2.3. The Little River - My English Book - Std 8 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board
- Jul 3
- 10 min read
Updated: Jul 7
Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय
Chapter: | Unit 2 — Chapter 2.3: The Little River |
Type: | Poetry |
Poet: | Rabindranath Tagore |
Textbook: | My English Book, Std 8, Maharashtra State Board |
Assessment: | School-level examination following MSBSHSE guidelines |
मराठी टीप: हा पाठ शालेय परीक्षेत येतो. हे पाठ्यपुस्तक इयत्ता ८ वी साठी आहे — MSBSHSE च्या मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार तयार केलेले.
About the Poet / कवी परिचय
Rabindranath Tagore was a great Indian poet and writer. In this beautiful poem, he describes a small village river and how it changes during different seasons. He shows how closely the lives of the villagers are connected to the river and nature.
मराठी टीप: रवींद्रनाथ टागोर हे एक महान भारतीय कवी होते. या कवितेत त्यांनी एका छोट्या नदीचे उन्हाळ्यातील आणि पावसाळ्यातील बदलणारे रूप अतिशय सुंदरपणे रेखाटले आहे.
Exam Tip: The poet's name and the central idea of the changing seasons (summer and monsoon) may be asked as a short answer.
Full Text / पूर्ण कविता
Stanza 1
Our little river, it meanders along; In summer, the water is only knee-deep, And cows and carts can cross it with ease, For the banks, though high, are not too steep.
Stanza 2
No sign of slime, the sands shine bright, On one shore, kash fields blossom white. Chirping mynahs through that site, The jackal's howl is heard there at night.
Stanza 3
Across lie groves of mango and palm; The village priests dwell in their cool shade, Girls and boys bathe close to the bank, Splashing with their gamchhas as they wade.
Stanza 4
At dusk and dawn, once their bath is done, They dip washcloths to trap small fish. To their household tasks the wives return, Having used river-sand to scour each dish.
Stanza 5
In Ashadh, clouds gather, the waters rise; The river's in spate, the current grows strong. The air is rife with babbling sounds, As the muddy torrent swirls along.
Stanza 6
The woods onshore stir to life again, And our village wakens to celebrate the rain.
Stanza-wise Meaning / कडव्यांचा अर्थ
Stanza 1
Our little river, it meanders along; In summer, the water is only knee-deep, And cows and carts can cross it with ease, For the banks, though high, are not too steep.
English Meaning: The little river flows with twists and turns. In summer, the water is very shallow, so cows and carts can cross it easily because the banks are not very steep. मराठी अर्थ: छोटी नदी वळणे घेत वाहते. उन्हाळ्यात पाणी फक्त गुडघाभर असते, त्यामुळे गायी आणि बैलगाड्या सहज नदी पार करू शकतात, कारण नदीचे काठ जास्त उंच किंवा खडे नसतात. Exam Tip: Questions about the depth of the water in summer and who crosses the river are commonly asked from this stanza.
Stanza 2
No sign of slime, the sands shine bright, On one shore, kash fields blossom white. Chirping mynahs through that site, The jackal's howl is heard there at night.
English Meaning: The river is clean with no slippery slime, and the sand shines brightly. You can see white kash flowers, hear mynahs chirping during the day, and hear jackals howling at night. मराठी अर्थ: नदीत कुठेही चिखल नाही आणि वाळू चमकत असते. एका किनाऱ्यावर पांढरी 'काश' (गवत) फुले उमललेली असतात. तिथे दिवसा मैना पक्ष्यांचा चिवचिवाट आणि रात्री कोल्ह्यांची ओरड ऐकू येते. Exam Tip: Word meanings for 'slime' and 'kash' often come from this stanza.
Stanza 3
Across lie groves of mango and palm; The village priests dwell in their cool shade, Girls and boys bathe close to the bank, Splashing with their gamchhas as they wade.
English Meaning: Across the river, there are mango and palm trees where village priests live. Young boys and girls take baths near the bank and splash water using their thin cotton towels (gamchhas). मराठी अर्थ: नदीच्या पलीकडे आंबा आणि ताडाची झाडे आहेत, ज्यांच्या सावलीत गावातील पुजारी राहतात. मुले-मुली काठाजवळ आंघोळ करतात आणि त्यांच्या 'गमछा'ने पाणी उडवत खेळतात. Exam Tip: Be ready for a question asking what the children do with their gamchhas.
Stanza 4
At dusk and dawn, once their bath is done, They dip washcloths to trap small fish. To their household tasks the wives return, Having used river-sand to scour each dish.
English Meaning: In the morning and evening, people use washcloths to catch small fish after their bath. The village women clean their dishes using river sand and then return home. मराठी अर्थ: पहाटे आणि संध्याकाळी आंघोळ झाल्यावर लोक लहान मासे पकडण्यासाठी कपडे पाण्यात बुडवतात. गावातील स्त्रिया नदीच्या वाळूने भांडी घासतात आणि मग घरच्या कामाला परततात. Exam Tip: A 2-mark question usually asks how the wives clean their dishes.
