JKBOSE 10th Class English Solutions chapter – 5 The Sermon at Benares

This chapter gives a brief sketch of the Buddha and a gist of his first sermon at Benares. The real name of the Buddha was Siddhartha Gautama. He was a prince and was sent for schooling in Hindu scriptures at the age of twelve. At the age of sixteen, he was married to a princess. He lived with her for ten years. At the age of twenty-five, he happened to see some sad sights during his hunting trips. He saw a sick man, then an aged man, and then a funeral procession. These sad sights deeply touched his heart. He left home to find the cause of human suffering and to seek enlightenment. He kept wandering for seven years. At last, he sat down under a tree. He kept sitting there for seven days and at last, enlightenment came to him. The tree came to be called the ‘Bo Tree’ (the Tree of Wisdom). Now Siddhartha came to be known as the Buddha.

The Buddha gave his first sermon at Benares. During this sermon, he told an anecdote that is reproduced below.

A woman named Kisa Gotami had an only son. The son died and the woman was filled with deep grief. She went about, asking people for medicine that could bring his son back to life. People thought that the woman had lost her senses.

A wise man sent Gotami to the Buddha. He said that the Buddha could give her the medicine for her child. The woman went to the Buddha and requested him to give her the medicine that could cure her son.

The Buddha said that he could cure the boy if Gotami brought him a handful of mustard-seed. But he said that she would have to bring it from a house where no death had ever taken place.

Now Gotami went from house to house. She could find no house where there had never been any death. At last, she became weary and hopeless. She sat down at the wayside. She sat there watching the lights of the city. After some time, all the lights were off and there was darkness everywhere. This darkness filled the woman’s heart with a new feeling. She said to herself, “How selfish am I in my grief! Death is common to all.”

The Buddha related this story to tell people that it is foolish to grieve over death. Everyone who is born must die one day. The wise ones don’t grieve because they know that fact of the world. Peace of mind can’t be obtained from The only way to obtain peace is to overcome sorrow. He who has weeping. T I overcome all sorrow can become free from sorrow and enjoy perfect peace of mind.

The Sermon at Benares Summary in Hindi

वास्तविक नाम सिद्धार्थ गौतम था। वह एक राजकुमार था और बारह वर्ष की आयु में उसे हिन्दू धर्मग्रंथों की शिक्षा यह पाठ बुद्ध का एक संक्षिप्त चित्रण और बनारस में उसके द्वारा दिए गए प्रथम प्रवचन का सार देता है। बुद्ध का प्राप्त करने के लिए भेज दिया गया था। सोलह वर्ष की आयु में उसका विवाह एक राजकुमारी से कर दिया गया। रहा। पच्चीस दिखाई दिए। उसने एक रोगी व्यक्ति को देखा, उसके बाद एक बूढ़े व्यक्ति को, और फिर उसके बाद उसने एक शव यात्रा देखी। इन दुःखद् दृश्यों ने उसके मन को गहराई तक छू लिया। उसने मानव-कष्टों का कारण जानने के लिए तथा ज्ञान प्राप्त करने के लिए घर को छोड़ दिया। वह सात वर्षों तक इधर-उधर भटकता रहा। अंत में वह एक वृक्ष के नीचे बैठ गया। वह वहां लगातार सात दिनों तक बैठा रहा और अंततः उसे ज्ञान प्राप्ति हो गई। उस वृक्ष ‘बो वृक्ष’ (बुद्धि का वृक्ष) के नाम से पुकारा जाने लगा। अब सिद्धार्थ बुद्ध के नाम से प्रसिद्ध हो गया ।

बुद्ध ने अपना प्रथम प्रवचन बनारस में दिया। इस प्रवचन के दौरान उसने एक दंतकथा सुनाई जिसे नीचे प्रस्तुत को किया जा रहा है।

किसा गौतमी नाम की एक स्त्री का एक इकलौता पुत्र था । उस पुत्र की मृत्यु हो गई और वह स्त्री गहरे दुःख से भर गई । वह इधर-उधर लोगों के पास ऐसी औषधि के लिए जाने लगी जो उसके पुत्र को फिर से जीवनदान दे सकती थी। लोगों ने सोचा कि वह स्त्री अपनी बुद्धि खो बैठी थी ।

