The Three Dolls
The King and the Mysterious Puzzle
Once upon a time, there lived a king in India, King Ragavendra, who simply loved solving puzzles. One day, he received a gift from his best friend, King Vilasrao.
— Your Majesty, I have brought you a gift from my king, His Majesty, King Vilasrao. — Aha, it must be another puzzle. Your king and I solved many together when we were at Gurukul. Please, make yourself at home in the palace while I write a reply letter to Vilas. — Thank you, Your Majesty. — See if you can find any difference between the three dolls. — Thank you, Vilas, and I assure you I will send you the answer soon.
The King placed the three dolls on the table and studied them carefully. He sat for hours, analyzing every tiny part of them, but he couldn't find any difference between them. The King wondered what he had missed.
The Palace Sage
After much thought, he summoned the wisest man in the palace.
— See if you can find any difference between the three dolls. — I will do my best, Your Majesty.
The sage analyzed the three dolls down to the smallest details, but even he couldn't find any difference.
— I am sorry, Your Majesty, but in my opinion, the three dolls are identical. — How is that possible? — Perhaps your friend was joking, Your Majesty. — My friend does not joke when it comes to puzzles and riddles. Perhaps the palace jester would have done better.
The Jester and the Challenge
Just then, the palace jester, who was passing by, heard this and entered the room.
— I was passing by and heard you call my name. What would you like, Sire? A joke, a dance, a game? — Ah, if the sage cannot succeed, perhaps the jester can. Can you find any difference between the three dolls? — They feel the same, they look the same, they weigh the same, they smile the same. And they sound the same. They sound like silence. And that sounds the same. There is no difference, Your Majesty. So, perhaps the puzzle is a joke? — My friend does not joke when it comes to puzzles and riddles. Leave!
The Mysterious Storyteller
The King was so desperate that he allowed anyone who wished to try to solve the puzzle, but no one succeeded. One day, an old storyteller was brought before him.
— I hear a puzzle is troubling you, Your Majesty. — So, now storytellers solve puzzles, do they? — Perhaps this story is about a puzzle, Your Majesty. Or perhaps there is a story within the puzzle. Ha ha ha! — Try, if you wish. — A story needs a storyteller and a listener, Your Majesty. — You mean you're asking me to stay? — Yes, Your Majesty, and I only need three strands of hair. — Three strands of hair? Why? — Well, things that are identical on the outside might be very different on the inside. Now, can you pluck three strands of hair and give them to me? — It sounds like you are giving me an order. — Perhaps I am, but I am not asking for anything out of the ordinary, am I? — No. Take this. — Your Highness. — Take this.
The storyteller took the three strands of hair. She took the first doll and inserted a strand of hair into one of its ears. The strand came out through the other ear. Then she took the second doll and inserted a strand of hair into one of its ears. The strand came out through the doll's mouth. Finally, she took the third doll and inserted a strand of hair into one of its ears. The strand did not come out.
The Secret of the Dolls Revealed
— The difference? What does this mean? — Well, the first doll is the sage. He listens, taking every word and keeping it deep in his heart. The second doll belongs to the fool. What goes in one ear, comes out the other. The third doll, well, that's the storyteller. What she hears, she passes on to others. — So, which type of person do you think is the best? — It depends on the situation, Your Majesty. Sometimes there are things that should be kept to ourselves. Sometimes there are things like gossip that don't deserve any attention. And other times there are things like stories, knowledge, or lessons that must be passed on to everyone so that all can learn from them. The dolls themselves are not good or bad. It depends on which one you choose according to the situation.
The Wisdom of the Story
— Oh, thank you very much! This is your reward, madam. Thank you.
So the King sent the solution to the puzzle to his friend, thanking him for the wonderful lesson of the puzzle. Every time the King had to make a decision about something he had learned, whether to keep it to himself, ignore it, or pass it on, he always kept the three dolls in mind, which helped him make the right decision.
The moral of the story is that wisdom lies in knowing when to listen and keep, when to ignore, and when to share, adapting to the context of each situation.
