Morning Muse 241 : Who Broke the Bow?

In a village school, a teacher was mechanically reciting the Ramayana while most of the students dozed. The words flowed, but there was no awareness behind them. Suddenly, an inspector walked in and asked a simple question: “Tell me, who broke the bow of Shankara?” A boy immediately stood up and said, “Sir, I didn’t break it. I was absent for fifteen days!” The teacher scolded the boy and declared him the likely culprit. The headmaster suggested dropping the matter to avoid unrest. The chairman offered to repair the bow rather than investigate the truth. Not one person paused to understand the question. The humour of the story hides a deep truth, we often respond to life without first understanding it. We are quick to defend, to accuse, to manage appearances, or to maintain peace, but rarely to inquire. Ego prefers an instant answer over an honest admission of ignorance. How many times do we answer questions we have not truly heard? How often do we pretend to know, simply to avoid appearing uninformed? This subtle pretence shapes decisions, relationships, and even destinies. The real lesson is profound: Before answering, understand the question. Before reacting, pause and reflect. Before claiming knowledge, be humble enough to say, “I do not know.” Wisdom does not begin with having answers. It begins with the courage to question.