Class-6 Supplementary Reader (A Pact With the Sun) Chapter-6, The Monkey and the Crocodile, Additional Exercises with Solutions / NCERT/CBSE

  

The Monkey and the Crocodile

बंदर और मगरमच्छ

 

ONCE, on the bank of a river, a monkey made a home for himself in a tree laden with fruit. He lived in it happily eating to his heart’s content the fruit of his choice.

एक बार, एक नदी के किनारे पर, एक बंदर ने फलों से लदे एक पेड़ पर अपना घर बना लिया। वह अपनी पसंद का फल खाकर खुशी-खुशी उसमें रहता था।

 

The monkey was happy but lonely and wanted a companion to talk to and share the fruits with. But there was no one around, not even another monkey, till one day a crocodile appeared on the riverside.

बंदर खुश था लेकिन अकेला था और चाहता था कि उसके पास एक साथी हो जिससे वह बात करे और फल बाँट सके। लेकिन आसपास कोई नहीं था, दूसरा बंदर भी नहीं| एक दिन नदी के किनारे एक मगरमच्छ दिखाई दिया।

 

“Hello, there,” said the monkey. “Do you live in this river? Would you like to eat some fruit?”

"नमस्कार, " बंदर ने कहा। "क्या आप इस नदी में रहते हैं? क्या आप कुछ फल खाना चाहेंगे?"

 

“Good morning,” replied the crocodile politely. “I did come here in search of food for myself and my wife. Nice of you to offer me fruit.”

"सुप्रभात," मगरमच्छ ने विनम्रता से उत्तर दिया। “मैं यहां अपने और अपनी पत्नी के लिए भोजन की तलाश में आया था। आपने अच्छा किया कि मुझे फल देने का प्रस्ताव दिया।"

 

The monkey plucked some from the nearest branch and threw them down. The crocodile found them delicious. “Thanks,” he said. “May I have some on my next visit?”

बंदर ने पास की शाखा से कुछ फल तोड़कर नीचे फेंक दिये। मगरमच्छ को वे स्वादिष्ट लगे। "धन्यवाद," उसने कहा। "क्या मुझे अगली बार भी कुछ मिलेंगे|?"

 

“Certainly, as many as you like and some for your wife too,” said the monkey. “Do come again. I’m rather lonely here.” The crocodile visited the monkey regularly and ate the fruits which his host threw down. He took some home for his wife. The monkey and the crocodile were now the best of friends. They talked and were never tired of talking. They talked about birds and animals, about the villages nearby and the difficulties villagers faced in raising good crops for lack of rain.

"निश्चित रूप से, जितने आपको पसंद हैं और कुछ आपकी पत्नी के लिए भी," बंदर ने कहा। "फिर अवश्य आना। मैं यहाँ बहुत अकेला हूँ।" मगरमच्छ नियमित रूप से बंदर के पास जाता था और उन फलों को खाता था जो उसके मेजबान ने फेंके थे। वह अपनी पत्नी के लिए कुछ फल घर ले गया। बंदर और मगरमच्छ अब सबसे अच्छे दोस्त थे। वे बात करते थे और बात करते-करते कभी नहीं थकते थे। उन्होंने पक्षियों और जानवरों के बारे में, आसपास के गांवों के बारे में और बारिश की कमी के कारण अच्छी फसल उगाने में ग्रामीणों को आने वाली कठिनाइयों के बारे में बात की।

 

One day, the crocodile stayed with the monkey longer than usual. His wife was annoyed waiting and waiting managing the little crocodiles that had just been hatched. She said, “Who is this friend of yours you are so fond of?”

एक दिन, मगरमच्छ सामान्य से अधिक समय तक बंदर के साथ रहा। उसकी पत्नी अभी-अभी पैदा हुए छोटे मगरमच्छों को अकेले संभालते हुए इंतज़ार करते रहने से नाराज़ थी। उसने कहा, "तुम्हारा यह दोस्त कौन है जिसके साथ रहने का तुम्हें इतना शौक है?"

 

“Oh, he is a very nice monkey,” he replied. “He lives on a fruit-tree. He sends fruits for you everyday. You don’t expect me to climb trees, do you?”

"ओह, वह बहुत अच्छा बंदर है," उसने जवाब दिया। “वह एक फलदार वृक्ष पर रहता है। वही रोज तुम्हारे लिए फल भेजता है। तुम मुझसे पेड़ों पर चढ़ने की उम्मीद तो नहीं कर सकती ना?”

 

“A nice monkey, I’m sure,” replied the wife with obvious sarcasm. “If you ask me, this monkey should be my food. I want to eat his heart so much.”

