ENGLISH-1ST PAPER- POETRY(XI) POEM-11

        Poem-11

                                                                  The Light Of Asia

                                                                     Book The Third                         - Sir Edwin Arnold

                                                                                                                                    (1832-1904)

Long answer type questions:

Q .1) What disturbed the calm of Siddhartha’s mind ever among the pleasure and luxuries of the palace?

OR Describe prince Siddhartha’s restlessness as depicted in his conversation with Yashodhara and Chitra. OR

Account for the mental restlessness of the prince in the midst of the pleasures and luxuries of the palace. OR write in short the message which the music of the wind sung in the prince’s ear.

Ans.: ‘The Light of Asia’ composed by ‘Sir Edwin Arnold’ has eight parts. Only book third is in the course. It is an Epic on the life of Lord Buddha. It made the Buddha’s life and teaching known to the English speaking world.

Prince Siddhartha was the only Son of King Suddhodan. He lived happily with his beautiful wife Yashodhara in his palace. There was peace, love, music, dancing all around him. He did not know anything about want, pain and death.

But sometimes his peace of mind was disturbed in his sleep.  He would suddenly get up and cry , “ my world ! Oh world! I hear! I know! I come!.

 He felt that the world was calling him for help. Seeing him his  wife became very sad. To please him, she asked the musicians to play on the veena.

               The sad music of the wind disturbed the peace of prince’s mind. One day veena was lying on the window sill. When the wind passed through strings, a strange music was produced. Those who were there, heard the music only. But the prince heard that God was playing on veena. They  were giving him a message. They told him that world was full of sorrow and pain. It was waiting for his love and sacrifices.

Human life was nothing but A Moan, A Sigh, A Sob, A Storm, A Strife.

His joys in the palace were only shadow. So he must leave it at once for the good of people. One day his maid servant Chitra told him a tale of olden days. It was about love, magic horse and wonderful countries. He was deeply affected by it. He felt a great desire to visit the world outside his palace gates.

All these things disturbed the calm of prince’s mind among the pleasure and luxuries of the palace.

Q .2) Write in your own words the interpretation of the seven visions as given by the hermit.

Ans.: ‘The Light of Asia’ composed by ‘Sir Edwin Arnold’ has eight parts. Only book third is in the course. It is an Epic on the life of Lord Buddha. It made the Buddha’s life and teaching known to the English speaking world (This is a common paragraph, will be used in each question of Light Of Asia.)

Prince Siddhartha was the only son of king Suddhodana. Once he decided to visit the city outside the palace gates. At this the city was decorated beautifully. The prince saw many things but he also saw an old man. Seeing the old man the prince was moved to pity. He could not sleep in the night. He was very restless.

               That night the king saw a dream. He saw seven visions in it. He wanted to know the meaning of these seven visions. But no one could tell him. At last a hermit came to king palace and told him the hidden meaning of the visions in the following way-

1. A flag: The first vision of the king showed that the old faiths would end and a new faith would begin.

2. The ten huge elephants: The ten huge elephants were the ten great gifts of wisdom. With them the prince would leave the palace to teach the people, the way of truth.

3. The four horses: The four horses of chariot stood for four fearless virtues. With them the prince would get knowledge.

4. The wheel: It is the symbol of perfect law. The prince would turned to the wheel and show the true law to the world.

5. A drum: In this vision the prince was beating a drum.  It means that the voice of the prince would rise like the sound of drum and reach every corner of the world.

6. A tall tower:  In it the prince was throwing jewels from a tall tower. It means that the prince would spread the principles of the Buddha. The whole world would accept and follow them.

7.  The six men:  In this vision there were six men weeping with shut mouths. The hermit said that the six men were the six chief teachers. The prince would show them knowledge and truth.

Thus the hermit explained the real meaning of seven visions. He said that the prince would be a great hermit. He would be greater than a king.

Q .3) Give a character sketch of prince on the basis of the text book.

Ans.: common para-

               Prince Siddhartha was the only son of king Suddhodana. He lived happily in his palace. He was married to a beautiful princess Yashodhara. He did not know about pain, old age, death or disease. He is the hero of the poem. All the story moves around him. He has a divine soul.

The main qualities of his character are given below-

1. A life of comfort and luxury: Prince Siddhartha lived a life of pleasures in his happy home. He never felt any pain or sorrow  in life. His life was peaceful and joyful in the company of his young wife Yashodhara. He was a very lucky person too. His father gave him all kinds of comforts in the place.  He wanted to see him happy all time. But sometimes he becomes restless and cried “My World ! oh, world ! I hear ! I know !I come ”   

2. A man of Destiny: The prince was godly. His destiny called him. In his sleep he felt that the world was calling him. He heard the massage of devas (nasoxk;u) on the veena. He was born to save the man kind. The voice of the wind said to him,  “ Rise, Maya’s child !Wake! slumber not again!.” His luck was so powerful that he become a great hermit rather than a great king. And than he removed the pain of people in the world.

