The Ghost-Brahman by Lal Behari Dey ( Summary, Explanation, Questions Answer, Class 11 Semester 2)

 

Folk – Tales
Definition, Types, Features and Functions

I. What are folk-tales?

Folk-tales are stories handed down from generation to generation usually by oral retelling. They are shared by members of a bio-region. These stories often undergo changes as they pass from one storyteller to the next. Folk-tales often explain some things that happen in nature or society. They may convey certain truths or beliefs that exist in a society. Generally, folk-tales are told to amuse and instruct the listeners.

II. Who wrote folk-tales?

Most of the folk-tales are composed by anonymous writers. They are part of the oral tradition. Some famous writers, such as the brothers Grimm, wrote folk-tales while others collected folk-tales of a particular region. In India, A. K. Ramanujan is famous for collecting oral tales. In Bengal, Lal Behari Dey is perhaps the first scholar to collect oral tales of Bengal.

III. What are the different types of folk-tales?

  Fable: A fable is a brief tale, either in prose or verse, with a moral. Usually, but not always, the characters are animals. The subject matter is drawn from folklore. Aesop's Fables are best-known examples.

 Fairy tale: A fairy tale is a story concerned with the mysterious adventures of supernatural spirits who manifest themselves in the form of human beings. Almost every nation has its own literature of this genre. Oscar Wilde's fairy tales are very popular.

  Legend: A legend is a narrative or tradition handed down from the past. It involves a character who may have been a real person. It is partly historical and partly a product of imagination. King Arthur, for example, is a legendary figure.

  Myth: A myth is an anonymous story, rooted in folk beliefs, presenting supernatural episodes to explain natural events and phenomena. Every culture explains everyday phenomena with tales of mythological figures. Myths attempt to interpret creation, divinity and religion; to explain the meaning of existence and death; to account for natural phenomena; and to chronicle the adventures of racial heroes. Myths have less historical background and more supernatural elements than legends. Every country and literature has its own mythology.

  Allegory: An allegory is a narrative that has two levels of meaning—one is the surface level story and the other is the deeper meaning that the story conveys. It may be written in prose or verse. It is the presentation of an abstract idea through more concrete means. John Bunyan's ‘The Pilgrim's Progress’ is an example of allegory in English literature.

  Trickster Tale: A trickster's tale is a story about a clever character that tricks another character and causes problems.

IV. What are the characteristic features of folk-tales?

It has been found that folk-tales follow a pattern and basic features. 

  Author: In most cases, it is written by anonymous authors.

 Setting: Most folk-tales are set in a time and place that is quite real. The action generally takes place in a far-off time and place. Some space is left for the imagination of the readers to fill the gaps in picturing the setting of a folk-tale. Time is often fantasy. Folk-tales usually begin with expressions like “Once upon a time...” or “Long ago in a far-off place”.

  Characters: Characters in folk-tales can be human, animal or imaginary. Human characters are generally very simple and uncomplicated. They might be good or bad, beautiful or ugly, strong or weak, rich or poor, wise or silly. Animal characters often talk and act like people. Imaginary characters often interfere and change the situation.

  Dialogue: Dialogue, words spoken by the characters is important in lending pace to the action. The dialogues reveal how the characters think, act and feel.

  Narrative: Folk-tales are narratives having a beginning, middle and an end. The language is very simple. The story is not complicated but simple. The first part introduces the characters, the setting, the situation and the problem. The middle tells the linear succession of events and the reactions of the characters involved. The last part is the happy ending.

  Magic and Supernatural: Some tasks are performed by magical figures to overcome human limitation or to put the main character in trouble. In Indian folk-tales, ghosts and supernatural creatures play a significant role in shaping the events.

V. What are functions or purposes served by folk-tales?

Folk-tales are the cultural construct of a bio-region. They uphold cultural tradition and rich heritage. They remind people of traditions and beliefs shared for ages. They are instruments of transmission of culture. The main purpose of telling folk-tales is to entertain and amaze. They are means of folk education. They impart important lessons about human nature. Folk-tales infuse moral values through presentation of conflict between good and evil. They highlight shared values and moral lessons.

