Class-6 Supplementary Reader (A Pact With the Sun) Chapter-5, Tansen, Additional Exercises with Solutions / NCERT/CBSE

 

Tansen

तानसेन

 

 

YOU may have heard the name of Tansen — the greatest musician our country has produced.

हमारे देश के महानतम संगीतकार- तानसेन का नाम आपने सुना होगा।

 

A singer called Mukandan Misra and his wife lived in Behat near Gwalior. Tansen was their only child. It is said that he was a naughty child. Often, he ran away to play in the forest, and soon learnt to imitate perfectly the calls of birds and animals.

मुकंदन मिश्रा नामक एक गायक और उनकी पत्नी ग्वालियर के पास बेहट में रहते थे। तानसेन उनकी इकलौती संतान थे। कहा जाता है कि वह एक शरारती बच्चा था। अक्सर, वह जंगल में खेलने के लिए भाग जाता था, और जल्द ही उसने पक्षियों और जानवरों की आवाज़ों की पूरी तरह से नकल करना सीख लिया।

 

A famous singer named Swami Haridas was once travelling through  the forest  with his disciples.   Tired, the group settled down to rest in a shady grove. Tansen saw them.

स्वामी हरिदास नाम का एक प्रसिद्ध गायक एक बार अपने शिष्यों के साथ यात्रा करते हुए जंगल से गुजरे। थका हुआ यह समूह एक छायादार स्थान पर आराम करने के लिए ठहर। तानसेन ने उन्हें देखा।

 

‘Strangers in the forest!’ he said to himself. ‘It will be fun to frighten them’. He hid behind a tree and roared like a tiger. The little group of travellers scattered in fear but Swami Haridas called them together. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Tigers are not always dangerous. Let us look for this one.”

'जंगल में अजनबी!' उसने खुद से कहा। 'उन्हें डराने में मजा आएगा'। वह एक पेड़ के पीछे छिप गया और बाघ की तरह दहाड़ने लगा। यात्रियों का छोटा समूह डर के मारे तितर-बितर हो गया लेकिन स्वामी हरिदास ने उन्हें एक साथ बुलाया। "डरो मत," उन्होंने कहा। “बाघ हमेशा खतरनाक नहीं होते। आइए इसकी तलाश करें। ”

 

Suddenly, one of his men saw a small boy hiding behind a tree. “There are no tigers here, master,” he said. “Only this naughty boy.”

अचानक, उनके एक आदमी ने एक छोटे लड़के को एक पेड़ के पीछे छिपा हुआ देखा। "यहाँ कोई बाघ नहीं हैं, स्वामी," उन्होंने कहा। "केवल यह शरारती लड़का है ।"

 

Swami Haridas did not punish him. He went to Tansen’s father and said, “Your son is very naughty. He is also very talented. I think I can make him a good singer.”

स्वामी हरिदास ने उसे दंड नहीं दिया। वह तानसेन के पिता के पास गया और कहा, "तुम्हारा पुत्र बहुत शरारती है। वह बहुत प्रतिभाशाली भी हैं। मुझे लगता है कि मैं उसे एक अच्छा गायक बना सकता हूँ।"

 

Tansen was ten years old when he went away with Swami Haridas. He lived with him for eleven years, learning music, and became a great singer. At about this time, his parents died. Mukandan Misra’s dying wish was that Tansen should visit Mohammad Ghaus of Gwalior. Mohammad Ghaus was a holy man. Mukandan Misra had long been devoted to him, and often visited him. While living in Gwalior with Mohammed Ghaus, Tansen was often taken to the court of Rani Mrignaini, who was a great musician herself. There he met and married one of the ladies of the court. Her name was Hussaini.

