श्रीगोपालकृष्ण गोखले जब बालक थे और पाठशाला में पढ़ते थे, उस समय एक दिन उनके अध्यापकने कुछ अङ्कगणितके प्रश्न विद्यार्थियोंको घरसे लगा लानेको दिये। उनमें एक प्रश्न गोखलेको आता नहीं था, उसे उन्होंने दूसरे विद्यार्थीसे पूछकर लगाया पाठशालामें शिक्षकने विद्यार्थियोंके उत्तरोंकी जाँच की। केवल गोपालकृष्णके सभी उत्तर ठीक थे। शिक्षकने प्रसन्न होकर उनकी प्रशंसा की और उन्हें कुछ पुरस्कार देने लगे। किंतु गोखले तो फूट-फूटकर रोनेलगे। आश्चर्यपूर्वक शिक्षकने पूछा- ‘तुम रोते क्यों हो?’ गोखले बोले-‘आपने समझा है कि सब प्रश्नोंका उत्तर मैंने स्वयं लिखा है, किंतु एक प्रश्न मैंने अपने मित्रकी सहायतासे लगाकर आपको धोखा दिया है। मुझे तो पुरस्कारके स्थानमें दण्ड मिलना चाहिये। ‘
शिक्षक गोखलेकी सत्यप्रियतासे बहुत संतुष्ट हुए । वे बोले-‘अब यह पुरस्कार मैं तुम्हें तुम्हारी सत्यप्रियताके लिये देता हूँ।’
– सु0 सिं0
When Shri Gopalkrishna Gokhale was a child and was studying in school, one day his teacher gave some arithmetic problems to the students to bring from home. Gokhale did not know one question among them, he put it by asking another student. In the school, the teacher checked the answers of the students. Only Gopalkrishna had all the answers correct. The teacher was pleased and praised him and started giving him some prizes. But Gokhale started crying bitterly. Surprised the teacher asked – ‘Why do you cry?’ Gokhale said – ‘You have understood that I have written the answers to all the questions myself, but I have cheated you by asking one question with the help of my friend. I should get punishment instead of reward. ,
Teacher was very satisfied with Gokhale’s truthfulness. He said – ‘Now I give you this award for your truthfulness.’
