Lesson -13
Virtue Pays
* What do you know about the Mahabharat?
* Why were the Pandavas given exile?
* What difficulties did they face when they
were in exile?
Once when the Pandavas,
were wandering in the forest, they felt very thirsty.
But nowhere could they
find water. They began to feel that they would die of thirst.
The eldest brother
Yudhishthira, a man of truth, then said to his half-brother Nakula,“O! Nakula,
son of Madri, climb that tree and look all over the forest and see if there is
some water near by; look if there are trees, birds or plants, for they are sure
signs of water.”
Nakula climbed the tree
and saw some plants and greenery at a distance. It appeared as if there was a
pool. “Go then Nakula,” said Yudhishthira, “and bring some water for your
brothers.”
Nakula set out towards
the place and came across a pool of clean water. No sooner did he bend to drink
the water than a strong voice cried, “Stop! Do not drink the water till you
have obeyed the laws of this pool. No one can drink its water till he has
answered the questions I ask. If you take even a drop of water before this, you
may die at once.”
Nakula paid no heed to
the voice. He had hardly touched the water when he fell dead among the weeds
growing near the pond.
Yudhishthira and his
brother waited for hours for Nakula but h e d i d n o t r e t u r n . T h e n
Yudhishthira sent Sahadeva to f i n d o u t h i s b r o t h e r ’ s
whereabouts.
When Sahadeva reached
the pool he saw Nakula lying dead there. He felt very much grieved. He could
not weep for his dead brother as his thirst had overpowered his emotions. He
knelt down to drink water instead.
“Wait,” cried the
voice, “Do not take even one drop of this water until you have answered my
questions; if you do so, you will die.”
The prince did not care
for the voice and stooped to drink water. He had hardly drunk a little water when
he also fell dead. When Sahadeva also failed to return, Yudhishthira sent
Arjuna and Bhima. But both met the same fate.
Ultimately Yudhishthira
went to the pool. The strange voice cried, “Stop, unless you answer my
questions before drinking water you will also die like your brothers. Such is
the law of this place.”
It appeared to
Yudhishtira as if it was the voice of some divine power. So he said, “Before I
answer your questions, pray tell me who you are! Surely you must be from the
other world.”
“Yes, you are right,”
said the spirit.“I am Yaksha, the spirit of the woods. I rule over this region.
I have made a rule that
anyone who wants to drink the water of this pool must first answer my questions
or he shall die at once.”
“Ask your questions,”
said Yudhishthira, “I shall answer them to the best of my ability.” Then Yaksha
asked his questions.
Yaksha :
Which is the best road to Heaven?
Yudhishthira: Virtue is the best road to Heaven
Yaksha :
Which is the best of virtues?
Yudhishthira: The best virtue is to hate none.
Yaksha :
Which is the worst enemy of man?
Yudhishthira: Anger is the worst enemy of man.
Yaksha :
Which man is rich and poor at the same time?
Yudhishthira: The man who has much but gives nothing.
Yaksha :
How may a poor man become rich?
Yudhishthira: A poor man may become rich by being
contented.
Yaksha :
What is heavier than the earth and the clouds?
Yudhishthira: The love of parents.
Yaksha :
What is the way to be happy?
Yudhishthira: To tell the truth and be kind.
Yaksha :
Who is the greatest man of all?
Yudhishthira: One who is unaffected by joy and sorrow.
Then said Yaksha, “O!
Prince, you have answered my questions very well. Now you may drink the water.
I also give you a boon. Name anyone of your brothers whom I may bring to life
again.”
Yudhishthira said,“Let
Nakula, the son of Madri, be brought to life.”
“But he is only your
half-brother,” said Yaksha “Don't you want your real brothers Bhima and Arjuna
to live again? Don’t you love them?”
“Yes I love them,” said
Yudhishthira. “But I wish that Nakula should come back to life.”
“Why?” asked the Yaksha
.
Yudhishthira replied,
“I am the son of Kunti and Nakul is the son of Madri. Please bring back Nakul
to life so that one son of each mother remains alive.”
Yudhishthira had hardly
spoken these words when Yaksha said, “O! Prince, I am Dharma, the God of
Justice. I wished to know if you were just. I find that you are really so. I am
highly pleased and shall bring all your brothers to life.” Yaksha sprinkled
some drops of water on the dead bodies of the four brothers and they came back
to life.
EXERCISES
Read
and Learn
wander
weeds
stoop
divine
grieve
fate
virtue
heaven
vegetation
boon
half-brother
exile
content
symbol
pool
sprinkle
pay heed
over power
spirit
heed
Word
Power
A. Match the words in column A with their
meanings in column B.
symbol an imaginary creature with magic powers
wander a sign used to represent something
spirit the plants found in a particular area or
environment
vegetation to walk slowly around without purpose
B. Give one word for the following:
(i)A small area of
still water, especially p______
one that is artificial
(ii)which is connected
with god d______
(iii)a wild plant
growing where it is not wanted w______
(iv)behaviour that
shows high moral standards v _____
Comprehension
A) Answer these questions:
Q.1. What did Yudhishthira say to Nakula?
Q.2. What did the voice from the pond say?
Q.3. Did Nakula pay heed to the voice?
Q.4. What were the questions put up by Yaksha?
Mention at least four.
Q.5. Which is the best of all virtues?
Q.6. Why did Yudhishthira wish to get back
Nakula?
Q.7. How did the four brothers rise to their
former selves?
Q.8. What moral do you draw from this story?