एक बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति ने गौतमी को बुद्ध के पास भेज दिया। उसने कहा कि बुद्ध उसे उसके बच्चे के लिए औषधि दे सकता था। वह स्त्री बुद्ध के पास गई और उससे वह औषधि देने की प्रार्थना की जो उसके पुत्र को स्वस्थ कर सकती थी ।

बुद्ध ने कहा कि वह लड़के को स्वस्थ कर देगा यदि गौतमी उसके पास एक मुट्ठी भर सरसों के दाने ले आए। परंतु उसने कहा कि उसे वे दाने उस घर से लाने होंगे जहां कभी किसी की भी मृत्यु न हुई हो।

अब गौतमी एक घर से दूसरे घर में गई। उसे ऐसा कोई भी घर न मिल सका जहां कभी भी किसी की मृत्यु न हुई हो। अंत में वह निराश और हताश हो गई । वह रास्ते के एक किनारे पर बैठ गई । वह वहां बैठी हुई गौर से शहर की रोशनियों को देखती रही । कुछ देर के बाद सारी रोशनियां बुझ गईं और चारों तरफ़ अंधेरा फैल गया। इस अंधेरे ने स्त्री के हृदय को एक नई भावना से भर दिया। उसने स्वयं से कहा, “मैं अपने दुःख में कितनी स्वार्थी हो गई हूं! मृत्यु सब पर आती है। “

बुद्ध ने यह कहानी लोगों को यह बताने के लिए सुनाई कि मृत्यु पर शोक करना मूर्खता है। प्रत्येक व्यक्ति, जो जन्म लेता है, को एक दिन मरना ही होता है। बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति शोक नहीं करते क्योंकि उन्हें संसार के इस तथ्य का ज्ञान होता है। रोने से मन की शांति नहीं प्राप्त की जा सकती । शांति प्राप्त करने का एकमात्र उपाय अपने दुःख पर विजय पा लेना है । वह व्यक्ति, जिसने सभी दुःखों पर विजय पा ली है, शोक से मुक्ति पा सकता है और मन की संपूर्ण शांति पा सकता है।

1. Gautama Buddha lived from 563 BC to 483 BC. His real name was Siddhartha Gautama. He was the son of a king in northern India.

गौतम बुद्ध ईसा पूर्व 563 से ईसा पूर्व 483 तक रहा । उसका वास्तविक नाम सिद्धार्थ गौतम था। वह उत्तरी भारत के एक राजा का पुत्र था ।

2. When he was twelve years old, he was sent for the study of sacred Hindu scriptures. He returned after four years and was married to a princess.

जब वह बारह वर्ष का हुआ, उसे पवित्र हिन्दू धर्मग्रन्थों के अध्ययन के लिए भेज दिया गया। वह चार वर्ष के बाद लौटा और उसका विवाह एक राजकुमारी से कर दिया गया ।

3. The prince had a son and lived with his family for ten years.

राजकुमार को एक पुत्र की प्राप्ति हुई और वह दस वर्षों तक अपने परिवार के साथ रहा ।

4. Then on a hunting trip, the prince saw some sad sights that deeply affected him. He saw a sick man, an aged man and then a funeral procession. He also saw a monk begging for alms.

फिर एक शिकार-यात्रा के दौरान, राजकुमार ने कुछ दुःखद दृश्य देखे जिन्होंने उस पर गहरा प्रभाव डाला। उसने एक रोगी व्यक्ति को, एक बड़ी उम्र के व्यक्ति को और उसके बाद एक शव यात्रा को देखा। उसने एक भिक्षु को भिक्षा मांगते हुए भी देखा।

5. The prince left home to know and understand the cause of human suffering. He kept wandering for seven years and at last, sat down under a tree.

राजकुमार ने मानव-कष्टों के कारण को जानने और समझने के लिए घर छोड़ दिया। वह सात वर्षों तक इधर-उधर भटकता रहा और अन्त में एक वृक्ष के नीचे बैठ गया।

6. He kept sitting there for seven days and at last, got enlightenment. The tree came to be known as the Bo Tree and the prince as the Buddha.

वह वहां लगातार सात दिनों तक बैठा रहा और अंत में उसे ज्ञान प्राप्त हो गया । उस वृक्ष को बो-वृक्ष और राजकुमार को बुद्ध के नाम से जाना जाने लगा।

7. The Buddha gave his first sermon at the holy city of Benares. In this sermon, he related the story of a woman named Kisa Gotami who had an only son.

