work to do. He wanted to know the all three answers for above questions. He proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would answer him the questions. It was a great chance for the courtiers to win reward.

All of them appeared before the Raja and  answered differently first, a learned courtier said, “Maharaj, One must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only thus, one can do everything in its proper time.”

Another Courtier said, “It is impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action; but it, not letting oneself be absorbed in idle pastimes , one shall always attend to all that is going on, and then do what is most important.”

Others, again, said, “however attentive the Maharaj may be to what is going on, it is impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action, but he shall have a Council of wise men, who would help him to fix the proper time for every action.”

But again, other courtiers said, “Maharaj, but there are some things which cannot wait to be laid before a Council, but about which one has at once to decide whether to undertake them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know beforehand what is going to happen. It is only Jyotish who know that, and, therefore, in order to know the right time for every action Maharaj must appoint a Raj-Jyotish”.

Similarly varied were the answers to the second question. Some said, “Maharaj needs the most his councilors”; others said, “Poojari is the most important people to the Raja”. Others said that the warriors and some said " The doctors are the most important. "

Likewise to the third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some answered that the important thing in the world was Science. Senapati said it was skill in warfare and Raj-Guru said it was religious worship that Maharaj should do.

As the all answers were different and was unsatisfactory to Maharaj, he agreed with none of them. He didn’t give reward to anyone and was still wishing for the answers.

On the next day, Maharaj heard that a renowned Sadhu  i.e. hermit lives in his kingdom. He decided to visit him and ask him the answers of his questions.

The Sadhu lived in a small hut near the river bank of his kingdom. He met only the common people so, the Raja put on simple clothes, and before reaching the Sadhu's hut dismounted from his horse, leaving his bodyguards behind, went on alone.

When the Raja approached, the Sadhu was digging the ground in front of his hut. “Namaskar!” Sadhu greeted the Raja, when he saw him and went on digging. The Sadhu was frail and weak, he breathed heavily each time when he stuck his spade into ground and turned a little soil.

The Raja went up to him and said, “Sadhu Maharaj, I have come to you to ask the answers of my three questions: How can I know the right time for every action? Who are the most important people to me? and What are the most important affairs to me that needs my first attention?”

Sadhu listened to the Raja but answered nothing. “You seem to be tired, let me do some work for you.” said the Raja.

“Dhanyawad” said the hermit giving the spade to the Raja, and, sat on the ground.

After digging two beds, the Raja stopped and repeated his questions again. Sadhu again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and said, “Now rest sometime and let me work a bit.”

But the Raja 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 Raja at last stuck his spade into the ground, and said “I came to you, Sadhu Maharaj, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me none, tell me so, and I’ll return home.”

“Here comes someone running,” said the Sadhu, “let us see who it is.”

The Raja turned around, and saw a bearded man come running out of the jungle. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the Raja, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The Raja and the Sadhu unfastened the man’s clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The Raja washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with handkerchief and with a loin cloth Sadhu had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the Raja again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandged the wound.

When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The Raja brought fresh river water for him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the Raja, with the help of Sadhu carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet; but the Raja was so tired with his walk and work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep- so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.

“Forgive me! Maharaj” said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw the Raja was awake and he was looking at him.

“I don’t know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,” said the Raja.

“You don’t know me but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge myself on you, because you executed my brother and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to meet the Sadhu Maharaj, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Maharaj!”

The Raja was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but promised him to restore his property, and he would send his Raj-Vaidh and servants to attend him.

Having taken leave of the wounded man, the Raja went out and looked around for the Sadhu. Before going away he wished once more to ask the answers for his questions. The Sadhu was outside, on his knees, sowing seed in the beds that had been dug the day before.

The Raja approached him and said, “ Sadhu Maharaj, for the last time, I pray you to answer my questions.” Turning around to the Raja, “You have already been answered, Maharaj” Sadhu replied.

“Do you not see,” replied the Sadhu. “ If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me. So the Most important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important man; and to do me well was your most important business. Keep in your mind then: there is only one time that is important--Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with anyone else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, Because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life.

In this way the Sadhu was rewarded for his intelligence and was made Rajguru. The Raja got his answers of  his three questions and was very pleased with the Sadhu's answers.