Stanza 5
In Ashadh, clouds gather, the waters rise; The river's in spate, the current grows strong. The air is rife with babbling sounds, As the muddy torrent swirls along.
English Meaning: During the monsoon month of Ashadh, dark clouds gather and the river gets flooded. The water flow becomes very strong, muddy, and noisy with babbling sounds.
मराठी अर्थ: आषाढ महिन्यात ढग दाटून येतात आणि नदीला पूर येतो. पाण्याचा प्रवाह खूप वेगवान आणि चिखलमय होतो, आणि हवेत पाण्याचा खळखळ आवाज घुमू लागतो. Exam Tip: Expect true/false questions about how the river changes in Ashadh.
Stanza 6
The woods onshore stir to life again, And our village wakens to celebrate the rain.
English Meaning: The trees on the shore become alive and fresh with the rain. The entire village wakes up happily to celebrate the monsoon.
मराठी अर्थ: किनाऱ्यावरील झाडे पुन्हा जिवंत झाल्यासारखी ताजीतवानी होतात. पावसाचे स्वागत आणि उत्सव साजरा करण्यासाठी संपूर्ण गाव जागा होतो. Exam Tip: The central message of the villagers celebrating the rain comes from these lines.
Poetic Devices / काव्यात्मक उपकरणे
Device / उपकरण | Example from poem | Simple Effect | मराठी स्पष्टीकरण |
Alliteration (अनुप्रास) | "sands shine" | Repetition of the 's' sound makes the line musical. | एकाच अक्षराच्या ध्वनीची (उदा. 's') पुनरावृत्ती कवितेला नादमय बनवते. |
Onomatopoeia (ध्वन्यनुकरण) | "Chirping", "howl", "babbling" | These words sound like the actual noises they describe. | असे शब्द जे प्रत्यक्ष आवाजाची नक्कल करतात (उदा. चिवचिवाट, खळखळ). |
Rhyme (यमक) | deep / steep, night / site | Creates a rhythmic flow at the end of the lines. | ओळींच्या शेवटी येणारे समान उच्चारांचे शब्द. |
मराठी टीप: या पाठातील अलंकार लक्षात ठेवा — परीक्षेत नाव आणि एक उदाहरण विचारले जाऊ शकते. विशेषतः Onomatopoeia (आवाज दर्शवणारे शब्द) खूप महत्त्वाचे आहेत.
Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये
Theme Table / विषय सारणी
Theme / विषय | How it appears |
Beauty of Nature (निसर्गाचे सौंदर्य) | The poet beautifully describes bright sand, white flowers, mango groves, and monsoon clouds. |
Village Life (ग्रामीण जीवन) | The poem shows simple village activities like bathing, catching fish, and cleaning dishes with sand. |
Values / मूल्ये
Harmony with Nature (निसर्गाशी एकरूपता): The villagers depend on the river for their daily tasks and celebrate its changes.
Simplicity (साधेपणा): The poem highlights the simple, peaceful, and joyful life of rural India.
Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश
The central message is that nature and human life are deeply connected. The changing seasons transform the river, which in turn brings joy, life, and celebration to the entire village.
मराठी टीप: निसर्ग आणि मानवी जीवन एकमेकांशी जोडलेले आहे. ऋतूनुसार नदीत होणारे बदल गावातील लोकांच्या जीवनात आनंद आणि उत्साह घेऊन येतात, हा या कवितेचा संदेश आहे.
Practice Questions / सराव प्रश्न
The questions for Types 1 to 6 are based on Stanza 1.
TYPE 1 — True/False (1M each)
State True or False: 'The little river flows in a straight line.' Answer: False
State True or False: 'In summer, the water is only knee-deep.' Answer: True
State True or False: 'Cows and carts cannot cross the river in summer.' Answer: False
State True or False: 'The banks of the river are very steep.' Answer: False
State True or False: 'The poet describes a large, deep ocean.' Answer: False
मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील/कवितेतील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या. (उदा. नदी सरळ नाही, तर वळणे घेत वाहते.)
TYPE 2 — Choose the Correct Alternative (1M each)
How does the little river flow? (A) straight (B) meanders along (C) falls down (D) jumps
Answer: (B)
How deep is the water in summer? (A) waist-deep (B) ankle-deep (C) knee-deep (D) neck-deep
Answer: (C)
Who can cross the river with ease? (A) trains (B) buses (C) cows and carts (D) big ships
Answer: (C)
What is the condition of the banks? (A) high but not too steep (B) low and muddy (C) high and dangerous (D) broken
Answer: (A)
The word 'steep' rhymes with... (A) carts (B) ease (C) deep (D) summer
Answer: (C)
मराठी टीप: चुकीचे पर्याय ओळखून बरोबर उत्तरापर्यंत पोहोचा.
TYPE 3 — Answer in One Word/Phrase (1M each)
According to the poem, what meanders along? Answer: Our little river
According to the poem, when is the water knee-deep? Answer: In summer
According to the poem, what can cross the river with ease? Answer: Cows and carts
According to the poem, are the banks too steep? Answer: Not too steep
मराठी टीप: उत्तर एका शब्दात किंवा वाक्यांशात द्या.