3. A Thoughtful Man: The prince lived in an unreal world. He did’t know anything about outside the place gates. So he wanted to see it. One day he went to see the city with channa. He visited the city two times. Now he know about sickness, death and old age.

              After thinking a lot, he said to channa , “It is enough! Mine eyes have seen enough.” He thought seriously about suffering and mortify of life. After this he left the place for the good of people.

4. A Kind Hearted Man: the prince was very liberal and merciful. His heart was full of love and pity for everyone. He could not see tears in the eyes of yashodhara. He smiled and asked musicians to play on the veena. When he saw a sick man. He lifted him and put the head of the man on his knee. He also comfort him and helped the old  man. Being a kind man. He did not want to enjoy the luxury of palace but to help the poor and sick persons.

               In short, the prince was born to save suffering humanity. As soon as he knew the reality of life, he at once left the home for the peace and rest of people.

Q.4) Give a character – sketch of channa of his poem .OR

         Who is channa? Discuss his role and importance in the poem.

Ans: channa was the character of prince Siddhartha. He was the true friend and true guide of the prince. He is very wise and sensible. On the first visit to the city, he went with the prince as his character. On the second visit, he went with him in the dress of a clerk. He is anxious for the peace and rest of the prince. With out him in the prince’s life was incomplete. The main qualities of  his character are given below:-

1. A True Guide: channa played a very important role in the life of the prince. The prince did not know anything about the world. He asked every question to channa . as a true friend and guide, channa always removed all his doubts.

2. Honest And Truthful: channa was a faithful and sincere person. He told the prince about the reality of everything. He did not hide anything. When the prince knew about the pain, disease, death and old age. He thanked channa for his honesty and truthfulness.

  The prince said ,“The veil is rent which blinded me. ” It was possible only due to channa.

3. A Good Philosopher: Channa was a man of thinking nature. On the first visit to the city, the prince saw an old man. He asked channa if old age would come to all.channa told him the meaning old age. He said that old age comes to all.

           On the second visit to the city. Channa told the prince about sickness and death. Like philosopher, He told the prince-philosophy of the life. He said that no one is immortal in this world.

           Thus channa was a faithful friend of prince. Without his proper guidance the prince would have unknown to the world. He was the first man to  tell the prince about the reality of life and world. His role is really very remarkable in the poem.

Q.5) Through light on the character of Yashodhara and Suddhodana.

Ans. Character of yashodhara: yashodhara was the wife of prince Siddhartha. We don’t see her much in the poem. We find the following qualities in her character.

1. Ideal wife: yashodhara was the Ideal and faithful wife. She was very beautiful. Her only ambition to make her husband happy. She always cared for his rest and comfort. When the prince slept, she fanned him with love. After seeing an old man, The prince returned  home with said heart. He did not take food. He was very restless. At once she sank to his feet and wept,“ Hath not my lord, comfort in me”

2. Centre of prince’s love: The prince loved yashodhara deeply. She slept with his head on her breast. She lulled and fanned him. When the prince saw tears in her eyes, he at once smiled. To please her, he asked the musicians to play on the veena. Thus she got prince’s deep love.

                             In short, yashodhara was beautiful, obedient and an ideal Hindu wife. She tried her best to change the mind of prince by her service and true love but  failed. Yet she got a very high place in the heart of the prince.

Character of Suddhodana: king Suddhodana loved his only son Siddhartha very much. He was a very powerful king. He loved his son more than his life. Wanted to see him as a king the main qualities of his life character are given below:

1.A worthy king: Suddhodana was an able king of kapil vastu,. He was very powerful. He loved his subjects very much. He was very wise too. When the prince wished to see the city second time, He took advise from his minister. When the hermit told him the meaning of his dream, he sent rich gifts after him.

2. A loving father: The king loved his son  greatly. He wanted him to become a chakravarti king. He did not want that his only son would leave the world and become a saint. So he gave him all kind of comforts and luxuries in the place. As a result the prince never felt any sorrow or pain there.

3. His Farsightedness: when the prince wished to see the city for the first time, the king ordered that the city should be decorated. No ugly sight should come before him. After him visit the king doubled the guards at the gates and took special watch at his behavior but, “who shall shut out fate?”

 The king failed to check destiny.

           Thus we see that the king loved the prince deeply. He tried his best to make him happy. He proved himself an able king and a good father.

Q.6) “It is enough! My eyes have seen enough .” who says this and why.?

Ans. “It is enough! My eyes have seen enough.” Are the words of prince Siddhartha at the end of his second visit to the city of kapilvastu. This remark of prince is very meaningful.