 

 The Ghost-Brahman by Lal Behari Dey

 

Summary of the Story: The Ghost-Brahman

The tale is about a poor Brahman. The poor Brahman finds it difficult to marry as he is not a ‘Kulin’. At that time, a large sum of money was needed as dowry for the parents of the bride. So he decides to go to rich people to beg for money for his marriage. He eventually earns enough money to get married. But after his marriage, he finds it difficult to maintain the family. So he tells his mother that he will go to distant countries for a long period to earn some money. Receiving his mother's blessings, he leaves home. In the evening, a ghost, assuming the Brahman's appearance, enters the house. The ghost-Brahman explains that he has changed his mind because the day is not a lucky day. They do not suspect the ghost-Brahman. After some years, the real Brahman returns home and discovers another Brahman who looks exactly like him. Unfortunately, the ghost-Brahman drives him away from his house. Overcoming the initial shock, the Brahman goes to the king for justice. To the king, the ghost-Brahman and the real Brahman are identical. So the king fails to decide the quarrel and advises the Brahman to come to the king the next day. Days pass but the dispute remains unsolved. Every day on his way back from the king's court, the Brahman passes a spot where cowboys play. The cowboys notice the Brahman pass by weeping daily. One day, the cowboy king orders one of his constables to bring the Brahman to him. The neat-herd king listens to his problem and decides to resolve it. The Brahman is then sent to the king to seek his permission. Permission being granted, the trial starts. Both Brahmans appear before the neat-herd king the next morning. The neat-herd king shows them a phial and says that whoever of them will enter into the phial will be declared the rightful person. While the Brahman questions the intellectual ability of the neat-herd king, the ghost-Brahman enters into the phial. The neat-herd king then corks up the phial. Finally, the Brahman takes possession of his house, wife and mother and begins to live happily.

 

Descriptive Type Questions

1. What problem did the poor Brahman consider to be ‘the hardest thing in the world’? Why did he think so? How did he overcome the problem?

Ans. In ‘The Ghost-Brahman’, the poor Brahman found it ‘the hardest thing in the world’ to get married.

  The poor Brahman held his social position and financial condition responsible for the problem. He found it difficult to marry because he had neither the social prestige of a ‘kulin’ (i.e. the status of belonging to the highest social hierarchy) nor enough money.

  To overcome the problem, he went to the rich people and begged them to give him money to get married. At that time, a large sum of money was needed to give dowry to the parents of the bride and to meet the expenses of the wedding. He begged from door to door, flattered rich people and thereby managed to get enough money to get married.

 

2. What problem did the poor Brahman face immediately after his marriage? How did he want to solve the problem?

Ans. Immediately after his marriage, the poor Brahman found it extremely difficult to maintain his family as he had no means to support his mother and wife.

  He thought of a plan to solve his problem. He told his mother that he must go to far-off countries to earn money by any means. Only after accumulating a good sum would he return home. He wanted to hand over whatever money he had to his mother to maintain the family. On receiving his mother's blessings, he left home.

 

3. Why did the poor Brahman leave home for a long time? What did the ghost-Brahman do while he left home for a long time? How did the Brahman's wife and mother react to the arrival of the ghost-Brahman?

Ans. The poor Brahman left home for a long time to earn a good sum to maintain his family.

  In the evening of the same day of the Brahman’s departure, a ghost, assuming the appearance of the Brahman, entered the house and took charge. As the ghost was exactly like the Brahman, no one doubted his identity. Even neighbours thought that the Brahman had returned from his travels.

  The Brahman's newly married wife took the ghost-Brahman to be her real husband. Taken aback by his return, she only asked the ghost why he had changed his mind and returned so soon. The ghost replied that that day was not a lucky one and that he had already got hold of some money. The mother too did not doubt the identity of the ghost-Brahman.

 

4. What problem did the Brahman face on returning from his travels? What was his initial reaction? What did he decide to do for justice?

Ans. Upon returning from his travels, the Brahman was surprised to find a lookalike of himself in the house. It was actually a ghost who had taken on the form of that Brahman. Both got involved in an altercation. The ghost claimed the rights over everything—the house, his wife and his mother. Saying that the Brahman's head had been turned, the ghost drove the real Brahman away from his own house.

  Initially, the Brahman was surprised to see the ghost-Brahman, who was exactly like him. After being driven away, he became mute with wonder.

  Overcoming his shock, the Brahman decided to go to the court of the king and appeal for justice.

 

5. Why did the Brahman go to the court of the king? What did the king do? Who ultimately solved the problem?

Ans. After some years of travel in distant countries, the Brahman returned home and was utterly surprised to find another like him in his place. He was driven out of his own house. He went to the court of the king to regain his rights.

  The Brahman and the ghost's identical appearance confused the king and he could not decide the quarrel. Every day, he would ask the Brahman to come to the court the next day. But all was in vain. The Brahman returned from the palace weeping and striking his forehead with the palm of his hand daily.

