|| A Russian Short Story ||
It once occurred to a king that if he knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.
The more he thought about them, the more he felt he needed to know. So he had these proclaimed across various kingdoms and whoever would give satisfactory answers would receive a reward. Many different people, from commonfolks to scholars, attempted to answer.
For the first question on the right time to begin anything, some felt that one should make a timetable of activities for various days and strictly stick to it. Some said that there were auspicious times to start everything and that must be followed. Few others felt that there is no way to find the right time to begin, it is universe’s mystery they said.
But still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in the woods, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s hut dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.
When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.
But still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in the woods, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s hut dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.
When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.
The King went up to him and said: ‘I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I should pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?’
The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just continued digging.
‘You are tired,’ said the King, ‘let me take the spade and work awhile for you.’
‘Thanks!’ said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down on the ground.
One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at last left the spade on the ground.
He said: ‘I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. Please help me’ At the same time, before the hermit could answer, they heard footsteps.
‘Here comes some one running,’ said the hermit, ‘let us see who it is.’
The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly.
There was a large wound in his stomach. The King washed and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. The bandage had to be cleaned and pressed again and again as it kept soaking with blood.
At last the blood stopped flowing. The King brought fresh water for the man to drink. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the King, with the hermit’s help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed.
The man fell asleep. The King was also so tired with the work he had done, that he fell asleep on the floor and slept throughout 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!’ said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.
‘I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,’ said the King.
“You had seized my brother’s property, so I swore to kill you. I followed you into the woods but lost you for a while. Your bodyguard recognized me and wounded me. I escaped from him, but I would have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, but you have saved my life. Forgive me!’
The King 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 said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.
The King took his leave and went to the hermit, ‘For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man.’
‘You have already been answered!’ said the hermit.
‘Do you not see,’ continued the hermit. ‘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. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important man; and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwards when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what you did for him was your most important business.”
“Remember!”, he continued, “there is only one time that is important—Now! The most necessary man is he with whom you are right now. The most important affair is, to do him good!”
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