"एक अच्छा बंदर, मुझे यकीन है," पत्नी ने स्पष्ट कटाक्ष के साथ उत्तर दिया। "यदि आप मुझसे पूछें, तो यह बंदर मेरा भोजन होना चाहिए। मैं उसका दिल खाना चाहती हूँ ।"

 

“What a foolish thing to say!” shouted the crocodile. “I can’t kill a friend, though I won’t mind a monkey occasionally for a change of taste.”

"कितनी मूर्खता की बात है!" मगरमच्छ चिल्लाया। "मैं एक दोस्त को नहीं मार सकता, हालांकि मैं कभी-कभी स्वाद के बदलाव के एक बंदर भी ले सकता हूँ ।"

 

“You bring him here,” ordered the wife. “I want to see him.” “So you can eat him. Never!” declared her husband.

"तुम उसे यहाँ ले आओ," पत्नी ने आदेश दिया। " मैं उससे मिलना चाहती हूँ।"

"ताकि तुम उसे खा सको। कभी नहीं!" पति घोषित कर दिया।

 

His wife was furious and she dived in to hide herself at the bottom of the river leaving the little ones to pester their father.

उसकी पत्नी गुस्से में थी और उसने अपने आप को नदी के तल में छिपा लिया और छोटे बच्चों को अपने पिता को परेशान करने के लिए छोड़ दिया।

 

The crocodile was in a serious dilemma. He loved his wife and was very fond of his friend too. Finally, he decided to be on the side of his wife.  She was his life-partner after all.  ‘I know it’s a sin to betray a friend, but I have no choice,’ he said to himself.   ‘I’ll invite the monkey home and hope for the best.’

मगरमच्छ एक गंभीर दुविधा में था। वह अपनी पत्नी से प्यार करता था और अपने दोस्त से भी बहुत प्यार करता था। अंत में, उसने अपनी पत्नी के पक्ष में रहने का फैसला किया। आखिर वह उनकी जीवन-साथी थी। 'मैं जानता हूं कि एक दोस्त को धोखा देना पाप है, लेकिन मेरे पास कोई विकल्प नहीं है,' उसने खुद से कहा। 'मैं बंदर को घर बुलाऊंगा और अच्छे की उम्मीद करूंगा।'

 

“My wife wants you over for a meal, dear friend,” said the crocodile when he visited the monkey next. “You must come home with me today.”

"मेरी पत्नी चाहती है कि आप भोजन के लिए आएं, प्रिय मित्र," मगरमच्छ ने कहा जब वह अगले बंदर के पास गया। "तुम्हें आज मेरे साथ घर आना होगा।"

 

“With pleasure,” said the monkey. “I’m no swimmer, but can ride on your back.”  And they set out.

"खुशी से," बंदर ने कहा। "मैं तैराक नहीं हूं, लेकिन आपकी पीठ पर सवार हो सकता हूं।" और वे निकल पड़े।

 

In the middle of the river, where the current was the strongest, the crocodile could no longer hide his intention. “Sorry, my friend,” he said hesitatingly, “but I have to go under water now. I’ve brought you here to kill you. My wife cannot survive without eating your heart. Good bye.”

नदी के बीच में, जहां पानी का बहाव सबसे तेज था, मगरमच्छ अब अपनी मंशा नहीं छिपा सकता था। "क्षमा करें, मेरे दोस्त," उसने झिझकते हुए कहा, "लेकिन मुझे अब पानी के नीचे जाना है। मैं तुम्हें यहां मारने के लिए लाया हूं। मेरी पत्नी तुम्हारा दिल खाए बिना जीवित नहीं रह सकती।

 

The monkey was scared and distressed. But he was sensible and clever like all monkeys. He kept a cool head. Calmly he said, “I’d do anything for you and your family. You are my only friend. After all, what is a monkey’s heart compared with the life of a crocodile’s wife? But how foolish could you be? Why didn’t you tell me before? I’d have brought my heart along.”

बंदर डर गया और परेशान हो गया। लेकिन वह सभी बंदरों की तरह समझदार और चतुर था। उसने अपना दिमाग शांत रखा। उसने शांति से कहा, “मैं तुम्हारे और तुम्हारे परिवार के लिए कुछ भी करूँगा। तुम्ही मेरे एकमात्र मित्र हो। आखिर मगरमच्छ की पत्नी की जान की तुलना में बंदर के दिल का क्या मौल है ? लेकिन तुम कितने मूर्ख हो? तुमने मुझे पहले क्यों नहीं बताया? मैं अपना दिल साथ ले आता।"

 

 

“But where is your heart?” asked the crocodile innocently. “I thought you carried it all the time.”

"लेकिन तुम्हारा दिल कहाँ है?" मगरमच्छ से मासूमियत से पूछा। "मैंने सोचा था कि आप इसे हर समय अपने साथ रखते हैं।"

 

“Of course not. It’s there on the tree. Let’s swim back at once and get it. Your wife must be waiting,” replied the monkey gaining confidence.

