JK Academy Class 6 English Chapter 4.2 The Story of Gautama’s Quest Textbook Questions and Answers
Maharashtra Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 4.2 The Story of Gautama’s Quest
Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 4.2 The Story of Gautama’s Quest Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 4.2 The Story of Gautama’s Quest
Meanings
secluded – isolated, far from everything.
realm – kingdom.
vision – an idea or mental picture.
renounce – give up.
illumination – understanding.
decay – rot, get slowly destroyed.
stimulant – something that encourages you and gives you energy.
Pointers:
1. Complete the following sentences with reference to the passage:
a) Gautama, the Buddha, was born over two thousand five hundred years ago, as Prince Siddharth.
b) The king was determined to prevent his beloved son from renouncing the world.
c) For six years did Gautama practise intense asceticism.
d) He realised that making the body suffer was not the way to enlightenment and truth.
e) To this day, we venerate the tree as the Bodhi Tree.
2. Write short notes on the following :
(a) Prince Siddharth’s protected life.
Ans. Gautama the Buddha was born over two thousand five hundred years ago, as Prince Siddharth. He was the son of a king – Raja Shuddhodana. It was prophesied at his birth that the infant would grow to be either a great Chakravarti (an Emperor) or a sannyasi (a renunciate) who would bring comfort to thousands of lost souls. The king was determined to prevent his beloved son from renouncing the world. He surrounded the Prince with every imaginable luxury and comfort. It is said that the King had three magnificent palaces, one for each season of the year, and in the beautiful atmosphere of these royal mansions, Prince Siddharth lived his secluded, protected life.
(b) The ‘four signs’ that Prince Siddharth beheld.
Ans. The ‘four signs’ that Prince Siddharth behel were an old man, a diseased man, a dead man, and a monk.
(c) The message in the vision.
Ans. The message in the vision was not to take to extremes but one must follow a middle path.
(d) Sujata’s offering
Ans. Sujata, a beautiful girl, who was carrying a golden bowl filled with sweetened milk and rice. When she saw the weakened ascetic, she offered the bowl at his feet.
3. Read aloud a paragraph of your choice from the passage.
4. Visit a library : Read stories about Gautama Buddha. Relate one story in the class.
Bitterness Grows Bitter
The Bodhisattva was once born as an ascetic. He would wander from place to place, meditating, seeking inner peace and becoming one with God’s creation. Like all ascetics, he led a life of simplicity. In the course of his wanderings, he came to Benaras. It was the rainy season then, and the Bodhisattva was welcomed as the king’s royal guest. He was treated with great respect and every care was taken so that he may spend his time peacefully. He stayed in the royal park and spent his time in meditation.
Now, the king had been blessed with a son but there was a very big problem. The prince was an ill-natured boy. He was named Dutthakumara. The king tried his best to improve his son’s nature. He gave his son everything he desired, all the riches of the world were his for the taking. But alas, all efforts failed. The king was heartbroken. He had an heir to his throne, but who would tolerate an ill-tempered king? So he requested the Bodhisattva to help him.
One day, the ascetic and the prince were strolling in the royal garden. The ascetic asked him to taste the leaf of a nearby plant. The moment the prince tasted the leaf, he spat it out as it was bitter. Seeing this, the Bodhisattva said, “It is the leaf of a young plant, but yet it is so bitter. Imagine how bitter it would taste when the tree grows up.” Hearing him, the young prince realized what the Bodhisattva meant. He was still a young boy and he had the most terrible temper. If his own father could not tolerate this, how bad must other people feel about it! And what would happen when he matured into a man? His bad qualities would grow manifold, just like the bitterness of the tree leaves. The prince felt truly humbled by the lesson that the Bodhisattva had taught him so gently. From that day onwards, the young prince tried to mend his ways and become a better person.