MP Board Class 7 English (Special/General)

Revision Notes & Summary

Chapter: Three Questions (तीन प्रश्न) — By Leo Tolstoy

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1. Chapter Overview (पाठ का सारांश)

This story is about a King who believes he will never fail if he knows the answers to three specific questions. After receiving unsatisfying answers from various wise men in his kingdom, he decides to visit a wise hermit (सन्यासी) living in the forest to find the truth. Through a real-life experience involving a wounded enemy, the King learns the answers to his questions.

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2. The Three Questions (तीन प्रश्न)

The King wanted to know the answers to these three questions:

1. What is the right time to begin something?
   (किसी कार्य को शुरू करने का सही समय क्या है?)
2. Which people should he listen to?
   (उसे किन लोगों की बात सुननी चाहिए? / कौन से लोग सबसे महत्वपूर्ण हैं?)
3. What is the most important thing for him to do?
   (उसके लिए सबसे महत्वपूर्ण कार्य क्या है?)

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3. Key Characters (मुख्य पात्र)

• The King (राजा): A ruler seeking wisdom to govern his kingdom perfectly.
• The Hermit (सन्यासी): A simple, wise man who lives in the jungle, digs the ground, and helps the King realize the answers practically.
• The Bearded Man (दाढ़ी वाला व्यक्ति): The King’s enemy who came to kill him but was wounded by the King's bodyguards. He was saved and nursed by the King, leading to their reconciliation.

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4. The Answers Revealed (प्रश्नों के उत्तर)

The Hermit explained the answers to the King through the events of the previous day:

Question	The Answer (उत्तर)	Explanation (व्याख्या)
1. The Right Time	NOW (The Present Time) <br> (अब / वर्तमान समय)	It is the only time when we have any power to act.
2. The Most Important Person	The person you are with at the moment <br> (वह व्यक्ति जो उस समय आपके साथ है)	No one knows what will happen in the future or whether we will meet anyone else.
3. The Most Important Work	To do good to that person <br> (उस व्यक्ति का भला करना)	Because we were sent into this world for this purpose alone.

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5. Key Vocabulary & Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)

• Messenger (संदेशवाहक): A person who carries a message.
• Hermit (सन्यासी / तपस्वी): A person who lives alone and leads a simple life.
• Wood (जंगल): A small forest.
• Affairs (मामले / कार्य): Matters or business.
• Beds (कियारियां): Small patches of ground for plants.
• Fainted (बेहोश हो गया): Lost consciousness.
• Forgive (माफ करना): To stop feeling angry or resentful towards someone.
• Faithful (वफादार): Loyal and true.

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6. Quick Revision Points (महत्वपूर्ण बिंदु)

• Many wise men came to the King, but their answers were all different and did not satisfy the King.
• The King promised a large sum of money to anyone who could answer his questions.
• The Hermit only received common people, so the King dressed in simple clothes and left his horse and bodyguards behind.
• The King helped the Hermit dig the ground because the Hermit was tired. This act of kindness saved the King from being attacked by his enemy on his way back.
• The moral of the story is: The most important time is 'Now', the most important person is 'the one you are with', and the most important duty is 'to do good to others'.

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7. Important Questions for Self-Assessment

Q1. Why did the King want to know the answers to three questions?

• Answer: The King wanted to know the answers because he thought he would never fail in life if he knew them.

Q2. Why did the King go to the Hermit in simple clothes?

• Answer: The Hermit only met ordinary people. Therefore, the King left his horse and bodyguards behind and dressed like a commoner.

Q3. How did the King and the Hermit help the wounded man?

• Answer: The King washed and dressed the wounded man’s stomach wound with his handkerchief until the bleeding stopped. He also gave him fresh water to drink and, with the Hermit's help, carried him inside the hut to rest.