The Quite Answer
Prince Swarnakumar’s Challenge
The prince of Sonapur, Swarnakumar, was young and handsome. Naturally, many princesses were eager to marry him, but he wanted none of them. Each day brought new proposals from kings of distant lands, and the court officials struggled to cope with the flood of requests from fathers wishing to marry off their daughters to the prince.
A Novel Idea
Harassed by the endless attention, the prince devised a novel idea to fend off the unwelcome proposals. He declared that any princess desiring to marry him must pose three questions. If he failed to answer even one, he would concede defeat and marry that maiden. He announced that he would visit each city in turn and sent couriers ahead to announce his arrival.
The Dazzling Prince
Thus, he travelled from kingdom to kingdom, dazzling the courts with his brilliant wit and wisdom. No problem was too difficult for him, and his answers were always correct. As a result, no princess could defeat him with her questions, and Swarnakumar continued to roam the world, still a bachelor.
A Heartfelt Encounter
Eventually, he arrived in the city of Chandrapura and met the charming princess, Chandravathi. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and the prince found himself falling in love with her. He thought he would like to marry her, but first, he had to face the test he had created.
The Princess’s Questions
The day came when, from behind a soft silk curtain, the princess posed her first question to Swarnakumar. “How can a man find three kinds of fulfilment in life, and what are they?”
“Good education is the first fulfilment, marriage is the second, and the final fulfilment is found in death,” answered the prince briefly.
Chandravathi then asked, “What can’t be achieved by money or power?”
Swarnakumar replied, “Many things defy both money and power. For example, you cannot turn cooked rice back into grains, nor can a cow’s milk be milked back.”
Conceding Defeat
Despairing of winning over the prince she admired, Chandravathi finally asked, “What must one do if a quarrel develops with a fool?”
At this, Swarnakumar remained silent and conceded defeat.
A Royal Marriage
The King of Chandrapura declared that his daughter had triumphed and requested the prince to marry her. After their wedding, Chandravathi asked her husband in private, “Why didn’t you answer my last question?”
Swarnakumar replied with a laugh, “The answer to your last question is that in a quarrel with a fool, one should remain silent. Had I answered, I could not have married you. Since I very much wanted to marry you, I kept quiet.”