  The neat-herd king ultimately solved the problem.

 

6. How did the neat-herd king solve the case of the Brahman?

Ans. When the Brahman returned home from his travels, he found that another like him had become the owner of the house. He was driven away from his own house. This misfortune made him mute with wonder. He went to the king's court but the king failed to give him justice. One day, while he was returning from the court in tears, he was stopped by a constable and brought to the neat-herd king. The neat-herd king enquired of his misfortune, listened to his problem and assured to give him back his rights. He advised the Brahman to go to the king to seek his permission in favour of the neat-herd king deciding the case. As the case had greatly puzzled the king, he granted permission. The next morning was fixed for the trial. The neat-herd king showed them a phial and told them whichever of them would enter the phial would be declared the rightful owner of the house. The Brahman did not like the process. So, he raised questions regarding the intellectual ability of the neat-herd king. But the ghost made himself into a small creature and entered into the phial. The neat-herd king immediately corked up the phial so that the ghost could not get out. This is how the neat-herd king played the most significant role in establishing the identity of the Brahman and thereby helping him regain his rights. He then advised the Brahman to throw the phial into the bottom of the sea and to take possession of his house, wife and mother. Complying with the advice, the Brahman lived the rest of his life happily.

 

7. What is irony? What role does it play in the development of the story, ‘The Ghost-Brahman’?

Ans. Irony is a contradiction (or incongruity) between appearance (or expectation) and reality. In irony, the actual intent expressed in words carry the opposite meaning. This disparity may be manifested in different ways.

  Irony plays a significant role in moulding every turn and twist of the story. At the beginning of the story, the main character is introduced as a poor Brahman who is not a ‘Kulin’ (i.e. of high rank). This status – poverty and lower social position – made him realize that the most difficult thing in the world is to get married. It is ironic that he manages to collect the money required for getting married by begging. When he reaches his goal and brings his wife home to his mother, he finds it difficult to support the family. It is ironic that the fulfillment of one expectation leads him to the other and he has to go through trials and tribulations as a consequence of his expectations. At a critical juncture of life, the Brahman loses everything in his attempt to gain worldly happiness. In utter helplessness, the Brahman goes to the court of the king for justice but gets no result. It is ironic that solving the identity problem is like a puzzle to the king but an easy deal for the neat-herd king. While the neat-herd king tells both the Brahman and his identical rival that whichever of them would enter into the phial would be declared the rightful owner of the house, the Brahman criticizes the neat-herd king and questions his intellectual power. However, such is the irony of the situation that the Brahman only regains his rights to his house, wife, and mother because of the neat-herd king's intellectual ability. In fact, irony is the soul of this tale.

 

8. How far does the story maintain the basic principles of storytelling?

Ans. The folktale ‘The Ghost-Brahman’ follows the basic principles of storytelling and serves its purpose. It has a simple narrative, typical of storytelling. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. It begins in a fantasy time: “Once on a time there lived...”. The place of the setting is left to the imaginative faculty of the listeners or the readers. In the first part, the tale introduces the setting, the main character and his problem. In the middle, the action of the story takes a new turn with the entry of the ghost-Brahman and becomes complicated with the return of the Brahman from his travels. The situation becomes so puzzling that even the king of the country fails to identify the rightful owner. The whole action rises and reaches its climax in the trial scene when the neat-herd king handles the situation very intelligently and tempts the ghost to enter the phial only to be captured by corking the phial. The story presents the conflict between good and evil and through the victory of good over evil, imparts a moral lesson. The ending of the story is also typical of any folktale: “The Brahman did so, and lived happily for many years and begat sons and daughters”. The end does not end there but incorporates the tradition of the ending of a Bengali folktale:

  Here my story endeth,

  The Natiya-thorn withereth, etc.

   The straightforward narrative, typical setting, introduction of a ghost, arrangement of events in order of time-sequence, representation of the conflict between good and evil, simplicity in dramatic structure and language, typical beginning and happy ending, and lucidity in style and diction make ‘The Ghost-Brahman’ an excellent specimen of folktale.

