Parables of Wisdom
True Learning
सच्ची शिक्षा · સાચું શિક્ષણ
Pranav knew every answer, until a seven-year-old asked him a question
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
Pranav is the star of his pathshala class and can recite more sutras than anyone. When a small girl asks him a question he cannot answer, he has to decide whether to pretend or to say three difficult words.
What it teaches Humility Knowledge Honesty
The opening of the children's telling
Pranav was a clever boy. At pathshala, he knew all the answers. He could say long prayers without stopping. When the teacher asked a question, his hand shot up first, every time.
One day the teacher said, "Pranav, please help little Khushi." Khushi was only seven. She had lots of questions. Pranav liked answering them. It made him feel big and important. Then one Sunday, Khushi pointed at some tiny ants. "Pranav Bhai," she asked, "does an ant have a soul as big as mine?"
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
The wisest words I can say are sometimes 'I don't know yet.'
To talk about together
Why do you think it was hard for Pranav to say 'I don't know'? Is it hard for you too?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.