English Threads
Let's Recall and Answer
A. Complete the summary of
the story.
Once Swami Vivekanand was at
a railway station in Rajasthan. People gathered around him and asked
many questions. Swamiji was tireless in answering them. He spoke
for three days and three nights. On the third night, a
poor man came to him and seemed concerned that Swamiji hadn't eaten or
had water. Swamiji asked him to get him rotis. But the poor man was a cobbler
by profession, and he was hesitant to give Swamiji food that he had made.
But Swamiji insisted on having food that the poor man has prepared. And while
Swamiji was eating the rotis, some gentlemen saw it and they were
annoyed. But Swamiji told the men that he could not overlook the humanity
that the poor man displayed.
B. Answer these questions.
1. How did people keep
Swamiji engaged for three days and nights? Ans: People kept Swamiji engaged for three
days and nights by asking him many questions.
2. What did the poor man
notice? Ans:
The poor man noticed that Swamiji had been talking relentlessly for three days
and had not taken even a single drop of water.
3. What did Swamiji feel
that for him in three days? Ans: Swamiji felt that he had not eaten or drunk anything in three days.
4. What did the poor man
think as he went back home? Ans: As the poor man went back home, he thought that
he could not leave Swamiji in that state. His eagerness to serve a monk
overpowered his fear.
5. After the selfless
service of the cobbler, what did Swamiji think to himself? Ans: After the
selfless service of the cobbler, Swamiji thought to himself that there were so
many people, just like the selfless cobbler, who were living in the small huts
of the country unnoticed. These people were materially poor and of so-called
humble origin, yet they were noble and large-hearted.
6. What was the main
difference between the poor cobbler and the other disciples of Swami
Vivekananda? How did they reveal their true nature to Swamiji? Ans: The other
disciples made Swami Vivekananda talk without respite for three days and did
not care if he had eaten or taken rest. On the other hand, it pained the poor
cobbler very much that Swamiji had not taken any food or water in the last
three days. When Swamiji asked him to bring him food, he was scared of being
punished by the king. However, his eagerness to serve Swamiji won over his
fear.
The true nature of the
gentlemen was revealed when they objected to Swamiji eating the food made by
the poor cobbler. They condemned the cobbler for his caste, completely ignoring
his humanity. This was the main difference.
