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Vinoba told the apathetic landlords that violence and horror would sweep the country if the peasants didnot get their rights. With all his ascetism, Vinoba had resisted pride of poverty. He had never urged anyone else to follow his way of life. As regards the work he said that he was confident that he would succeed in his work. He was not worried of the result of his work. His attitude towards work was that one should do the work without aspiring for the result. The duty of fire is to burn. It does not care whether any one puts a pot on it, fills it with water and puts rice in it to make a meal. Vinoba shunned publicity. Gandhiji's assassination brought him to limelight. He rarely spoke of Gandhiji in public. He had his own dignity, emphasis and methods. He was always reserved. He spoke in simple and unsophisticated language. So, the westerners found Vinoba less approachable than Gandhiji. The author expresses the point of view that Vinoba's faith in his principles and his acetic way of life are relevant not only to our countrymen but also to the rest of modern world. 66. Glimpse=quick look, brief view, glance 67. utter=to say, to speak, to talk 68. Indulge=take pleasure freely, engage in a work 69. Awe-struck=puzzled, amazed, wondered 70. prospect=expectation, extensive view, chance 71. Literally= closely, exactly, word for word 72. Out do=beat, defeat, exceed, excel 73. Lumber=to move heavily and nosily 74. Indulge=take pleasure freely, engage in a work

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Important Questions & Answers

1) How did vinobha appeal to land lords? Did he appeal for charity or for a rightful share? A. Vinobha male an earnest appeal to the land lords. The appeal was to treat him as their fifth son and give him his share just as they would, if a fifth son was born. His appeal was for a rightful share 2) How did vinobha win over land lords? In what sense are the land lords lucky? A. Vinbha approached the land lords in a spirit of loving conciliation. In this way vinobha won over the landlords. It's more blessed to give than to receive. The land lords are giving the land and ennobled so, the land lords are lucky. 3. Was vinobha confident that his work would succeed. Did he worry about the result of his work? or Why was vinobha not Worried about his work? A. Vinobha was confident that his work would succeed. He was not worrying about the result of his work. He replied to the question about the success of his work that fire merely burns and it doesn't care Whether anyone puts a pot on it, fill it with water and puts rice in it to make a meal. To burn is the limit of its duty. 4. What were the things that vinobha renounced? Which one of them do you think is his greatest sacrfice? A. Vinobha renounced all material things and comforts. He possessed only a spinning wheel and a few home spun clothes. Vinobha burnt away all his certificates and vowed to wear no more than one garment at a time. Although his mother died he did not attend the funerals to disapprove the caste system. I think this was his gratest sacrifice. 5. The author says, ''India honours one thing above all. What is it?What example of this does the author give? Why does the author say. ''Vinobha reversed the process. (or) ''Vinobha reversed the process''. What is the process the author is talking about? How has vinobha reversed this process? A. India honours one thing above all: Renunciation - Giving up of all worldly possessions and leading on austere life. Renunciation is an idea, that finds its echo in every Hindu heart. At a certain age even industrial tycoons throw up every thing and retire to die in a mud hut by the ganges. Vinobha has reversed the process by coming out of retirement to serve the poor and the landless at the age of 57 years when most people think of retirement. 6) Like a candle lit at a neighboring flame he now burns with a steady and separate light? Who is the flame? Who is the candle? Do you think the comparison is appropriate? A. The flame was vinobha and the candle was Gandhiji. Gandhiji's influence on vinobha was great. People said that vinobha was the spiritual heir of Gandhiji. Gandhiji's assassination made vinobha to come out of his retirement. But vinobha rarely speaks of Gandhiji in public. He had his own dignity. emphasis and methods. So the comparison. ''like a candle lit at a neighboring flame. He now burns with a steady and separate light.'' Is quite appropriate. 7) In what way vinobha's message is relevent to the rest of the modern world? A. The author feels that the 20the century may be rich in jet aeroplanes but is poor in saints. Progress is not progress if does not bring about corresponding inner change. This is vinobha's reminder to us in an effective way. What he says here is relevant to the rest of the world. He sees god in his fellow men as they are the images of god.

Upaguptha was the disciple of 'Gouthama Budha' and was wandering in the country to spread 'Budhism'. Once when Upaguptha was lying on the dust in Mathura a dancing girl, who was drunk, touched him with her feet. He was startled and woke up. the dancing girl saw the beautiful face of upguptha and invited him to her home. As she invited with ill intention, Upaguptha declined the invitation and said that he would come to her at right time. After some months one day all the people of Mathura went to woods to celebrate the festival of flowers. When Upaguptha was walking through the city gate. She saw a woman who was driven out of the town because she was stricken with a dreadful disease. The woman was none other than the dancing girl. Upaguptha sat by her side and took care of her. When the woman asked who he was, Upaguptha replied that the time had come to visit her and he had come to her.