 

'A Ghostly Wife'

Summary of the Story

'A Ghostly Wife' is a simple tale about the exploits of a ghost, a Sankchinni, who lived on the boughs of a tree on the bank of a tank. One night, a Brahman's wife went to the tank near her house to fetch some water. She accidentally brushed past a she-ghost, who is called a Sankchinni. The she-ghost became very angry with her. So she got hold of the Brahmani, climbed into the tree, and stuffed her into a hole in the tree. There the Brahmani lay almost dead with fear. The Sankchinni then assumed her appearance by wearing the Brahmani's clothes and went into the house of the Brahman. Neither the Brahman nor his mother doubted her. But the next morning, the mother-in-law observed some changes in her daughter-in-law. She was pleased to discover that her previously weak daughter-in-law had now become more active and prompt than ever. However, she was very surprised to find her stretching her arm to bring a vessel from some distance. The mother-in-law reported this to her son and both began to watch her very closely. One day, the mother-in-law was utterly surprised to find that her daughter-in-law was using her foot as fuel for cooking. She told her son what miracle she had seen and both of them identified her as a she-ghost. So they engaged an exorcist ('ojha' in Bangla) to get rid of the ghost. By placing burnt turmeric below her nose, the exorcist first tested if she was a ghost or a woman possessed by a ghost. When she screamed (scritched) and ran away, it became clear that she was one of the two. Gradually, the exorcist managed to find out from the ghost that she had thrust the real Brahmani in the hole of the tree she lived on. The woman was rescued and brought back. The ghost was shoe-beaten and released. Finally, the Brahman and his wife began their happy life and had many children.

 

Descriptive Type Questions

1. What is a 'Sankchinni'? Where did she live? Narrate the events leading to the entry of Sankchinni to the house of the Brahman.

Ans. A 'Sankchinni' is a female ghost of white complexion. They usually stand at the dead of night at the foot of trees. They look like sheets of white cloth. The word 'Sankchinni' comes from the Sanskrit word 'Sankhachurni'. They are the ghosts of married Hindu women who wear bangles made from 'shankha' or conch shells. They live on trees.

In the story 'A Ghostly Wife', the Sankchinni lived on the boughs of a tree. This tree was on the embankment of the tank near a Brahman's house. One night, the Brahman's wife went to the tank and accidentally touched the Sankchinni. Angered by the Brahmani, the she-ghost seized her by the throat, climbed on the tree and thrust her into a hole in the trunk. The woman lay there almost dead with fear. The ghost then wore the clothes of the Brahmani and entered the Brahman's house.

 

2. Who assumed the appearance of the Brahmani in the story 'A Ghostly Wife'? How did she enter the house of the Brahman? In what respect did the ghostly wife differ from the Brahmani?

Ans. In the story 'A Ghostly Wife', a Sankchinni assumed the appearance of the Brahmani.

  One night, the Brahman's wife went to the tank and accidentally brushed past a Sankchinni. As she touched Sankchinni, the she-ghost seized her and put her in a hole of a tree. The woman lay there almost dead with fear. The she-ghost then wore the Brahmani's clothes and entered the Brahman's house.

  The next morning, the mother-in-law found some changes in her daughter-in-law. The hitherto languid and weak woman had become active and prompt. She began to cook and bring everything over in much less time than before. She could stretch her arm quite some distance. But the most astonishing change was that the woman was using her foot as fuel while cooking.

 

3. What activities did the she-ghost do in the house of the Brahman?

Ans. The main charm of the folktale 'A Ghostly Wife' lies in the strange and peculiar activities of the she-ghost. Enraged by the Brahmani, the she-ghost seized her, put her in the hole of the tree, wore the woman's clothes and entered the Brahman's house. There, her promptness in cooking and bringing things from a distance surprised the mother-in-law. She could stretch her arm to bring a thing from the next room or several yards away in a much less time. One day, there was no firewood in the house. But a strange thing happened; the mother-in-law noticed that her daughter-in-law was cooking by thrusting her foot into the oven as fuel. When the 'ojha' placed a piece of burning turmeric under her nose, she screamed aloud and ran away from the room. But under the spell of the ojha, she disclosed, with a strong nasal accent, her identity and what happened to the Brahman's real wife. Finally, she assured solemnly that she would do no further harm to the Brahman and his family.

 

4. Who is called an 'ojha'? What role does he play in the story 'A Ghostly Wife'?

Ans. 'Ojha' is a Bengali word for the exorcist who drives away ghosts from any place or a possessed person. In rural Bengal, the profession of an 'ojha' was held in high esteem because of the superstitious beliefs in ghosts. They may attack anybody, especially married women. An exorcist (exorcist) or 'ojha' is engaged to get rid of Sankchinni.