बुद्ध ने अपना प्रथम प्रवचन बनारस की पवित्र नगरी में दिया। इस प्रवचन में उसने किसा गौतमी नाम की एक स्त्री की कहानी सुनाई जिसका एक इकलौता पुत्र था।

8. The son died and the woman was in deep grief. She went from house to house, asking for medicine that could give life to her son. People said she had lost her senses.

उस पुत्र की मृत्यु हो गई और वह स्त्री गहरे शोक में डूब गई । वह एक घर से दूसरे घर जा कर कोई ऐसी औषधि मांगती रही जो उसके पुत्र को जीवन दान दे सके। लोगों ने कहा कि उसका दिमाग़ खराब हो गया था।

9. A wise man sent the woman to the Buddha. The Buddha told the woman that he could cure her son if she brought him a handful of mustard-seed. But she must bring it from a house where no death had ever taken place.

एक बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति ने उस स्त्री को बुद्ध के पास भेज दिया। बुद्ध ने स्त्री से कहा कि वह उसके पुत्र को स्वस्थ कर देगा, यदि वह उसके पास एक मुट्ठी भर सरसों के दाने ले आए । परन्तु उसे वे दाने उस घर से लाने होंगे, जहां कभी भी किसी की मृत्यु न हुई हो ।

10. The woman went from house to house. She could find no house where no death had ever taken place.

स्त्री घर-घर फिरती रही । उसे कोई घर भी ऐसा नहीं मिला जहां कभी भी किसी की मृत्यु न हुई हो।

11. At last she lost all hope. She sat down on the wayside. She could see the flickering lights of the city. After some time, the lights were all extinguished and it became all dark.

अन्त में उसने सारी आशाएं छोड़ दीं । वह रास्ते के किनारे बैठ गई । उसे नगर की झिलमिलाती हुई रोशनियां दिखाई पड़ रही थीं। कुछ समय के बाद सभी रोशनियां बुझ गईं और चारों तरफ अन्धेरा हो गया।

12. A sudden realisation came to the woman’s mind. Death or darkness was the common end of all lives or lights. No one who is born can escape death.

उस स्त्री के मन में अचानक ही ज्ञान आ गया । मृत्यु अथवा अंधकार सभी जीवों और रोशनियों का साझा अन्त था। कोई भी, जिसका जन्म होता है, मृत्यु से बच नहीं सकता।

13. Thus through his sermon, the Buddha gave the message that it is futile to grieve about death. Mourning and weeping can’t bring the dead back to life.

इस प्रकार अपने प्रवचन के माध्यम से, बुद्ध ने यह सन्देश दिया कि मृत्यु पर शोक प्रकट करना व्यर्थ होता है। शोक मनाना और विलाप करना मृतक को फिर से जीवन नहीं दे सकते ।

Only by 14. The only way to obtain peace of mind is to overcome all sorrow. overcoming sorrow, one can be full of peace and pure joy.

मन की शान्ति को प्राप्त करने का एकमात्र उपाय शोक पर विजय पा लेना है । शोक पर विजय पा लेने से ही कोई व्यक्ति शान्ति और शुद्ध प्रसन्नता से भर सकता है ।

Gautama Buddha (563 BC – 483 BC) began life as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, in northern India. At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty. At about the age of twenty-five, the Prince, heretofore shielded  from the  sufferings of the world while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms These sights so moved him that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment  concerning the sorrowS he had witnessed. He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a fig tree, where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. Englightened after seven days, he renamed the tree the Bo Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and to share his new understandings. At that point he became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened). The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges; that sermon has been preserved and is printed here. It reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.

