CBSE · Class 7 · 📘 English · Chapter 4
The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom
Kindness and generosityGreed and its consequencesLoyalty of petsSupernatural elementsMoral lessons
This chapter is a heartwarming Japanese folktale about an honest and kind old couple, their loyal pet dog, and their greedy, wicked neighbours. It explores themes of kindness, compassion, greed, and the consequences of one's actions. The story highlights how good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds are punished, often through supernatural elements involving the spirit of the dog. Students learn about narrative structure, character analysis, and moral values through this captivating tale.
The Kind Couple and Their Loyal Dog
यह कहानी जापान के पुराने समय की है, जब 'daimios' (क्षेत्रीय शासक) हुआ करते थे। कहानी एक बूढ़े और दयालु किसान और उसकी पत्नी के बारे में है।
- Old Couple ka Nature:
- Bahut hi kind aur loving. Unke koi bacche nahi the.
- Unka ek pet dog tha, jiska naam Muko tha. Wo Muko ko apne bacche ki tarah pyaar karte the.
- Old dame (boodhi aurat) ne Muko ke liye blue crape ka cushion banaya tha.
- Wo Muko ko apne chopsticks se fish ke tukde aur jitna chahie utna boiled rice khilate the.
- Old man ek rice farmer tha. Wo subah se shaam tak khet mein kaam karta tha.
- Wo har jeev ke prati dayaalu tha. Aksar woh khet mein mitti palat deta tha taaki birds ko worms mil sakein.
- Muko ki Loyalty:
- Muko apne masters se bahut pyaar karta tha, jaise usmein bhi ek insaan ki rooh ho.
- Har din woh old man ke saath khet jaata tha.
- Usne kabhi bhi white heron ko nuksaan nahi pahunchaya, jo old man ke piche-piche worms pick karne aata tha.
- Initial Setting ka Importance:
- Yeh setting kahani ke main theme (kindness rewards, greed punishes) ke liye base banati hai.
- Old couple ki simplicity aur goodness ko highlight karti hai.
Important
Kahani Japanese folklore par based hai, jismein moral values aur supernatural elements ka blend hota hai.
Muko's Gift: The Discovery of Gold
Ek din, khet mein kaam karte hue, Muko ne old man ko ek jagah par baar-baar ishara kiya.
- Muko ka Behavior:
- Muko old man ke paas daud kar aaya, apne panje uske pairon par rakhe aur sar se piche ki taraf ishara kiya.
- Pehle toh old man ko laga ki Muko khel raha hai.
- Lekin Muko lagaataar whine karta raha aur idhar-udhar daudta raha, jo uske urgency ko dikhata hai.
- Treasure ki Discovery:
- Old man ne Muko ka picha kiya. Muko ne ek jagah par lively scratching shuru kar di.
- Old man ko laga shayad wahan koi haddi ya fish ka tukda daba hoga.
- Jaise hi usne apna hoe (kudali) zameen mein maara, ek chamakta hua sone ka dher (pile of gold) mila.
- Old Couple ka Reaction:
- Ek ghante ke andar hi old couple rich ho gaye.
- Unhone zameen kharidi, dosto ke liye feast (daawat) rakhi, aur apne gareeb padosiyon ko khoob daan diya.
- Muko ko unhone itna pyaar kiya ki woh lagbhag usse smother (pyaar se ghutna) kar rahe the.
- Key Takeaway:
- Yeh incident dikhata hai ki kindness aur good deeds ka phal milta hai. Muko ki loyalty aur old couple ki daya ka yeh pehla reward tha.
Tip
Is section se questions aa sakte hain ki old couple ne treasure milne ke baad kya kiya. Unki generosity ko highlight karna zaroori hai.
The Greedy Neighbours and Muko's Fate
Usi gaon mein ek dusra couple bhi rehta tha, jo bahut hi wicked (dusht) aur greedy (lalchi) the.
- Greedy Neighbours ka Nature:
- Wo bilkul bhi sensitive aur kind nahi the.
- Wo hamesha dogs ko kick karte aur scold karte the jab bhi koi unke ghar ke paas se guzarta tha.
- Unhe old couple ki good luck ke baare mein pata chala.
- Muko ko Lure karna:
- Unhone Muko ko apne garden mein bulaya (coaxed) aur uske saamne fish ke tukde aur doosri tasty cheezein rakhi.
- Unhe umeed thi ki Muko unke liye bhi treasure dhundega.
- Lekin Muko un cruel pair se dara hua tha, usne na kuch khaya na move kiya.
- Muko ki Tragic Death:
- Frustrated hokar, unhone Muko ko bahar ghaseeta, apne saath spade (phaawda) aur hoe (kudali) lekar.