तानसेन दस वर्ष की आयु में स्वामी हरिदास के साथ चले गए। वह ग्यारह साल तक उनके साथ रहा, संगीत सीखा और एक महान गायक बन गया। इसी समय उसके माता-पिता की मृत्यु हो गई। मुकंदन मिश्रा की अंतिम इच्छा थी कि तानसेन ग्वालियर के मोहम्मद गौस से मिलें। मोहम्मद गौस एक धार्मिक व्यक्ति थे। मुकंदन मिश्रा लंबे समय से उनके प्रति समर्पित थे, और अक्सर उनसे मिलने आते थे। मोहम्मद गौस के साथ ग्वालियर में रहने के दौरान, तानसेन को अक्सर रानी मृगनयनी के दरबार में ले जाया जाता था, जो खुद एक महान संगीतकार थीं। वहां उसकी मुलाकात दरबार की एक महिला से हुई और उन्होने उससे शादी कर ली। उसका नाम हुसैनी था।

 

Hussaini also became Swami Haridas’s disciple. Tansen and Hussaini had five children who were all very musical.

हुसैनी भी स्वामी हरिदास के शिष्या बनीं। तानसेन और हुसैनी के पाँच बच्चे थे जिनका संगीत के प्रति बहुत अधिक रुझान था|  

 

Tansen had, by this time, become very famous. Sometimes he sang before Emperor Akbar, who was so impressed by him that he insisted Tansen should join his court.

तानसेन इस समय तक बहुत प्रसिद्ध हो चुके थे। एक बार उन्होंने सम्राट अकबर के सामने गाया, जो उनसे इतने प्रभावित हुए कि उन्होंने इस बात पर ज़ोर दिया कि तानसेन को उनके दरबार में शामिल होना चाहिए।

 

Tansen went to Akbar’s court in 1556, and soon became a great favourite of the Emperor. Akbar would call upon Tansen to sing at any time during the day or night. Quite often he would just walk into Tansen’s house to hear him practise. He also gave him many presents. Some of the courtiers became jealous of Tansen. “We shall never be able to rest till Tansen is ruined,” they declared. One of the courtiers, Shaukat Mian, had a bright idea.

1556 में तानसेन अकबर के दरबार में गए और जल्द ही वे बादशाह के बहुत पसंदीदा बन गए| अकबर तानसेन को दिन हो या रात किसी भी समय गाने के लिए बुलाते थे। अक्सर वह तानसेन का अभ्यास सुनने के लिए उनके घर भी जाते थे। उन्होंने उन्हें कई तोहफे भी दिए। कुछ दरबारियों को तानसेन से जलन होने लगी। "हम तब तक आराम नहीं कर पाएंगे जब तक तानसेन बर्बाद नहीं हो जाते," उन्होंने घोषणा की। दरबारियों में से एक शौकत मियां के पास एक षडयंत्रकारी विचार था।

 

“Let us make him sing Raga Deepak,” he said. “How will that help us?” asked another man.

"हम उनसे राग दीपक गवाएँ," उन्होंने कहा। "उससे हमारा क्या फायदा होगा?" दूसरे आदमी से पूछा।

 

“If Raga Deepak is properly sung, it makes the air so hot that the singer is burnt to ashes. Tansen is a very good singer. If he sings Raga Deepak, he will die, and we will be rid of him.” Shaukat Mian went to Akbar and said, “We don’t think Tansen is a great singer. Let us test him. Tell him to sing Raga Deepak. Only the greatest singers can sing it properly.” “Of course he can sing it. Tansen can sing anything.” Akbar said. Tansen was afraid, but could not disobey the king. “Very well, my lord,” he said, “but give me time to prepare myself.” Tansen went home. He had never been more downcast and unhappy. “I can sing the Raga,” he told his wife, “but the heat it gives off will not only set the lamps alight, it will also burn me to ashes.”