In 'A Ghostly Wife', the ojha plays the most important role in dissolving the crisis that had overtaken the Brahman and his family. When the activities of the daughter-in-law came under the scanner and her identity was suspected, an ojha was called in. By putting a piece of burning turmeric under her nose and observing her reactions, like screaming and running away, the ojha proved that the daughter-in-law was a ghost or a woman possessed by a ghost. Then the ojha took her under his control and by beating her with slippers, forced her to disclose her identity and what happened to the Brahmani. The Brahmani was brought home. Finally, the ojha released the ghost from his spell and thereby made it possible for the Brahman and his family to live happily thereafter. Thus, the ojha played a vital role in restoring the happiness of the Brahman's family.

 

5. How did the Brahman and his family get released from the sankchinni in 'A Ghostly Wife'?

Ans. 'A Ghostly Wife' is a simple tale about the exploits of a sankchinni and how the Brahman and his family got released from her. The sankchinni assumed the Brahmani's appearance by wearing her clothes. She went into the house of the Brahman. Neither the Brahman nor his mother doubted her appearance. But the next morning, the mother-in-law observed some changes in her daughter-in-law. She was pleased to discover that her weak daughter-in-law had become more active and prompt than before. But she was very much surprised to find her lengthening her arm to bring anything from a distant place. The mother-in-law reported this to her son and both began to watch her very closely. One day, the mother-in-law was utterly surprised to find that her daughter-in-law using her foot as fuel for cooking. She told her son about the miracle she had seen and both of them identified her as a she-ghost. So they engaged an exorcist (ojha in Bangla) to get rid of the she-ghost. By placing burnt turmeric below her nose, the exorcist first wanted to test if she was indeed a ghost. As the lighted turmeric was taken near her, she screamed aloud and ran away from the room. It became clear that she was either a ghost or a woman possessed by a ghost. She refused to disclose anything when she was asked about her identity. So the ojha took up his slippers to beat her. Then, with a nasal accent, she said that she was a sankchinni. Gradually, the exorcist managed to find out from the ghost that she had thrust the real Brahmani into the hole of the tree. The wife was rescued and brought back. The ghost was then released. In this way, the Brahman and his family were released from the sankchinni.

 

 The Man Who Wished To Be Perfect  

Summary of Story

Once there lived a king who had no issue. One day, a mendicant came to the king and told him that he could give the queen a drug for giving birth to twin sons. But he imposed a condition that he would claim one of the twins. The king agreed to the mendicant because he was anxious to have a son to be his successor. So the queen swallowed the drug and in due time gave birth to two sons. As the mendicant did not appear for years, the king and the queen thought the mendicant was dead. The twins learnt a lot and grew up to be handsome youths.

When the princes were sixteen years old, the mendicant came to the palace and demanded one of the princes. Both the king and the queen were at a loss as to what to do. They suffered a struggle within. Each of the princes stated their desire to fulfill the king’s promise. After a great deal of mourning, the elder prince was let go with the mendicant. Before leaving, the prince told his parents and younger brother that so long as the tree he had planted in the courtyard looked green and fresh, he would be all right. But the fading of some parts would indicate his crisis and fading of the whole tree would suggest his death. After embracing all, the elder prince, accompanied by the mendicant, went towards the forest.

On the way, a puppy and a young hawk became the young prince’s companion. At last, they reached the mendicant’s hut. He told the prince to live in the hut and to cull flowers from the forest for his worship. At the same time, the mendicant warned him not to go towards the north because evil might betide him there. After giving the culled flowers to the mendicant at dawn, the prince would roam in the forest with his two companions. The mendicant would go out and return in the evening. The prince would shoot arrows at the deer and enjoy his time.

One day, the prince shot a stag but the wounded animal ran towards the north. The prince, not thinking of the mendicant’s instruction, followed the stag and reached the abode of a young woman of matchless beauty. He admired the lady’s beauty and the lady invited him to play the game of dice with her. As the lady won in two games and the prince lost both his puppy and his young hawk, the prince wanted to play for the third time. Upon winning the third game, the lady caught hold of the prince and put him in a hole covered with a plank. This beautiful lady was actually a Rakshasi who lived upon human flesh. She kept the prince for her next day’s meal.

In the palace of the king, there was a great weeping as the leaves of the tree, planted by the elder prince in the courtyard, were fading. It suggested that the elder prince was in great danger. The younger prince planted another tree to signify his condition and went out to help his brother. On his way, he also met the brother of the puppy and a young hawk, both of whom mistook him for the elder prince and wanted to go with him. With his two companions, the younger prince galloped into the heart of the forest and reached the mendicant’s hut. At sunset, the mendicant returned. He told the prince his assumption that his elder brother, disobeying his warning, had gone to the north and had fallen into the toils of a Rakshasi.