- Muko ek pine tree ke paas pahuncha aur zameen ko paw aur scratch karne laga, jaise wahan koi treasure ho.
- Greedy old man khushi se naachne laga, sochkar ki ab usse bhi sona milega.
- Unhone khodna shuru kiya, lekin unhe sirf ek dead kitten mili, jiski badboo se unhone apne tools gira diye aur naak band kar li.
- Muko par gussa hokar, old man ne usse kick kiya aur maar-maar kar maar dala.
- Old woman ne uske sar ko hoe se kaat kar 'finish off' kar diya.
- Unhone Muko ko usi hole mein phenk diya aur mitti daal di.
- Old Couple ka Grief:
- Muko ke owners ko uski maut ki khabar mili.
- Wo uske liye aise roye jaise unka apna baccha mar gaya ho.
- Raat mein, old man us pine tree ke niche gaya, jahan Muko ko dafnaya gaya tha.
- Usne wahan bamboo tubes lagaye (jaise tombs ke saamne lagate hain), unmein fresh flowers rakhe.
- Usne ek cup paani aur tray of food bhi rakha aur costly incense sticks jalayi.
- Usne bahut der tak Muko ke liye mourn kiya, usse pyaar bhare naamo se pukara, jaise woh zinda ho.
- Moral Contrast:
- Yeh section kindness aur cruelty ke beech ka stark contrast dikhata hai.
- Greedy neighbours ki actions unke evil nature ko reveal karti hain.
Misconception
Students aksar Muko ki death ke baad old couple ke actions ko bhool jaate hain. Unka grief aur rituals perform karna unki deep love aur respect ko dikhata hai.
The Magic Mortar and Mill
Muko ki death ke baad bhi, uski spirit apne masters ki help karti rahi.
- Dog-Spirit ka Dream:
- Usi raat, dog ki spirit old man ke sapne mein aayi.
- Usne kaha, "Meri qabar ke upar jo pine tree hai, usse kaat do."
- "Usse ek mortar (rice pastry ke liye) aur ek mill (bean sauce ke liye) banao."
- Mortar aur Mill ka Construction:
- Old man ne tree kaata aur trunk ke beech se do feet lamba section nikala.
- Usne bahut mehnat se, aag aur chisel ki madad se, ek hollow place banayi jo ek small bowl jitni badi thi (mortar).
- Usne ek long-handled wooden hammer bhi banaya, jo rice pound karne ke liye use hota hai.
- Magic in Action:
- New Year ke time, old couple ne rice pastry banane ka socha.
- Granny ne boiled rice mortar mein daala, aur old man ne hammer se usse pound karna shuru kiya.
- Suddenly, poora mass sone ke sikkon ke dher mein badal gaya.
- Jab old woman ne hand-mill mein beans daal kar grind karna shuru kiya, toh sona baarish ki tarah girne laga.
- Greedy Neighbours ki Envy:
- Envious neighbour (lalchi padosi) ne khidki se jhaank kar yeh sab dekha.
- Old hag (boodhi chudail) chillayi, jab usne dekha ki har sauce ki boond yellow gold mein badal rahi hai.
- Kuch hi minutes mein, mill ke niche ka tub sona se bhar gaya.
- Greedy Neighbours ka Attempt:
- Next day, stingy (kanjoos) aur wicked neighbour ne mortar aur magic mill udhaar maange.
- Unhone ek mein boiled rice aur doosre mein beans daale.
- Old man ne pound karna shuru kiya aur aurat ne grind karna.
- Lekin pehle hi blow aur turn par, pastry aur sauce foul mass of worms (keedon ka ganda dher) mein badal gaye.
- Isse aur zyada gussa hokar, unhone mill ko tukdo mein kaat diya, jisse woh firewood ki tarah use kar sakein.
- Symbolism:
- Mortar aur mill ka magic goodness aur purity ko represent karta hai.
- Greedy neighbours ke haath mein uska worms mein badal jaana unke evil intentions aur impure hearts ko symbolise karta hai.
Remember
Dog-spirit ki instructions hamesha old couple ke liye blessings laati hain, jabki greedy neighbours ke liye disaster.
The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom
Mill ko todne ke baad bhi, dog-spirit ki madad jaari rahi.
- Dog-Spirit ka Dusra Dream:
- Good old man ko phir se sapna aaya.
- Dog-spirit ne bataya ki wicked people ne mill ko jala diya hai.
- Usne kaha, "Mill ki raakh le lo, use sukhe pedon par chhidko, aur woh phir se khil uthenge."
- Ashes ki Discovery:
- Old man jaaga aur turant apne wicked neighbour ke ghar gaya.
- Unhone dekha ki woh miserable couple apne fireplace ke paas baithe hain, smoking aur spinning kar rahe hain.