गौतम बुद्ध (ईस्वी पूर्व 563 से ईस्वी पूर्व 483) ने अपना जीवन उत्तरी भारत में सिद्धार्थ गौतम नाम के एक राजकुमार के रूप में शुरू किया। बारह वर्ष की आयु में उसे पवित्र हिन्दू धर्म-ग्रन्थों के अध्ययन के लिए भेज दिया गया तथा इसके चार वर्ष पश्चात् वह एक राजकुमारी से विवाह करने के लिए घर लौट आया । उनका एक पुत्र हुआ तथा दस वर्ष तक उन्होंने शाही परिवार के सुयोग्य एक जीवन बिताया। लगभग पच्चीस वर्ष की आयु में राजकुमार को, जिसे अब से |पहले तक संसार के कष्टों से बचा कर रखा गया था, जब वह शिकार के लिए बाहर गया हुआ था तो अचानक एक बीमार आदमी, फिर एक बूढ़ा आदमी, फिर एक शव – यात्रा, तथा अन्त में एक भिक्षु मिल गया जो भिक्षा मांग रहा था। इन दृश्यों ने उसे इतना प्रभावित कर दिया कि वह तुरन्त एक भिखारी बन गया और उन दुःखों के बारे में ज्ञान प्राप्त करने के लिए बाहर संसार में चला गया जो उसने देखे थे । वह सात वर्षों तक भ्रमण करता रहा और अन्त में एक वट वृक्ष के नीचे बैठ गया, जहां बैठे रहने की उसने प्रतिज्ञा कर ली जब तक उसे ज्ञान प्राप्त न हो जाए। सात दिनों के पश्चात् ज्ञान प्राप्त होने पर उसने वृक्ष का नाम बो वृक्ष (बोधि वृक्ष) रख दिया, तथा अपनी नई अनुभूतियां लोगों के साथ बांटनी और उन्हें समझानी शुरू कर दीं। उस समय वह बुद्ध (जागृत अथवा ज्ञानी) के रूप में प्रसिद्ध हो गया । बुद्ध ने अपना पहला उपदेश बनारस के नगर में दिया, जो गंगा नदी पर स्थित स्नान-घाटों में सबसे पवित्र स्थान है; उस उपदेश को संचित करके रखा गया है और उसे यहां मुद्रित किया जा रहा है। इससे एक अति दुर्बोध कष्ट के बारे में बुद्ध की बुद्धिमत्ता प्रतिबिम्बित होती है।

Kisa Gotami had an only son, and he died. In her grief she carried the dead child to all her neighbours asking them for medicine, and the people said: “She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.”

At length, Kisa Gotami met a man who replied to her request : “I cannot give thee medicine for thy child, but I know a physician who can.”

And the girl said: “Pray tell me, sir; who is it ?” And the man replied, “Go to Salyamuni, the Buddha.”

Kisa Gotami repaired to the Buddha and cried, “Lord and Master, give me the medicine that will cure my boy.”

The Buddha answered : “I want a handful of mustard seed.” And when the girl in her joy promised to procure it, the Buddha added : “The mustard-seed must be taken from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent or friend.”

Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard seed; take it !” But when she asked, “Did a son or daugther, a father or mother die in your family ?”, they answered her, “Alas ! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” And there was no house but some beloved one had died in it.

Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless, and sat down at the wayside watching the lights of the city, as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last the darkness of the night reigned everywhere. And she considered the fate of men, that their lives flicker up and are extinguished again. And she thought to herself, “How selfish am I in my grief ! Death is common to all; yet in this valley of desolation, there is a path that leads him to immortality who has surrendered all selfishness.”

The Buddha said, “The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain. For there is not any means by which those that have been born can avoid dying; after reaching old age there is death; of such a nature are living beings. As ripe fruits are early in danger of falling, so mortals when born are always in danger of death. As all earthen vessels made by the potter end in being broken, so is the life of mortals. Both young and adult, both those who are fools and those who are wise, all fall into the power of death; all are subject to death.

किसा गोतमी का एक इकलौता पुत्र था, तथा वह मर गया। अपने दुःख में वह अपने मृत पुत्र को उठा कर अपने सभी पड़ोसियों के पास ले गई, उनसे औषधि की मांग करती हुई तथा लोग कहते रहे — “वह पागल हो गई हैं लड़का मर चुका है। “

अन्त में किसा गोतमी एक व्यक्ति से मिली जिसने उसकी बिनती का उत्तर इस प्रकार दिया, “मैं तुम्हें तुम्हारे बच्चे के लिए औषधि नहीं दे सकता हूं, किन्तु मैं एक चिकित्सक को जानता हूँ जो ऐसा कर सकता है । “

