Three Questions
One day, a man came to King’s court. He waited until it was his turn to speak, then he went up the Lion Throne.
“Your Majesty,” he said, “two days ago a traveller was passing trough our land. I gave him food and shelter in my house. He asked me if you, our King, were a good and wise ruler. I said “Yes.” “If he is a wise man,” the traveller said, “he’ll know the answers of three questions.” Then he told me three questions.” The man paused.
The King was interested, “Who are you, my good man?” he asked.
“I’m a trader, Your Majesty. I often sail to far off lands and many people from other countries come to my house.”
“Well what are the three questions ?” asked the King.
“The first one is : Where is the Centre of the universe? The second is : How many stars are they in the sky? The third is : What work does Sakaraya, the King of Gods do ?”
The King was puzzled. “These are strange questions,” he said. “I don’t know how they can prove my wisdom or goodness. I confess I don’t know how to answer them. But let’s see if any man in our country can.”
The next day he sent for the seventy-two Chiefs of the Provinces. He put the three questions to them and asked for an answer in three days. Three days later he called them to court and asked them the three questions one by one. And one by one, they failed to give answers. And as the day progressed, the King got strangely more and more angry. At the end of the day he ordered all their heads cut off. His ministers pleaded with him. “You’ll lose some of the ablest man in the kingdom if you do this, sir!”.
But the King was beginning to think that if he didn’t get the answers to the three questions he would indeed to be proved a foolish man. This made him angried, the seventy two chiefs of the Province were beheaded.
Then the King ordered all his ministers to give him the answer in two days. But the ministers too failed even though they sent for all the learned men of the country to advise them. Eighteen ministers lost their heads.
Now there was a great fear in the Kingdom. It seemed their wise and good ruler had become a demon.
The next day King called the Royal Preceptor, the man who advised him about religious matters.
“Your Majesty,” the Royal Preceptor said, “to answer these questions, I must look into my mind. Give me a day to find the answers.”
He went home, shaking with fear. He was so afraid, he couldn’t even think. All night long he lay on his bed, tossing, turning, moaning and groaning. The next morning he still didn’t know the answers to the three questions. When his goatherd brought him this morning milk, the Royal Preceptor couldn’t even look at it.
“Are you sick, sire?” asked the goatherd.
“What is so terrible about being sick?” the Preceptor groaned, “when tonight I shall be dead ?”
“Ah yes!” said the goatherd. “I’ve heard that it’s your turn now to answer the foolish questions. If you please sir, I may help you.”
“Yes, sure. What can you do ?” moaned the Preceptor.
“Take me with you sir, I’ll give the King the answers .”
Although the Preceptor was sure the goatherd would be beheaded along with him, he had no choice but to agree.
“I need the answer !” cried the King impatiently when he saw the Royal Preceptor. He too had not slept well. How difficult it was to prove his wisdom! And he was, beginning to wonder whether he had been right to behead so many people.
“The answer is easy !” the Royal Preceptor said, trembling inwardly. “Why, even this little boy can give them to you.” Then he pushed the goatherd forward.
The goatherd came forward dressed in rags, carrying his stick and goatskin. He bowed low before the King.
Then the King asked, “Where is the Centre of the Universe, boy ?”
The boy held out his stick, and placed the point just two inches in front of the Lion Throne. “Here ,” he said. “The centre of the Universe if right here. If you don’t believe me, prove me wrong. If you can prove me wrong please do me the honour of beheading me.”
“Hmmm… ” said the King thoughtfully, “that’s an excellent answer. There’s no way to prove you wrong, and no way to prove you right. I accept it. It’s wise. ” Now answer the second questions : how many stars are there in the sky ?”
The goatherd threw down his goatskins. “There are as many stars in the sky as there are hairs on this goatskins. If you don’t believe me, count the hairs and count the stars. And if you can prove me wrong, please do me the honour of beheading me .”
The King laughed, “Yes, yes, that too is a wise answer. Now answer me the third questions : What does Sakaraya, the Kings of Gods do ?”
“That’s a little more difficult, sir ” said the goatherd. “To answer that I shall need you to decorate me with Royal Sign, put your sword in my hand, and place me your Lion Throne.”
The King was impatient to get the answer, “Certainly, certainly my boy,” he cried and stepped of the throne. He handed his sword to the goatherd and asked the priests to put the Royal Sign on the goatherd’s forehead.
As soon as the boy sat on the throne he turned to the guards and pointing to the King and said, “Take the foolish tyrant away, and banish him from the Kingdom. He has beheaded many good and useful men,” And he turned to the King and said, “Behold the work of Sakaraya.”
And so it came about the country was rid of a foolish king who sought to prove his wisdom, and was ruled from then on by a youth who had once been a goatherd, who know that true wisdom needs no proof.