 The prince lived a life of perfect happiness in the happy home. He had no idea of pain, old age, and sickness or death. He did not know the reality of life. He only knew that life was full of joy.

            He never saw pain or misery in life. His two visits to the city changed his ideas.

On the first visit to the city he saw an ugly old man. He was wearing dirty and torn clothes. The prince was moved by the sight of the man.

On the second visit to the city the prince saw a sick man in great pain. He was very weak. He was suffering from fetal disease. the prince did not know about sickness, illness now. He asked channa about it. After knowing the truth , he was very sad.

At last, the prince saw a dead body. People were carrying it to the river bank. The dead body lay on bier soon it was burnt to ashes. This was the sum total of man’^s life. 

 Channa told the prince that our joys and sorrow and life in death. Now the prince has seen the whole picture of life. He said to himself, “The veil is rent that blinded me.” He was filled with great pity. He said to channa, “it is enough! my eyes have seen enough!”

Q .7) why did the king suddhodana send word to his people decorate the city and make it look gay and happy for the prince’s visit ?

And. King suddhodana loved his only son Siddhartha very much. He named him Siddhartha which meant ‘every wish fulfilled’. He enjoyed all the luxuries of  life in the palace.

         When the prince was born, A hermit came to the king’s palace. He told the king that his son would be a king or a great saint. So the king was much worried. He did not want that his only son leave the palace and became a hermit. He wanted to see his son as a king. So he married him to a beautiful princess. All the time he enjoyed dancing and music in the palace. But the prince did not find real result and peace there. Sometimes he felt unrest.

   One day the prince desired to go out of the palace. He wanted to see the outside world. The king was informed about his desire. He was very upset but being a wise king and good father he at once ordered his people to decorate the city for the prince’s visit.

 The prince should not see only ugly sight. No blind, sick, old and leper should appear before him. The king thought about the prophecy of the hermit and he was also afraid of to think about the nature of the prince. The king knew very well that his son might leave the palace after seeing only ugly sight in the city.

So he ordered the people to decorate the city and make it look gay and happy for the prince’s visit.

Q .8) Narrate in short the conversation that took place between the prince and channa was holiday the sick man? OR

 What does the prince say to channa when he sees the sick man?

Ans. During the second visit the prince was dressed like a merchant. And channa was in the dress of his clerk. They went on foot by the common streets and meet many people.

  When they reached the river bank, they saw a sick man he was laying by the road side. He was crying for help. Seeing him the prince was ran very fast and lifted him. He put his head on the knee. He comforted the man with soft touch. Then he asked channa, “why is this man unable to speak?”

            Channa replied that the man was suffering from some fatal disease. All his nature power of seeing hearing and thinking were in disorder. The flow of blood in his body was not normal. He was suffering from a sudden attack of illness. He would die when disease would destroy him fully.

    Channa advised him not to touch the sick man otherwise it might attack even him. The prince asked channa if other people suffered like that man.

  Channa answered, “This comes in many forms to all man.”

The prince again asked how the ill came in life.

Channa said, “like the sly snake they come, that stings unseen.”

The prince asked channa what happened if men grew older and older.

Channa replied, “they die, prince.”

  Thus the prince came to know about illness, old age and death. His conversation with channa opened his eyes. He knew that “Nothing is immortal in the world.”

Q .9) Produce in your own words the feeling of the prince after he saw the old, sick and dead man. OR

What were the three sights that made the prince sad and sorrowful?

Ans.: The prince lived happily in his palace with Yashodhara. Sometimes he was very restless there. So once he desired to visit the city outside his palace. He went two times and on his first visit he saw an old man. On the second visit he saw a sick man and a dead body. He was very upset to see all that. His feelings are given below:

1. The old man: In his first visit he saw an old man, crying for help. His condition was very bad. The prince asked about it. Channa told him that he was an old man. Old age comes to all. Even the king and prince will also become old on some day. Hearing this the prince was very sad and did’t take food. He could not sleep in the night.

2. The sick man: In his second visit the prince saw a sick man. He was lying in the dust. He was in great pain. He asked channa why the man was in such a painful condition. Channa told him that he was a sick man and suffering from a fatal disease. Like  old age, it also comes in everyone’s life. This made the prince very sad and serious. He could not bear the pain of it.

3. The dead man:  Then the prince saw the procession of dead body. His friends and relatives were weeping after the dead body. They were crying , “O Ram, Ram hear! Call upon Ram, brother.”

They reached river bank and lay the dead body on a pyre. They set to pyre and the body was burnt to ashes.

This had a deep effect on the prince he was filled with pity. He looked at the sky and at the earth. He said that he would try to end the caused sorrow.

Such are the feeling of the prince when he saw the old, the sick and the dead man.

 In other words, by seeing these things he saw the real picture of life and the world.