The
Three Statues
An Indian Tale
Long,
long ago there lived a king in India.
One day a messenger from a neighboring kingdom arrived at the king’s court. Bowing before the throne, he held up a beautiful silver box. “Your Majesty,” he said, “my king sends compliments to your respected self. He also presents you with this gift.”
The king took the box and opened it carefully. Inside he saw three identical carved statues. “Beautiful! Very beautiful!” the king said to the messenger.
“Your
Majesty, my king has instructed me to tell you that although
the three statues look alike they are really different from
one another. My king wishes you to choose one of the three
and return the other two to me.”
This aroused everybody’s curiosity. The prime minister craned his neck to look at the statues. The king examined each one again and again but was unable to decide which one to select. All three statues had similar carved eyes, ears, noses, hairstyles, hands, feet, fingers, and toes. They were of the same height and seemed to have the same weight.
“There must be some hidden difference that I am not able to see right away,” the king thought. Turning to the messenger, he said, “I shall take some time to decide. You may leave the statues here and come back tomorrow.”
When the messenger had been escorted to the guest house, the king turned to the prime minister and asked, “Can you find any difference among these statues?”
The prime minister examined them for a long time and was unable to find any difference at all. The statues were passed on to other ministers and courtiers, but all were baffled.
“Is there no clever person in this court?” the king demanded. He adjourned the court and went to his palace, carrying the silver box with him.
The king had a young son who had already proved himself to be wise and clever beyond his years. Seeing the prince feeding the birds in the palace garden, the king summoned him.
“There are three lovely statues in this box, my son! A friend sent them to me as a gift, but I am to choose one and return the others. See if you can find any difference among them,” the king said.
The prince opened the box and examined the statues with great curiosity. At last he said, “Father, may I keep the statues for the night? Perhaps I shall find out something by tomorrow morning.”
The king gave his consent, and the prince took the silver box to his apartment. He looked at the three statues for a long time. He made all the tests he could think of that would not harm the statues, but to no avail.
As the eastern sky turned bright at dawn, the prince began to grow impatient. The king would need his answer soon.
Suddenly an idea came to him. He quickly filled a large bowl with water, then put the statues in it one after another. His face lit up as he watched small bubbles rise from the statues. The mystery was solved.
The prince dressed, then put the statues back into the box and hurried to the court.
Everyone’s
eyes were on the prince as he entered. Eagerly the king
asked, “Prince, do you have something to say about
the statues?”
“Yes, my lord!” answered the prince. “These statues have a message.”
Puzzled, the king motioned for the prince to continue.
“Some people listen to a thing with one ear and let it go out through the other. Here is an example.” The prince picked up one of the statues and passed a long slender needle through its ear. The end of the needle came out of the other ear. The prince explained, “My lord, your friend wishes to convey that one should not keep the company of such people.”
Now the prince picked up the second statue and passed a needle through its ear. This time the end of the needle came out of the mouth.
“My lord, this statue is like people who listen to a thing and soon tell it to others. The message is that no one should befriend such people, for they are very unreliable.”
Everyone looked attentively when the prince picked up the third statue. He passed a needle through the ear, but its end did not come out at all.
“My lord, this statue is like those people who listen to a thing but keep it to themselves. The message is that such people are good friends and worthy companions. Your friend has actually sent this statue to you as a gift.”
The king greatly appreciated the clever reply of his wise son. Calling for the messenger, he said, “I have selected one statue. You may take back the other two. Please convey my compliments to your king, and say that I am very thankful for this fine gift.”
The messenger picked up the box with the two statues in it, bowed, and went away.
The king walked up to the prince. “My son,” he said, “you solved the puzzle with your cleverness and hard work. Please accept this statue as a gift from your father.”
As the ministers and courtiers cheered heartily, the prince bowed and accepted the gift.