 

Descriptive Type Questions

1. Why, according to the mendicant, was the king anxious? What was the mendicant’s proposal? What was the king’s reaction to the proposal?

Ans. According to the mendicant, the king was anxious because he had no issue, i.e. son, to inherit his wealth and kingdom. The mendicant came to the king with a proposal to solve his present problem. He told the king that he could give the queen a drug to be swallowed for giving birth to twin sons. But he imposed the condition that the king would have to give one of the twins to him and keep the other as his heir. At the mendicant’s proposal, the king was in a dilemma as to what to do. He considered the condition to be somewhat difficult. But as he was anxious to have a son as his successor to bear his name and inherit his wealth and kingdom, he finally agreed to the mendicant’s condition.

 

2. How did the king look upon the condition given by the mendicant? Why did he agree to the mendicant's terms? How effective was the drug?

Ans. In the folk tale 'The Man Who Wished to Be Perfect', the king looked upon the mendicant's condition to be somewhat hard to accept.

  The king had no issue. He was anxious to have a son as his successor to bear his name and inherit his wealth and kingdom. So the king had no other alternative but to agree to the mendicant's terms.

  As suggested by the mendicant, the queen swallowed the drug and in due time, gave birth to twin sons. This proved that the drug was quite effective in bringing out the expected result.

3. Why did the king and queen think that mendicant was dead? How did the princes grow up? What happened when they were sixteen years old?

Ans. When the twin brothers gradually turned five years old and the mendicant still did not come to claim one of them, the king and the queen thought that the old mendicant was dead. They dismissed all apprehension about giving one of the twins to him.

Tutors were engaged for the development of the young princes. They made rapid progress in learning. They also learnt the arts of riding and shooting with a bow. As they grew up to be uncommonly handsome, they were admired by all people.

When the princes were sixteen years old, the mendicant appeared at the king's palace and claimed his share of the twin sons. Both the king and the queen faced dilemma and they were in tremendous conflict within. Finally, the elder prince went with the mendicant.

4. What did the mendicant demand on his second appearance? What was the immediate reaction of the king and the queen on his second coming? How was the demand of the mendicant fulfilled?

Ans. On his second appearance, the mendicant demanded the fulfillment of the king's promise of giving one of the twin sons to him.

The king and the queen were extremely surprised to find the old mendicant still living after a gap of sixteen years and demanding one of the princes. Their hearts were dried up within. They were plunged into the sea of grief as they could not think of being parted with one of them. They were in tremendous inner conflict as to what to do.

In this situation, each of the princes agreed to fulfill the mendicant's demand. Both of them pleaded to keep their father's promise. After a great deal of mourning and lamentation, the elder prince was let go with the mendicant. Thus, the demand of the mendicant was fulfilled.

5. When was the elder prince let go with the mendicant? What did the elder prince do before he left the palace? Why did he do so?

Ans. When the mendicant, on his second appearance, demanded one of the princes, both king and the queen were at a loss. Each of the princes agreed to keep his father's promise. While the younger prince asked the elder one to remain at home as the pride of his father, the elder prince advised the younger one to remain at home as the joy of his mother. After much consideration, the elder prince was let go with the mendicant.

Before leaving the palace, the elder prince planted a tree in the courtyard of the palace. He also kissed and embraced the king, the queen and his brother before parting.

The elder prince planted the tree as his life. The tree would act as an indicator of the condition of the elder prince. Its greenness and freshness would convey the message that the elder prince was well, while the fading of some parts would suggest a crisis in his life and fading of the whole tree would stand for his death.

 

6. Describe the elder prince's experience on his journey to the mendicant's hut. What was the mendicant's advice for the elder prince?

Ans. Taking leave from his parents and brother, the elder prince followed the mendicant. On the way, he saw some dog's whelps on the roadside. One of the whelps, taking its mother's permission, accompanied him. Then he saw a hawk and its young ones. One of them took its mother's permission to go with the handsome prince. The prince was glad to take the young hawk as his companion. They went on, passed through a deep forest and finally reached the mendicant's hut.

The mendicant told the prince to live in that hut with him. There, his main work was to cull flowers from the forest for the mendicant's devotions. The mendicant advised him not to go to the north because evil would catch him there. He also advised him to eat wild fruits and roots of his choice and to drink the water of the brook.

 

7. How was the daily life of the prince in the forest? What did the mendicant do after getting flowers? When did the mendicant return to his cell?