B) Tick the correct one:
1. Yudhishthira was Nakula's -
(a) real brother
(b) half brother
(c) cousin
2. Sahadeva wept for his -
(a) dead brother
(b) dead mother
(c) dead father
3. Who paid special heed to the strange voice?
(a) Arjuna
(b) Nakula
(c) Yudhishthira
4. Yaksha was highly pleased with -
(a) Nakula
(b) Yudhishthira
(c) Arjuna
Let's
Learn
(i) No one in the world can do exactly what you
do.
(ii) Some people can't do what you can.
(iii) I was late for school because I couldn't
find my pen.
(iv) You may enter the room now.
(v) May I borrow your pen?
The modal auxiliary
verbs 'can' and 'could' are used to express ability, 'can't' is used to express
inability; 'may' or 'might' are used to ask for or express permission. Now,
look at the following sentences:
(vi) You can leave after 5 pm.
(vii) Could I come in?
Here 'can' and 'could'
are used to express permission.
(viii) There could be more trouble in future.
(ix) It might rain in a day or two.
Here 'could and 'might'
are used to express future possibility.
We can summarise it as
Modal auxiliary can is
used for expressing ability
Modal auxiliary can't
is used for expressing inability
Modal auxiliary could is
used for expressing ability in the past.
Modal auxiliaries can,
could and may are used for seeking permission.
Modal auxiliaries can
and may are used for expressing possibility
Modal auxiliaries might
and could are used for expressing future possibility.
Ability : I
can speak English well.
Inability : I
can't speak French.
Past ability: I could jump over the wall when I was young.
Permission: You can come in.
Could I borrow your
bicycle?
Possibility : He
can come tomorrow.
Impossibility: The sky is clear. It can’t rain today.
Future possibility: It
might rain in a day or two.
A) Fill in the blanks with appropriate modal
auxiliary verbs: (use negative where required)
(i) The weather report says it _____________
rain today.
(ii) __________ you read this poem for me,
please?
(iii) He is a liar, what he says __________ be
true.
(iv) The new counter ________ open next Monday.
(v) _____________ I use your phone?
B) What question will you ask in each of the
following situations: (Use a modal in each sentence)
(i)You want to have
some ice-cream.
__________________________________________?
(ii)You want to know
who is on the telephone.
___________________________________________?
(iii)You want to know
the time.
___________________________________________?
C. Frame sentences with the help of the given
information as given in the example:
Nakula was Madri’s son. The Yaksha was a divine
spirit.
Bhima was very strong. Yudhishthira was famous
for his justice.
Sahadeva was the
youngest Arjun was very good at
Pandava. archery.
Example:
1. Nakul looked all over the forest.
Nakul, who was Madri’s
son, looked all over the forest.
2. The Yaksha asked many questions.
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3. Bhima paid no heed to the strange voice.
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4. Arjun was a great warrior.
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5. Sahadeva failed to return.
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6. Yudhishthira answered all the questions very
well.
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Let's
Talk
Make
two groups. One will ask the questions in column A and the other will find the
correct answers from column B.
Let's
Read
Here
is Yudhishthira's diary. Go through this record and answer the questions given
below.
Monday
4 pm - We were
wandering in the forest.
4.05 pm - We felt
thirsty.
4.30 pm - I ordered
Nakula to bring water.
4.35 pm - Nakula went
to bring water.
4.50 pm - He didn't
return.
5 pm - I ordered
Sahadev to find out Nakula.
5.15 pm - I waited for
Sahadev.
5.25 pm - I ordered
Arjuna to find out Nakula and Sahdeva.
5.45 pm - I ordered
Bhima to find them all.
6 pm - I myself went to
pool.
Q.1 Who was
wandering in the forest?
Ans .
___________________________________________.
Q.2 When were the Pandavas wandering in the
forest?
Ans.
___________________________________________.
Q.3 At what time did they feel thirsty?
Ans.
___________________________________________.
Q.4 When did Yudhishthira order Nakul to bring
water?
Ans.
___________________________________________.
Q.5 When
did Yudhishthira himself go to pool?
Ans.
___________________________________________.
Let's
Write
Read
the telephonic conversation and the message given below:
Mohit : Can
I talk to Rakesh?
Mr. Ahuja :
Sorry, he has gone to market.
Mohit :
I am his classmate Arjun. Please tell him to call me back when he
returns.
Mr. Ahuja :
O.K. But does he have your phone number?
Mohit :
I think so, still note my phone number. It is 6369522.
Mr. Ahuja :
O.K. I’ll tell him.
Mohit :
Thank you uncle.
Message
Date & time 21 Oct. 2006, 5.00 p.m.
Salutation Rakesh
Content Your classmate Arjun rang up. He
wanted to talk to you. Please call
him back. His phone number is 6369522.
Signatory Daddy
Now read the following
telephonic conversation and write the message.
Reena : May
I talk to Nidhi?
Abha : Sorry,
she has gone out for shopping. May I know who is calling?
Reena : I
am her friend Reena. I am celebrating my birthday on 26th Nov. at
7.00 pm at Nirula’s at
Defence Colony. Please tell her to reach there.
I’ll drop her back
home.
Abha : O.K.
I’ll tell her. Is there any other message?
Reena : Please
tell her to confirm by tomorrow.
Abha : O.K.
your message will be conveyed.
Abha was going for her
evening classes. So she left a message for
Nidhi.
MESSAGE
Let's
do it
Read
more stories about greatmen and mythological heroes and tell them in your
class. (Ask your teacher to help you.)