तथा उस लड़की ने कहा, “कृपया मुझे बताइए, श्रीमान्, वह कौन है ?” तथा उस आदमी ने उत्तर दिया, “तुम शाक्यमुनि बुद्ध के पास जाओ।”

किसा गोतमी वहां से बुद्ध के पास चली गई और रोते हुए बोली, “हे ईश्वर और स्वामी, मुझे ऐसी दवाई दीजिए जो मेरे पुत्र को ठीक कर दे।”

– बुद्ध ने उत्तर दिया, “मुझे एक मुट्ठी भर सरसों के दाने चाहिएं।” तथा जब उस लड़की ने अपनी प्रसन्नता में इसे प्राप्त करवाने का वायदा किया, तो बुद्ध ने आगे कहा, “सरसों के दाने उसी घर में से लाने होंगे जहां किसी का कोई पुत्र, पति, माता-पिता अथवा कोई मित्र न मरा हो।”

बेचारी किसा गोतमी अब घर घर गई तथा लोग उससे दया व्यक्त करते और कहते, “यह सरसों के दाने हैं; इन्हें ले जाओ !” किन्तु जब वह पूछती, “क्या आपके परिवार में किसी पुत्र या पुत्री, पिता या माता की मृत्यु हुई है ?” तो वे उसे उत्तर देते, “ओह ! जीवित तो बहुत थोड़े हैं, किन्तु मृत अनेकों हैं। हमें हमारे अत्यधिक गहरे दुःख की याद न दिलाओ।” तथा वहां कोई ऐसा घर नहीं था जहां किसी प्रियजन की मृत्यु न हुई हो ।

किसा गौतमी हतोत्साहित और निराश हो गई तथा सड़क किनारे बैठ कर नगर की रोशनियों को देखने लगी, जब वो टिमटिमा रही थीं और फिर से बुझ गईं । अन्त में रात का अन्धेरा सभी जगह छा गया। तथा वह मनुष्यों के भाग्य के बारे में सोचने लगी, कि उनके जीवन टिमटिमाते हैं और फिर बुझ जाते हैं । तथा वह अपने मन में सोचने लगी, “मैं अपने दुःख में कितनी स्वार्थी हो गई हूँ ! मृत्यु सबके लिए समान है; फिर भी इस सुनसान घाटी में एक रास्ता है जो ऐसे व्यक्ति को अनश्वरता की तरफ ले जाता है जो सब स्वार्थ का त्याग कर देता है । “

बुद्ध ने कहा, “इस संसार में नश्वर जीवों का जीवन दुःख से भरा हुआ है तथा बहुत छोटा है और पीड़ा – युक्त है। क्योंकि ऐसा कोई साधन नहीं है जिससे वे जीव जो जन्म ले चुके हैं, वे मृत्यु से बच सकें; वृद्धावस्था को प्राप्त करने के बाद वहां मृत्यु है; जीवित जीवों की प्रकृति ऐसी ही होती है । जिस प्रकार पके हुए फलों के गिरने की सम्भावना पहले होती है, इसी प्रकार नश्वर जीव जन्म लेते हैं तो सदा मृत्यु के भय में रहते हैं। जिस प्रकार कुम्हार के द्वारा बनाए गए सभी मिट्टी के बर्तनों का अन्त टूटने में होता है, नश्वर जीवों का जीवन भी वैसा ही होता है। छोटे तथा बड़े दोनों, ऐसे जो मूर्ख हैं तथा वे जो बुद्धिमान हैं, सभी मृत्यु के वश में आ जाते हैं; सभी मृत्यु के अधीन हैं।

“Of those who, overcome by death, depart from life, a father cannot save his son, nor kinsmen their relations. Mark ! while relatives are looking on and lamenting deeply, one by one mortals are carried off, like an ox that is led to the slaughter. So the world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world.”

