Find out more and teU. a story from one of the epics.
We have a number of stories in our epics which inspire us in many ways. They guide us and teach us the ideals of life. Such epics are the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
In the Mahabharata, we have one such story. The battle was finalised between Kauravas and Pandavas. Both the parties were making efforts’ to win the favour of their relatives and other king. Krishna who was related to both was considered as a super man, possessing the qualities of gods. So, Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas approached him. On the same day Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas, also went to Krishna. Duryodhana was a proud fellow. He sat on the head-side of Krishna who was sleeping at that time. Arjuna, a humble fellow, reached there after Duryodhana. But he sat at the feet side of Krishna and began pressing his feet. As Krishna opened his eyes, he saw Aijuna. Krishna had already promised them that he would be from the side of the man who would reach him first. As krishna saw Arjuna first he said that he would be in favour of Arjuna. Duryodhana opposed it because he had reached there first. Krishna said that those who want to get something from anyone then should be humble and courteous. Here, Duryodhana lost Krishna. We learn from this story that we should not show our arrogance to those from whom we ask for something.
Read the story on page 130. In what ways in the monkey king similar to or different from the kings you read about in Chapters 6 and 11?
State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).
(i) Most temples of this period had a hall like structure known as the mandapa.
(ii) Mahabalipuram and Aihole are known for the finest stone temples.
(iii) Merchant and farmers usually decided to build stupas and temples during this period.
(iv) The Tamil epic the Silappadikaram was composed by a poet named Ilango.
(v) Meghaduta is a famous poem compsed by Tulsidas.
(vi) Women and Shudras could hear the stories of the Puranas.
(vii) It was Ravana who abducted Rama's wife Sita.
(viii) The Jatakas and the Panchatantra are collections of stories told by birds and animals.
(ix) Aryabhatta was a famous story-letter.
(x)The Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Ramayana.
Describe the two Sanskrit epics the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Or Why are the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana so popular even today?
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.
(i) The ………. at Aihole was built about 1400 years ago
(ii)The small box placed at the centre of the stupa contains bodily remains of the and his followers.
(iii)The……. were recited in temples by priests and people came to listen to them.
(iv) Both the……….. and the…………. are supposed to have been composed by Vyasa.
(v)developed a scientific explanation for eclipses.