“अगर राग दीपक को ठीक से गाया जाता है, तो यह हवा को इतना गर्म कर देता है कि गायक जलकर राख हो जाता है। तानसेन बहुत अच्छे गायक हैं। यदि वह दीपक राग गाता है, तो वह मर जाएगा, और हम उससे छुटकारा पा लेंगे।" शौकत मियां अकबर के पास गए और कहा, "हमें नहीं लगता कि तानसेन एक महान गायक हैं। आइए उसका परीक्षण करें। उसे राग दीपक गाने के लिए कहो। केवल महानतम गायक ही इसे ठीक से गा सकते हैं।" "बेशक वह इसे गा सकता है। तानसेन कुछ भी गा सकते हैं।" अकबर ने कहा। तानसेन डर गया, लेकिन राजा की अवज्ञा नहीं कर सका। "ठीक हे, मेरे स्वामी," उन्होंने कहा, "लेकिन मुझे खुद को तैयार करने के लिए समय दीजिये।" तानसेन घर चला गया। वह कभी भी इतना अधिक निराश और दुखी नहीं हुआ था। "मैं यह राग गा सकता हूँ," उन्होंने अपनी पत्नी से कहा, "लेकिन यह जो गर्मी देता है वह न केवल दीपक को जलाएगा, यह मुझे भी जला देगा।"

 

Then he had an idea. “If someone sings Raga Megh at the same time, and sings it properly, it will bring rain. Perhaps our daughter, Saraswati, and her friend, Rupvati, could do it,” he said.

तब, उन्हें एक उपाय सूझा| "यदि कोई राग मेघ को उसी समय गाता है, और ठीक से गाता है, तो वर्षा होगी। शायद हमारी बेटी सरस्वती और उसकी सहेली रूपवती ऐसा कर सकती हैं।"

 

He taught the two girls to sing Raga Megh. They practised night and day for two weeks. Tansen told them, “You must wait till the lamps start burning, and then you start singing.”

उन्होंने दोनों लड़कियों को राग मेघ गाना सिखाया। उन्होंने दो सप्ताह तक रात-दिन अभ्यास किया। तानसेन ने उनसे कहा, "तुम्हें तब तक प्रतीक्षा करनी चाहिए जब तक कि दीये जलने न लगें, और तब तुम गाना शुरू करना।"

 

The legend goes that on the appointed day the whole town assembled to hear Tansen sing Raga Deepak. When he began to sing, the air became warm. Soon people in the audience were bathed in perspiration. The leaves on the trees dried up and fell to the ground. As the music continued, birds fell dead because of the heat and the water in the rivers began to boil. People cried out in terror as flames shot up out of nowhere and lighted the lamps.

किंवदंती यह है कि नियत दिन पर तानसेन को राग दीपक गाते हुए सुनने के लिए पूरा शहर इकट्ठा हुआ था। जब उन्होंने गाना शुरू किया तो हवा गर्म हो गई। जल्द ही दर्शकों में मौजूद लोग पसीने से नहा गए। पेड़ों पर लगे पत्ते सूख कर जमीन पर गिर पड़े। संगीत जारी रहा, गर्मी के कारण पक्षी मर गए और नदियों में पानी उबलने लगा। कहीं से आग की लपटें उठने और दीये जलाने पर लोग दहशत के मारे चिल्ला उठे।

 

At once Saraswati and Rupvati began to sing Raga Megh. The sky clouded over and the rain came down. Tansen was saved. The story goes that he was very ill after this, and Akbar was sorry that he had caused him so much suffering. He punished Tansen’s enemies. When Tansen got well, the entire city rejoiced. Tansen remained Akbar’s court singer till 1585 when he died. He composed several new ragas.

ठीक उसी समय सरस्वती और रूपवती राग मेघ गाने लगे। आसमान में बादल छा गए और बारिश हो गई। तानसेन बच गया। कहानी यह है कि इसके बाद तानसेन बहुत बीमार हुआ, और अकबर को पछतावा था कि उसने उसे इतना कष्ट पहुँचाया। उसने तानसेन के शत्रुओं को दण्डित किया। जब तानसेन ठीक हो गए, तो पूरा शहर खुशी से झूम उठा। तानसेन 1585 मे उनकी मृत्यु होने तक अकबर के दरबारी गायक रहे। उन्होंने कई नए रागों की रचना की।