“Neither from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind. On the contrary, his pain will be the greater and his body will suffer. He will make himself sick and pale, yet the dead are not saved by his lamentation. He who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of lamentation, and complaint, and grief. He who has drawn out the | arrow and has become composed will | obtain peace of mind; he who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow, and will be blessed “

“ऐसे जीव जो मृत्यु के वश में आने के कारण जीवन से प्रस्थान कर जाते हैं, उनमें से एक पिता अपने पुत्र को बचा नहीं सकता, न ही सम्बन्धी अपने सम्बन्धियों को बचा सकते हैं। देख लीजिए ! जबकि सम्बन्धी लोग देख रहे होते हैं और विलाप कर रहे होते हैं, नश्वर जीव एक-एक करके ले जाये जाते हैं, एक बैल की भांति जिसे काटने के लिए ले पीड़ित है, इसलिए बुद्धिमान लोग दुःखी नहीं होते हैं, संसार जाया जा रहा हो । उसी प्रकार संसार मृत्यु और जीर्णता से की अवधि या सीमा का ज्ञान होने के कारण । “

“न ही रोने से और न ही दुःखी होने से किसी को मन की शान्ति प्राप्त हो सकेगी। इसके विपरीत, उसकी पीड़ा और भी बढ़ जाएगी और उसका शरीर कष्ट को सहन करेगा । वह स्वयं को बीमार कर लेगा, पीला पड़ जाएगा, फिर भी उसके रोने-धोने से मरे हुओं को बचाया नहीं जा सकेगा | ऐसा व्यक्ति जो शान्ति चाहता हो, उसे रोने-धोने, शिकायत करने और दुःखी होने रूपी तीर को निकाल फेंकना चाहिए। ऐसा व्यक्ति जिसने इस तीर को बाहर निकाल दिया हो तथा शान्त हो गया हो, उसे मन की शान्ति प्राप्त हो जाएगी; ऐसा व्यक्ति जिसने सभी प्रकार के दु:खों पर काबू पा लिया हो, वह दु:ख से मुक्त हो जाएगा, और वह सुखी (भाग्यशाली) हो जाएगा।”

Ans. A sermon is a talk on a moral or religious subject. It is usually given by a religious leader. Its purpose is to awaken the man to the vitality of moral values in his life. A sermon aims at giving spiritual training to its listeners. On the other hand, a lecture is a talk that is given to a group of people to teach them about a particular subject. Its purpose is to provide academic training to its listeners.

Ans. She asks for medicine to cure her son. She doesn’t get the medicine because there is no medicine to bring the dead back to life.

Ans. She asks for a handful of mustard-seed, but doesn’t get any. The Buddha had asked her to bring the seed from such a house only where no death had ever taken place. Kisa Gotami could find no such house. That is why she couldn’t bring the seed as desired by the Buddha.

Ans. She now understood that there could be no house where there had never been any death. She also came to understand that death was the common end of all. There could be no medicine that could bring the dead back to life. The Buddha wanted her to understand this very fact of life.

Ans. Kisa Gotami now understood the real importance of what the Buddha had said. Now she understood that there could be no house where death had never taken place. Thus the Buddha was able to change Gotami’s understanding of the meaning of death.

Ans. ‘Selfishness’ usually means thinking of oneself only without caring for the interest of others. We can’t say that Kisa Gotami was selfish in her grief. Kisa Gotami had an only son. The boy died and Gotami was in deep grief. She went from house to house. She asked people to give her medicine that could cure her son. People thought she had lost her senses. They could not help her because there can be no medicine for the dead. Thus the woman could not get what she had been asking for. A wise man sent her to the Buddha who made her realise the reality of death. In fact, poor Kisa Gotami was only ignorant of a hard reality. In her grief, she had forgotten the fact that the dead can’t be brought back to life. The Buddha made her realize this fact in a very subtle and convincing manner.

Ans. The real name of the Buddha was Siddhartha Gautama. He was a prince and was born in northern India. When he was twelve, he was sent for the study of Hindu scriptures. Four years later, he was married to a princess. He lived with her a happy life for ten years. They had a son. Then during a hunting trip, the prince saw some sad sights. He saw a sick man, an old man and then a funeral procession. These sights made him very sad. He left home to understand the cause of human suffering. He kept wandering for seven years.

Ans. The Buddha wanted to understand the cause of human suffering. He left home and kept wandering for seven years. At last, he sat down under a fig tree. After seven days, he got enlightenment. A spiritual understanding about the cause of human suffering came to him. Now he came to be known as the Buddha which means the Englightened or the Awakened one. The fig tree under which he sat was named by him as the ‘Bo Tree’ which means the Tree of Wisdom’.