Ans. The prince followed a daily routine of his own. At dawn, he would pluck flowers from the forest for the mendicant's devotions. As the mendicant would go away for the whole day, the prince would enjoy the day as he liked. He would walk about in the forest with his two companions—the puppy and the young hawk. He would also shoot arrows at the deer. Thus, he made the best of his time.

After getting flowers, the mendicant would go away somewhere.

The mendicant would return to his cell after sundown.

 

8. Where did the elder prince reach following the stag he had pierced? What did he find there? How did the elder prince lose his two companions? What happened to him?

Ans. Following the stag he had pierced with an arrow, the elder prince reached a fine-looking house.

In the house, he could not find the stag. Instead, he saw a young woman of incomparable beauty sitting near the door with a dice-table.

The lady invited the prince to play a game of dice with her and the prince gladly agreed to the proposal. The prince lost the first game and had to give her his young hawk following the terms of game. In the second game, the lady won and the prince gave her the puppy. Thus, in the two games, the princes lost his companions.

In the third game, too, the prince lost and she caught hold of the prince following the condition of the game.

 

9. How did the Rakshasi capture the elder prince and his two companions?

Ans. Following the stag he had pierced with an arrow, the elder prince reached a fine-looking house.

In the house, he could not find the stag. Instead, he saw a young woman of incomparable beauty sitting near the door with a dice-table.

The lady invited the prince to play a game of dice with her and the prince gladly agreed to the proposal. The prince lost the first game and had to give her his young hawk following the terms of game. In the second game, the lady won and the prince gave her the puppy. Thus, in the two games, the princes lost his companions.

In the third game, too, the prince lost and she caught hold of the prince following the condition of the game.

 

10. Why was there a great weeping in the royal family? How did the younger prince reach the mendicant's hut? What did the mendicant tell him?

Ans. As the younger prince noticed that some leaves of the tree, which the elder prince planted, were fading, they concluded that the elder prince was in great danger. So there was great weeping in the royal family.

The younger prince set out to help his brother. On the way towards the forest, a puppy, taking him for the elder prince, requested him to take it with him as he had taken with him its fellow-cub. In the same way, he took the young hawk who requested the prince to take it with him. The prince readily agreed and reached the mendicant's hut with his two companions.

The mendicant informed the younger prince that his brother had disobeyed his (the mendicant's) orders and had fallen in the grip of a Rakshasi. The mendicant also assumed that the elder prince might have already been devoured.

 

11. How did the younger prince rescue the elder prince and his companions from the Rakshasi?

Ans. Listening to news of his brother's fate from the mendicant, the younger prince immediately set out towards the north. There, he saw a stag and pierced it with an arrow. Following the wounded stag, the younger prince reached the house of the Rakshasi and saw a woman of exquisite beauty. He recognized the beautiful woman to be the Rakshasi in disguise. She invited the prince to play a game of dice with her. The younger prince agreed to play on the same conditions on which the elder prince had played. In the first two games, she lost and brought to the younger prince the hawk and the puppy. In the third game, too, the prince won but the lady pretended that it was impossible to get one like the younger prince. But as the prince insisted on fulfillment of the condition, the elder prince was produced. Thus the younger prince rescued the elder prince and his companions from the Rakshasi.

 

12. What secret did the Rakshasi disclose to the princes? What did spokesman of the skulls say to the elder prince? What did the elder prince do in the temple later?

Ans. After producing the elder prince upon her defeat, the Rakshasi requested the princes not to kill her. She also disclosed the secret to save the life of the elder prince. She told them that the mendicant was a worshipper of the goddess Kali and his intention was to become perfect by sacrificing the elder prince, as the seventh and last victim, at the altar of Kali.

Following the words of the Rakshasi, they went to the temple of the mendicant and discovered the truth. One of the skulls told the elder prince that the mendicant's devotions would be completed on cutting his head. The skull also told him to request the mendicant to show him how to bow down before Mother Kali so that he could separate the mendicant's head from his body by using his sword. Cutting the mendicant's head would also restore the skulls to life. Thanking the skulls for their advice, the elder prince returned to the hut along with his brother.

When the mendicant asked the prince to bow down before the goddess Kali, the prince, as suggested by the skulls, requested the mendicant to show him how to bow down. As soon as the mendicant prostrated himself before the goddess, the prince separated his head from his body at one stroke and then the two princes returned home.

