Chapter 4
1. What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?
Ans- The two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools are:
- Everything is sold at the same price – Whether it is a measure of rice or a bunch of bananas, everything costs just one duddu (a very low price).
- People sleep during the day and work at night – The entire kingdom, including humans and animals, follows this unusual routine set by the foolish king.
2. Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?
Ans- The disciple decides to stay in the Kingdom of Fools because he is tempted by the cheap food available at just one duddu. He enjoys eating and finds it a great opportunity to satisfy his hunger without spending much.
However, it is not a good idea because a kingdom ruled by fools is unpredictable and dangerous. Later, he realizes the risk when he is unfairly chosen for execution.
3. Name all the people who are tried in the king's court, and give the reasons for their trial.
Ans- The following people are tried in the king’s court, each for a strange reason:
- The Merchant – He is accused because a thief died when a wall of his house collapsed on him.
- The Bricklayer – Blamed for building a weak wall that fell on the thief.
- The Dancing Girl – Accused of distracting the bricklayer with her jingling anklets while he was working.
- The Goldsmith – Blamed because he delayed the dancing girl’s order, causing her to walk up and down the street.
- The Merchant’s Father (Dead) – Considered guilty since the goldsmith was busy with his orders, delaying the dancing girl’s work.
- The Disciple – Chosen for execution instead of the real culprit because he is fat and fits the stake.
4. Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape punishment?
Ans According to the king, the real culprit is the merchant, as his father placed the order with the goldsmith, which indirectly led to the series of events causing the thief’s death.
However, the merchant escapes punishment because he is too thin to fit the newly made execution stake. Instead, the foolish king decides to punish the fat disciple, as he perfectly fits the stake.
5. Who are the Guru's words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?
Ans- The Guru’s words of wisdom were that the Kingdom of Fools was unpredictable and dangerous, so it was not safe to stay there.
The disciple remembers these words when he is chosen for execution just because he is fat and fits the stake. Realizing the foolishness of the kingdom, he regrets his decision to stay.
6. How does the guru manage to save his disciple's life?
Ans- The guru saves his disciple's life by using his wisdom and tricking the foolish king. He arrives at the kingdom and starts arguing with his disciple, insisting that he himself should be executed instead. The disciple follows along, pretending to resist.
Curious, the king asks why they are eager to die. The guru cleverly tells him that the new execution stake is special, and whoever dies on it first will become the next king. Believing this, the foolish king and his minister decide to die instead, thus saving the disciple’s life.
Type by- Ankur Moni Nath