 

Exercises

 

Complete the following sentences using correct options:

(1)  Tansen was very ……

a.    talented (✔)

 b.    dull

c.    lazy

 

(2)  Tansen’s father’s name was …………

a.    Shekharan Misra

b.    Chandan Misra

c.    Mukandan Misra (✔)

 

(3)  His father was devoted to ……..

a.    Mohammad Kaif

b.    Mohammad Khalid

c.    Mohammad Ghaus (✔)

 

(4)  Hussaini was……..

a.    Rani Mrignayani’s courtier

b.    Tansen’s wife

c.    both (✔)

 

(5)  Chief conspirator against Tansen was ………..

a.    Refeeq Miyan

b.    Iqbal Miyan

c.    Shaukat Miyan (✔)

 

Read the following sentences and tick true (T) or false (F)

 

1.    Tansen sang Raga Megh at the durbar .(F)

2.    Saraswati and Roopwati sang raga Deepak to save Tansen. (F)

3.    Akbar was impressed by Tansen’s talent as a singer and a musician. (T)

4.    Shaukat Miyan wanted to ruin Tansen.(T)

5.    Tansen was saved by Saraswati and Roopwati. (T)

6.    Akbar did not offer precious presents to Tansen.(F)

7.    Tansen was one of Akbar’s ‘Navaratnas’.(T)

 

Use the following phrases in the sentences given below:

jealous of, fond of, due to, called upon, afraid of

 

1.    Akbar was very fond of Tansen.

2.    All the people were afraid of the tiger and escaped in fear.

3.    Shaukat Miyan and some other courtiers were jealous of Tansen.

4.    Tansen’s wife was saved due to his daughter and her friend.

5.    Akbar frequently called upon Tansen and listened to his ragas and music.

 

Match the following words with their meanings:

Words	Meanings
musician expert disciple emperor favourite	the ruler of an empire person who follows the teachings of somebody liked more than others person with special knowledge a person who plays or composes music

 

Answer-

Words	Meanings
musician expert disciple emperor favourite	a person who plays or composes music person with special knowledge person who follows the teachings of somebody the ruler of an empire liked more than others

 

Answer these questions:

 

1.  Why did Swami Haridas say Tansen was ‘talented’?

Ans- Swami Haridas said that Tansen was ‘talented’ because he could imitate the voice of animals and birds so well that all the people of his group were scared on listening the roar of tiger.

 

2.  Why did Akbar ask Tansen to join his court?

Ans- Akbar was so impressed by the singing of Tansen that he insisted him to join the court.

 

3.  How do we know that Akbar was fond of Tansen?   Give two reasons.

Ans- Akbar was fond of Tansen. Akbar would call upon Tansen to sing at any time during the day or night. Quite often he would just walk into Tansen’s house to hear him practise. He also gave him many presents.

 

4.  What did the other courtiers feel about Tansen?

Ans- Other courtiers were jealous of Tansen. They wanted to ruin Tansen.

 

5.       (i)  What happens if Raga Deepak is sung properly?

Ans- If Raga Deepak is properly sung, it makes the air so hot that the singer is burnt to ashes.

 

(ii)  Why did Tansen’s enemies want him to sing the Raga?

Ans- Tansen’s enemies knew that he was a very good singer, he will die on singing Raga Deepak and they will get rid of him.

 

6.    Why did Tansen agree to sing Raga Deepak?

Ans- Tansen agreed to sing Raga Deepak becaue he could not disobey the king.

 

7. (i)  What steps did he take to save himself? (ii)  Did his plan work? How?

Ans- To save himself Tansen taught his daughter Sawarwati and her friend Rupvati to sing Raga Megh. They practised night and day for two weeks.

Saraswati and Rupvati began to sing Raga Megh right when flames shot up out of nowhere and lighted the lamps and people cried out in terror. Soon the sky clouded over and the rain came down. Thus Tansen was saved.

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