 

13. What trials did the elder prince undergo in the forest? How did he obtain the virtue of perfection?

Ans. In the forest, the elder prince had to suffer a lot of trouble by disobeying the orders of the mendicant. He had to undergo trails one by one when he reached the Rakshasi's house. He saw a lady of matchless beauty and admired her beauty. She invited him to play the game of dice with her. As the lady won in two games and the prince lost both his puppy and his young hawk, the prince wanted to play for the third time. Upon winning the third game too, the lady caught hold of the prince and put him in a hole covered with a plank. This beautiful lady was actually a Rakshasi who lived upon human flesh. She kept the prince for her next day's meal. The younger prince rescued the elder prince. But there was a further trail waiting for him in the temple of Kali. The mendicant's intention was to sacrifice the elder prince at the altar of goddess Kali. The mendicant's devotions being completed, he told the prince to go along with him to the temple of Kali. The younger prince also went there. Although the mendicant had told the prince nothing about his intention, the elder prince knew that he was brought to the temple to be offered to the goddess.

When the mendicant asked the prince to bow down to the goddess Kali, the prince, as suggested by the skulls, requested the mendicant to show him how to bow down. As soon as the mendicant prostrated himself before the goddess, the prince separated his head from his body with one stroke. Thus the elder prince saved himself and the goddess blessed the prince by rendering the virtue of perfection that the mendicant sought.

 

14. Elucidate the dilemma that the king and the queen face in the tale, 'The Man Who Wished to be Perfect'.

Ans. Dilemma means a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two alternatives. It is an undesirable choice.

In 'The Man Who Wished to be Perfect', the king and the queen faced the dilemma twice. First when the mendicant came to the anxious king with a proposal to solve his problem. He told the king that he could give the queen a drug to be swallowed for giving birth to twin sons. But he imposed the condition that the king would give one of the twins to him and to keep the other as his heir. At the mendicant's proposal, the king was in a dilemma as to what to do. He considered the condition to be somewhat difficult. But he was anxious to have a son who would bear his name and inherit his wealth and kingdom as his successor. That is why he finally agreed to the mendicant's condition.

The king faced another dilemma when the mendicant re-appeared and claimed one of his twins. The king and the queen were in tremendous conflict as to which prince to give away to the mendicant. Finally, the elder prince was let go with the mendicant.

 

15. Who wished to be perfect and how? Who finally achieved the virtue of perfection? How did he achieve this virtue?

Ans. The mendicant, worshipper of goddess Kali, wished to be perfect. He had already sacrificed six human victims at the altar of Kali. The elder prince was the seventh victim to be sacrificed to Mother Kali. By offering the elder prince to the goddess, the mendicant wished to achieve the virtue of perfection.

The elder prince finally achieved the virtue of perfection.

Before going to the temple of goddess Kali, the elder prince came to know about the intention of the mendicant. He also knew the way to save himself. When in the temple, the mendicant asked the elder prince to bow down to the goddess, he requested the mendicant to show him how to do so. While the mendicant was showing him how to bow down, the prince separated his head from his body with a sword. At this, the goddess became propitious to the prince and gave him the virtue of perfection.

 

16. How did the mendicant who wished to be perfect play his role to both the princes? How did the younger brother save the elder one?

Ans. In the folktale 'The Man Who Wished to be Perfect', the elder prince went to the forest with the mendicant. The mendicant never disclosed his real intention behind demanding one of the king's twins. On reaching his thatched hut, the mendicant instructed the elder prince to cull flowers for his devotions and warned him not to go towards the north. He also advised the prince to eat wild fruits or roots and to drink water from the brook. But one day, the prince went northward following the stag he had pierced and reached the house of a Rakshasi. There, he played a game of dice with her. The Rakshasi won the game thrice and captured him. When the younger prince reached the mendicant's cottage in the forest to rescue his brother, he met the mendicant. The mendicant gave him clues and he guessed what had happened to his elder brother.

To save his elder brother, the younger one reached the Rakshasi's house, played similar games and won three times in a row. On winning the third time, he demanded a young man exactly like him. Being compelled, the Rakshasi produced his elder brother. To save her life from the princes, she informed them of the mendicant's intention to sacrifice the elder prince at the altar of the goddess Kali to achieve the virtue of perfection. As advised by the Rakshasi, they went to the temple and learnt from the skulls the way to save the elder prince. Some days later, the mendicant told the prince to accompany him to the temple. The younger prince also followed them. But once there, the mendicant did not allow the younger prince to step inside. Heeding the skull's advice, the elder prince separated the monk's head from his body with one stroke of his sword. In this way, the younger prince saved his elder brother.