Ans. Kisa Gotami had an only son. The boy died and Gotami was in deep grief. She went from house to house. She asked people to give her medicine for her son. People thought she had lost her senses. A man suggested to her that she should go to the Buddha. The woman went to the Buddha. She asked him to give her medicine that could cure her son. The Buddha asked the woman to bring him a handful of mustard-seed. But he said it must be from a house where there had been no death. Thus he wanted to make the woman realise that there could be no medicine for death.

Ans. Kisa Gotami has an only son. The boy dies and Gotami is in deep grief. She goes from house to house. She asks people to give her medicine that could cure her son. People think she has lost her senses. They can’t help her because there can be no medicine for the dead. A dead one can’t be brought back to life. Thus the woman can’t get what she has been asking for. A wise man sends her to the Buddha who makes her realise the reality of death.

Ans. Kisa Gotami’s son is dead. She asks the Buddha to give her medicine that could cure her son. The Buddha asks her to bring a handful of mustard-seed and then he could give her the medicine. But the seed has to be brought from a house where there has been no death. The woman goes from house to house. But she can’t find any house where there has been no death. Thus Gotami fails to get what the Buddha has asked for.

Ans. Buddha’s ideas and his ways of teaching are as meaningful today as they ever were. He wanted people not to worry about things that were beyond their control Death is one such thing. It is inevitable. It has to come to everyone, one day or the  other. Therefore, it is useless to cry or weep over it. We should accept it as a hard fact of life. This is what the Buddha wanted to tell Kisa Gotami. But he acted like a very wise teacher. He used solid examples from real life so that his teaching could have the desired effect. Buddha’s method was what every teacher should adopt even today.

1. Every day, he ……….. do jogging in the morning.

2. I …………. be glad to hear from you.

3. He ………… take the car.

4. I ………. leave the office as soon as I have finished.

5. He said I ……….. use his laptop.

6. He ……….. be waiting at the airport when we arrive.

7. Measles ……….. be quite dangerous.

8. The child ……….. help weeping.

9. Parents ……….. look after their children.

10. We ……….. respect our parents.

11. We ……….. not worry.

12. He ………. (not) face his enemy.

13. I ……….. prefer death to dishonour.

14. We ………… help the poor.

15. She ……….. tell a lie at any time.

16. ……….. that I were rich !

17. Take light diet lest you ………. fall ill.

18. How ……….. it happen?

19. Gandhiji ……….. spin every morning.

20. We eat so that we ………… live.

Hints : 1. should / would, 2. will, 3. can, 4. can / could / would, 5. could, 6. will, 7. can, 8. can’t, 9. must, 10. should, 11. need, 12. cannot, 13. would, 14. should, 15. mustn’t, 16. Would, 17. should, 18. can, 19. used to, 20. may.

1. My brother has made a mark in the field of art and literature. My brother is living in France these days.

My brother who is living in France these days has made a mark in the field of art and literature.

2. A waitress served us. She was very polite and patient.

3. Government passed a law. The public didn’t accept it.

4. A girl was highly praised. She saved a baby from drowning.

5. Tom could not walk properly. Tom was lame.

6. I visited the school. Sir Mohammad Iqbal had studied in that school.

7. The fires caused widespread damage. They swept across much of Northern Kashmir.

8. A play was staged in the theatre. It wasn’t a great success.

9. Javid is away from home a lot. His job involves a lot of travelling.

10. The manager spoke to the workers. Their work was below standard.

Ans. 2. A waitress who served us was very polite and patient.

3. Government passed a law which the public didn’t accept.

4. A girl who saved a baby from drowning was highly praised.

5. Tom who was lame could not walk properly.

6. I visited the school in which Sir Mohammad Iqbal had studied.

7. The fires which spread across much of Northern Kashmir caused widespread damage.

8. A play that was staged in the theatre wasn’t a great success.

9. Javid whose job involves a lot of travelling is away from home a lot.

10. The manager spoke to the workers whose work was below standard.

(Page 40) Gautama Buddha began life as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, in northern India. At twelve he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty. At about the age of twenty-five, the Prince, heretofore shielded from the sufferings of the world, while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved him that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.

     sacred, shielded, realise, sermon.