- Wo mill ke tukdon se aag sek rahe the, aur unke piche broken pieces ka dher pada tha.
- Old man ne humbly (vinamrata se) raakh maangi.
- Covetous couple ne usse chor ki tarah scold kiya, lekin phir bhi use apni basket raakh se bharne di.
- Magic of Ashes:
- Ghar aakar, old man apni wife ke saath garden mein gaya.
- Winter ka time tha, unka favourite cherry tree bilkul sookha hua tha (bare).
- Usne ek chutki raakh us par chhidki, aur turant hi woh gulabi phoolon se bhar gaya, jiski khushboo se hawa mehak uthi.
- Yeh khabar poore gaon mein phail gayi, aur sab log is wonder ko dekhne daud pade.
- Greedy Couple ka Copycat Attempt:
- Covetous couple ne bhi yeh kahani suni.
- Unhone bachi hui raakh ikatthi ki, taaki woh bhi sukhe pedon ko khila sakein.
- Symbolism of Ashes:
- Raakh, jo ki kisi cheez ke khatm hone ka prateek hai, yahan nayi zindagi aur umeed ka symbol ban jaati hai.
- Yeh dikhata hai ki goodness mein kitni power hoti hai, jo destruction ko bhi creation mein badal sakti hai.
Tip
Yeh part kahani ka climax hai. Daimio ke saamne raakh ka magic perform karna aur uske baad ke events bahut important hain.
Justice Served: The Daimio's Reward and Punishment
Old man ki fame Daimio tak pahunchi, aur greedy neighbour ko uski karmo ka phal mila.
- Daimio se Milna:
- Kind old man ko pata chala ki Daimio gaon ke paas se guzarne wala hai.
- Wo apni basket mein raakh lekar Daimio ko dekhne nikal pada.
- Usne ek sookhe hue cherry tree par chadh gaya jo raaste ke kinaare tha.
- Daimio ke Samne ka Custom:
- Daimios ke zamane mein, jab Daimio guzarta tha, toh sab log apni khidkiyan band kar lete the.
- Wo unhe kagaz se chipka dete the, taaki unki lordship par upar se dekhne ki gustakhi na ho.
- Sab log raaste par ghutno ke bal jhuk jaate the aur tab tak prostrate (dandvat) rehte the jab tak procession guzar na jaaye.
- Old Man ka Magic:
- Daimio ka train paas aaya. Ek tall man chillaya, "Get down on your knees!"
- Sab log jhuk gaye.
- Leader ne old man ko ped par dekha, gusse mein tha, lekin uski umar dekh kar ignore kar diya.
- Jab Daimio ki palanquin (palki) paas aayi, old man ne apni basket se ek chutki raakh li aur ped par chhidak di.
- Ek pal mein, ped phoolon se khil utha.
- Daimio ka Reward:
- Delighted Daimio ne train rokne ka order diya aur wonder dekhne ke liye bahar nikla.
- Usne old man ko bulaya, usse thank kiya aur silk robes, sponge-cake, fans aur doosre rewards dene ka order diya.
- Usne old man ko apne castle mein bhi invite kiya.
- Old man khushi-khushi ghar gaya apni wife ke saath khushi share karne.
- Greedy Neighbour ka Punishment:
- Greedy neighbour ko yeh sab pata chala.
- Usne bhi magic ashes li aur highway par gaya.
- Usne Daimio ke train ka intezaar kiya aur bheed ki tarah ghutno ke bal jhukne ki bajaye, woh bhi ek sookhe cherry tree par chadh gaya.
- Jab Daimio uske bilkul niche tha, usne mutthi bhar raakh ped par phenki.
- Lekin ped par koi asar nahi hua. Hawa ne woh raakh Daimio aur uski wife ki naak aur aankhon mein uda di.
- Sabko chheenk aur khansi aane lagi. Isse procession ki poori shaan aur dignity kharab ho gayi.
- Us man ne, jiska kaam tha "Get down on your knees" chillana, us old fool ko collar se pakda, ped se ghaseeta, aur uski ash-basket ke saath road ke kinaare ditch (naali) mein phenk diya.
- Usse khoob peeta gaya aur marne ke liye chhod diya gaya.
- Conclusion:
- Wicked old man keechad mein mar gaya.
- Kind friend of the dog (old man) shaanti aur khushhaali mein raha, aur usne aur uski wife ne lambi umar payi.
- Yeh kahani ka moral hai: Goodness is rewarded, and greed is punished.
Important
Daimio ka reaction old man aur greedy neighbour ke actions ke beech ke difference ko highlight karta hai. Old man ka motive respect aur wonder create karna tha, jabki greedy neighbour ka motive sirf reward paana tha.
