Introduction: The Sermon at Benares - Class 10 PDF Download

About the Author- Betty Crenshaw
Betty Crenshaw – A Short Biography

About the Author 

Betty Renstaw’s was an American writer. She was born in October. 2, 1921 in the  Renstaw family. She died on April 30, 1999, at the age of 77.

INTRODUCTION

gautama Buddha was born in 563 B.C. He was a philosophical fellow even in his childhood. He was sent for schooling at the age of twelve. He was married at the age of sixteen. They had a son. When he was twenty-five years old, one day when he was going for hunting he caught sight of a sick man, an aged man, a dead man’s funeral procession and a monk. He realised that this world is a home of sufferings. He left home in search of wisdom. He wandered for seven years and got enlightenment.

The theme of the Story

‘Sermon At Benares’ is the story of an unfortunate woman Kisa Gotami. She had lost her only one. In her grief, she carried the dead body of her son from one place to another. In the end, she came to Lord Buddha. She needed the medicine that could cure her son. The Buddha asked her to bring him a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had lost a child, husband, parent or friend. Kisa Gotami didn’t find a house where some beloved one had not died in it. She thought to herself that it was the fate of mankind. Death was inevitable. Nobody can avoid dying. The world is afflicted with death and decay. The wise don’t grieve. `He who has overcome all soon will become free from sorrow, and be blessed.

WORD-MEANINGS

Sacred = pious (पवित्र); sculptures = religious books (धार्मिक पुस्तकें); befitted = suited (उचित था); royalty = kingly family (शाही परिवार); heretofore = till then (तब तक); shielded = protected (रक्षा की); chanced-upon = saw by chance (संयोग से देखा); funeral procession = procession of a dead body for cremation (शव – यात्रा); monk= mendicant (भिक्षु); alms = beggings (भिक्षा)l; enlightenment = spiritual knowledge (आध्यात्मिक ज्ञान); witnessed = saw (देखा) ; vowed = swore (कसम खाई)
Preached = gave sermons (उपदेश दिया); sermon = preaching (उपदेश); dipping /paces=place where people take bath (नहाने के स्थान); preserved = protected (रक्षा  की); reflects = shows (दिखाना)inscrutable = mysterious (रहस्य पूर्ण); at length = in the end (अंत में); physician = doctor (डॉक्टर); repaired=(here) went (गया); mustard-seed = an oil seed (सरसों); procure = get (प्राप्त करना); grief = sorrow (दुःख); weary = tired (थक गई); hopeless = in despair (दुःख में); flickered up = shone (चमका); extinguished = put out (बुझ गया); desolation = deep sorrow (गहरा दुःख); immortality = deathlessness (अमरत्व); surrendered = submitted (हार मान लेना /समर्पण करना); mortals = human beings (नश्वर)
Earthen vessels = pot made of baked clay (मिट्टी का बर्तन); potter = one who makes pots (कुम्हार); overcome = controlled by (नियंत्रित होना); depart = go away (चले जाना); kinsmen = relatives (रिश्तेदार); mark = look (देखना); lamenting = grieving (अफ़सोस करना); slaughter = killing (वध करना); afflicted with = affected by (पीड़ित होना); decay = rotting/degeneration (गलत /पतन होना); pale = yellow (पीला); composed = controlled (शांत); blessed = the one who gets blessing (जिसे आशीर्वाद मिला हो)