1. The name of the chapter is The Sermon at Benares’ and the name of the writer is Betty Renstaw. 2. The sight of a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and a monk begging for alms moved Siddartha Gautama. 3. Siddhartha Gautama left his home to seek enlightenment concerning the the sorrows of life. 4. holy, protected, understand, preaching / teaching. 5. alms.

fig tree, days, he (Page 40-41) He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven renamed the tree the Bo Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and to share his new understandings. At that point he became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened). The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges; that sermon has been preserved and is given here. It reflects Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.

vowed

sermon

inscrutable

preserve

hard to understand

to keep in its original state

a religious lecture

made a serious promise

1. The name of the chapter is ‘The Sermon at Benares’ and the name of the writer is Betty Renstaw. 2. The Buddha meditated under a fig tree for seven days and at last enlightenment came to him 3.The Buddha’s first sermon shows his wisdom about one human suffering that is difficult to understand. 4. vowed = made a serious promise; sermon = a religious lecture; inscrutable = hard to understand; preserve = to keep in its original state. 5. the Awakened or the Enlightened.

(Page 41) Kisa Gotami had an only son, and he died. In her grief she carried the dead child to all her neighbours, asking them for medicine, and the people said “She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.”

At length, Kisa Gotami met a man who replied to her request: “I cannot give thee medicine for thy child, but I know a physician who can.”

And the girl said: “Pray tell me, sir; who is it ?” And the man replied, “Go to Salyamuni, the Buddha.”

Kisa Gotami repaired to the Buddha and cried, “Lord and Master, give me the medicine that will cure my boy.”

      (i) found (ii) slave.

      (i) joy      (ii) repaired.

(i) Kisa Gotami was in ……….. because her only son had died.

(ii) She asked all her neighbours for ………… to cure her son.

(iii) A man suggested that she should go to ………. .

(iv) She …………. the Buddha to give her medicine that could cure her son.

(a) (i) found →lost (ii) slave → master.

(b) (i) joy → happiness (ii) repaired → requested.

(c) (i) grief; (ii) medicine; (iii) the Buddha; (iv) requested.

(Page 41) The Buddha answered, “I want a handful of mustard-seed.” And when the girl in her joy promised to procure it, the Buddha added, “The mustard-seed must be taken from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent or friend.” Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard-seed; take it !” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, “Alas! The living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” And there was no house but some beloved one had died in it.

      lost, taken, few, friend.

(i) The Buddha asked Gotami to bring him a handful of …………

(ii) According to Buddha, the mustard-seed had to be from a house where no one had ever ………..

(iii) Gotami asked the people if any near or dear one had died in ………….

(iv) People asked Gotami not to …………… them of their deepest grief.

(a) lost → found ; taken → given ; few → many; friend → foe.

(b) (i) mustard-seed; (ii) died; (iii) their family; (iv) remind.

(Page 41) Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless, and sat down at the wayside watching the lights of the city, as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last, the darkness of the night reigned everywhere. And she considered the fate of men, that their lives flicker up and are extinguished again. And she thought to herself “How selfish am I in my grief! Death is common to all; yet in this valley of desolation there is a path that leads him to immortality who has surrendered all selfishness.”

     (i) mortal (ii) extinguish.

     (i) weary (ii) fate.

(i) ………… watching the lights of the city.

(ii) At last, the darkness of the ………… reigned everywhere.

(iii) Death is …………. to all.

(iv) There is a path that leads him to …………..

(a) (i) mortal → immortal; (ii) extinguish → light.

(b) (i) weary – tired; (ii) fate – destiny.

(c) (i) Kisa Gotami sat down ; (ii) night; (iii) common; (iv) immortality.

(Page 41) The Buddha said, “The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain. For there is not any means by which those that have been born can avoid dying; after reaching old age there is death; of such a nature are living beings. As ripe fruits are early in danger of falling, so mortals when born are always in danger of death. As all earthen vessels made by the potter end in being broken, so is the life of mortals. Both young and adult, both those who are fools and those who are wise, all fall into the power of death; all are subject to death.”

      joy, young, grief, natural, mortal, dying, ripe, always.

(i) The Buddha said that the life of …………….. is combined with pain and sufferings.

(ii) He said that there are no means to ………. death.

(iii) He compared human beings with ……….. and earthen vessels.

(iv) Everyone is subject to …………

(a) joy → grief; young → old; grief → happiness; natural → artificial; mortal →immortal; dying → living; ripe → unripe ; always often.

(b) (i) mortals; (ii) avoid; (iii) ripe fruits; (iv) death.