Meanings
1. Disciple=follower or pupil 2. Murky=dark and unpleasant 3. Anklet=ornament worn round the ankle 4. Graciously=mercifully, kindly, cordially 5. Ripe=suitable apt 6. Growl=make a loud sound of a murmur 7. Blossom=flowers 8. Mantle=loose sleeveless outer garment 9. Gay=lively, merry, happy 10. plaint=expression of sorrow 11. Rampart=city wall 12. Moisten= make wet 13. Smear=mark with a greasy paste apply a balm(ointment) 14. Forgiving=generous, kind, tolerant, understanding 15. Starred=attractive, appear as a leading performer 16. clouded=cover or darken with clouds, gloomy, dark 17. sores=marks, spot, wounds

Meanings
1. Trudge = walk steadily, walk with effort 2. Ascetic = saint, holy man 3. Agitator = a person who incites others to revolt 4. Seclusion = loneliness, away from others 5. Perishing = very severe 6. Undeterred = not discouraged, not prevented 7. Battered = damaged, beaten out of shape 8. Frail = weak, fragile, delicated, in weak health 9. Recluse = a person lives away from others, solitary 10. Austere=simple and plain 11. Obscure=unknown, unnoticed 12. Awe-struck=puzzled, amazed, wondered 13. Work a day=ordinary and dull 14. Renunciation=giving up all worldly possessions 15. Industrial tycoon=a great industrialist or business man 16. Emerge=come out, spring 17. Salvation=freedom from the bondage of life and death 18. Trod=walked, moved, step, trample 19. Veneration=great respect, adoration, worshipping 20. Conciliation=removing anger and distrust 21. Recipient=Receiver 22. Tender=delicate, gentle 23. Susceptibilities=sensitive or tender parts of a person's nature 24. Sop=to pacify, to satisfy, reduce anger 25. Fleece=stripe of property or money 26. Denunciation=public condemnation, blaming 27. Creed=Belief or opinion 28. Swerve=go in changed direction, move from right path 29. pyre=flame to burn dead body 30. Orthodox=traditional, conventional 31. Condiment=relish for food 32. subtle=difficult to understand or notice 33. Serenity=calmness, peace, quietude 34. Spindle=slender rod used in spinning 35. Spartan=hard because of extreme simplicity 36. Sparse=very little 37. Apathetic=indifferent, lacking interest, inactivity 38. Votive=Offered in fullfillment of vow 39. Grave=serivous, calm, critical 40. Endorses=write on the back of a document 41. Evangelical= religious 42. Fervor=strong, warm feeling, passion, Zeal 43. Squat=sit on knees 44. Canalize=give the desired direction 45 Emaciated=thin and weak, become frail 46. Caesar=an emperor, monarch 47. Shuns=avoids, disdain 48. Tick off=scold 49. paralyse=make people unable to think 50. Mantle =loose sleeveless outer garment 51. Embodiment=pride, symbol, model 52. Remote =far away, distant, out of reach 53. jaded=worn out, dull by excess 54. squat=sit on knees 55. Conjure up= to cause to be remembered, produce 56. Tranquility=peace, calmness 57. Corresponding=mutual, correlative 58. Summon=call, order to attend 59. portrait =picture drawn by hand, sketch 60. Imaginations=feelings/sentiments 61. Regain= get back 62. Chronic= recurring, long lasting, continuing 63. Conscience=a moral sense of right and wrong 64. Deserve= to be worthy of 65. Reluctantly=un willingly, unenthusiastically

Important Questions & Answers

1) What did the dancing girl ask the ascetic to do? Why do you think he declined her invitation? What did he promise her?Did he keep his promise? A. The dancing girl asked the ascetic to come to her house because the dusty earth on which the ascetic was lying was not a fit bed for him. As she invited him with ill motive he declined her invitation. He promised her that he would come to her when the ripe time came. He kept his promised by sevring her when she was striken with a deadful disease and driven away out of the town. 2) 'Woman, go on your way'. Do you think your way has any special meanings? What was her way? What was his? A. 'Your way has a special meaning. Your way refers to the dancing girl's way of living. She lives by enjoying the worldly pleasures. Her way was a worldly way. But upagupta, being a saint, dislikes enjoying the worldly possessions and pleasures. He lived so simply. His way was spiritual. 3) 'Who are you, merciful one'.?asked the woman. Who is asking this quesion? How did he show mercy? A. The dancing girl is asking this question. Upagupta is the merciful one. The dancing girl was stricken with a dreadful disease and driven away out of the town, Upagupta went to her and served her. 4) 'The time has atlast come to visit you, and I am here'. Who is I in the poem? Who is you? In what sense has the time come? A. The 'I' in the poem is Upagupta. The young acetic. 'You' in the poem is the dancing girl. When they first met the dancing girl induced upagupta to go to her house. But Upagupta refused her invitation and told her to go on her way. He also said that he would come to her when the ripe time came. Now she was stricken with a dreadful disease and driven away from the town. This was the ripe time for the ascetic to go to her. An ascetic would not seek earthly pleasures. He would soothe the sorrowful and uplift the sinners. Now he came to her to comfort her.

Poem-4

Upaguptha
Summary

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The poem 'Upguptha' was written by 'Rabindranath Tagore'.