“Oh dear! What a mistake!” hissed the crocodile. They laughed loudly as the crocodile took a full turn to reach the tree.

"बिल्कुल नहीं। वह वहाँ पेड़ पर है। आओ एक बार फिर उसे लेने चलें  तुम्हारी पत्नी प्रतीक्षा कर रही होगी," बंदर ने आत्मविश्वास से उत्तर दिया।

"ओह प्रिय! क्या गलती है!" मगरमच्छ फुसफुसाया। वे जोर से हँसे क्योंकि मगरमच्छ ने पेड़ तक पहुँचने के लिए एक पूर्ण मोड़ लिया।

 

On the river-bank, the monkey jumped on to the tree and heaved a deep sigh of relief. He plucked a fruit or two from the nearest branch and throwing them down said, “Let your wife have some fruit rather than my heart. Fresh fruits are good for mind and body. Good bye, friend, and if you don’t mind, we won’t meet again.” The crocodile, sadder and wiser, shed a few tears which were genuine and turned back to go home. He was in a hurry to tell his wife a thing or two.

 

नदी के किनारे बंदर ने पेड़ पर छलांग लगा दी और राहत की गहरी सांस ली। उसने पास की शाखा से एक या दो फल तोड़कर नीचे फेंकते हुए कहा, “तेरी पत्नी को मेरे हृदय के बदले कुछ फल मिलें तो अच्छा है । ताजे फल तन और मन के लिए अच्छे होते हैं। अलविदा, दोस्त, और अगर आप बुरा न मानें, तो हम दोबारा नहीं मिलेंगे। ” दुखी और पहले से समझदार मगरमच्छ ने कुछ आँसू बहाए जो वास्तविक थे और घर जाने के लिए वापस मुड़ा । वह अपनी पत्नी को एक-दो बातें बताने की जल्दी में था।

 

(a story from The Panchatantra)

(पंचतंत्र से एक कहानी)

 

Choose the correct answer:

1.     Why did the crocodile come to the shore one day?

a.     In search of a companion

b.    In search of food for himself and his wife(✔)

c.     To breath fresh air near land

 

2.     Crocodile’s wife was angry because

a.     She was all alone to manage newly hatched kids(✔)

b.    She didn’t get any monkey to eat from long

c.     Crocodile didn’t bring delicious fruits that day

 

3.     What did the monkey do at the time of difficulty?

a.     Remained sensible and clever

b.    Kept his head cool

c.     Both a and b(✔)

Answer these questions:

 

1.     The monkey was happy living in the fruit tree, but his happiness was not complete. What did he miss?

Ans- The monkey was happy living in the fruit tree, but his happiness was not complete. He missed a companion to talk to and share the fruits with.   

 

2.     What did the two friends generally talk about?

Ans- The two friends generally talk about birds and animals, about the villages nearby and the difficulties villagers faced in raising good crops for lack of rain.

 

3.     Why was the crocodile’s wife annoyed with her husband one day?

Ans- The crocodile’s wife was annoyed waiting and waiting managing the little crocodiles that had just been hatched.

 

4.     Why was the crocodile unwilling to invite his friend home?

Ans- The crocodile was unwilling to invite his friend home because he didn’t want to kill a friend.

 

5.     What did the crocodile tell the monkey midstream?

Ans- The crocodile said to the monkey midstream, “Sorry, my friend, but I have to go under water now. I’ve brought you here to kill you. My wife cannot survive without eating your heart. Good bye.”

 

6.     How did the monkey save himself?

Ans- Monkey saved himself by saying that there is not value of heart of a monkey compared to the wife of a crocodile. He asked his to swim back so that he can give him his heart from the tree.

 

7.     What does the last sentence of the story suggest? What would the crocodile tell his wife?

Ans- The last sentence of the story suggest that crocodile was sure that he has lost a good friend. I think that he would tell about the entire incident and the effort made by him to bring monkey to his wife.

 

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word:

 

thunderstruck, ground, annoyed, bank, delicious

 

1.     A monkey lived in a fruit tree on the bank of a river.

2.     He made friends with a crocodile, gave him delicious fruits to eat and sent some for his wife.

3.     They met regularly and talked — the monkey in the tree and the crocodile on the ground.

4.     The crocodile’s wife was annoyed because her husband came home late.

5.     The monkey was thunderstruck. He knew his life was in danger.

 

State whether these statements are true or false:

 

1.     Crocodile’s wife didn’t like his friendship with the monkey. (True)

2.     Monkey kept his cool and persuaded the crocodile on a pretext to swim back to the tree. (True)

3.     Monkey continued his friendship with the crocodile. (False)

4.     The crocodile could altogether ignore his wife’s wishes. (False)

5.     The crocodile shed tears which were not genuine. (False)

 

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