TYPE 4 — Complete the Lines (1M each)
Complete the line: 'Our little river, it _____ along;' Answer: meanders
Complete the line: 'In summer, the water is only _____-deep,' Answer: knee
Complete the line: 'And cows and _____ can cross it with ease,' Answer: carts
Complete the line: 'For the banks, though high, are not too _____.' Answer: steep
मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील अचूक शब्द शोधून ओळ पूर्ण करा.
TYPE 5 — Answer in 2-3 Sentences (2M each)
How does the little river flow?
Answer: The little river does not flow in a straight line. It meanders along gently with many twists and turns.
मराठी टीप: नदी सरळ न वाहता, वळणे घेत (meanders) शांतपणे वाहते.
Why can cows and carts cross the river easily in summer?
Answer: In summer, the water level of the river is very low, reaching only up to the knees. Also, the banks are not too steep to climb, making it easy for cows and carts to cross.
मराठी टीप: उन्हाळ्यात पाणी फक्त गुडघाभर (knee-deep) असते आणि काठ जास्त खडे नसतात.
Describe the banks of the river.
Answer: The banks of the little river are quite high. However, they are not too steep, which means the slope is gentle enough for walking.
मराठी टीप: नदीचे काठ उंच आहेत पण ते खूप खडे (steep) नाहीत, त्यामुळे चढायला सोपे जाते.
What does Stanza 1 tell us about the season?
Answer: Stanza 1 describes the river during the summer season. It tells us that during this time, the weather causes the water level to drop significantly.
मराठी टीप: पहिल्या कडव्यात उन्हाळ्याचे वर्णन आहे, जेव्हा नदीचे पाणी खूप कमी झालेले असते.
What does the poet mean by "meanders along"?
Answer: By "meanders along", the poet means that the river flows slowly and curves naturally. It is a gentle and calm stream, not a rushing waterfall.
मराठी टीप: 'Meanders along' म्हणजे नदी वेगाने न वाहता, अतिशय शांतपणे वळणे घेत पुढे जाते.
TYPE 6 — Answer in 4-5 Sentences (3M each)
Describe the condition of the little river during summer based on the first stanza. Answer: During summer, the little river is very calm and peaceful. The water level drops heavily and is only knee-deep. Because the water is so shallow and the high banks are not too steep, it becomes very easy for cows and bullock carts to cross to the other side. It acts like a friendly, gentle stream for the villagers during this dry season. मराठी टीप: १) उन्हाळ्यात नदी शांत असते. २) पाणी फक्त गुडघाभर असते. ३) काठ जास्त खडे नसल्यामुळे गायी आणि गाड्यांना ती पार करणे खूप सोपे जाते.
Explain the lines: "And cows and carts can cross it with ease, / For the banks, though high, are not too steep."
Answer: These lines explain how safe and friendly the river is for the villagers during summer. Since the water is very low, animals and vehicles like carts can easily go across without any danger. Even though the banks are high, their slope is gentle. This means climbing up and down the banks is not difficult at all for anyone.
मराठी टीप: १) उन्हाळ्यात पाणी कमी असल्याने नदी पार करणे सुरक्षित असते. २) काठ उंच असले तरी त्यांचा उतार सोपा आहे. ३) त्यामुळे माणसे, प्राणी आणि बैलगाड्यांना कोणताही त्रास होत
Why is the river so important for the village?
Answer: The river is the absolute center of village life. Even in summer when the water is low, people and animals use it every day for crossing and drinking. It provides a safe path for carts to travel. The river supports their daily routine and is a helpful part of their natural environment. मराठी टीप: १) नदी गावाच्या जीवनाचा केंद्रबिंदू आहे. २) उन्हाळ्यातही ती रस्ता ओलांडण्यासाठी आणि पिण्याच्या पाण्यासाठी उपयुक्त ठरते. ३) ती गावकऱ्यांच्या रोजच्या जीवनाचा एक महत्त्वाचा भाग आहे.
TYPE 7 — Word Meanings / Vocabulary in Context (1M each)
(Questions are based on the whole poem)
The word 'meanders' means...
Answer: flow with twists and turns मराठी अर्थ: वळणे घेत वाहणे मराठी टीप: छोटी नदी शांतपणे वळणे घेत वाहते.
The word 'slime' means...
Answer: thick slippery substance मराठी अर्थ: चिखल किंवा शेवाळ मराठी टीप: नदीत कोणताही घसरडा चिखल (slime) नसतो.
The word 'gamchhas' means...
Answer: thin cotton towels मराठी अर्थ: सुती पंचा किंवा टॉवेल मराठी टीप: मुले आंघोळ करताना गमछा वापरतात.
The word 'scour' means...
Answer: scrub मराठी अर्थ: घासणे किंवा स्वच्छ करणे मराठी टीप: बायका नदीच्या वाळूने भांडी घासतात (scour).
The phrase 'in spate' means...
Answer: a sudden flood in a river मराठी अर्थ: नदीला आलेला पूर मराठी टीप: पावसाळ्यात (आषाढात) नदीला पूर येतो.
TYPE 8 — Personal Response (2M each)
(Questions are based on the whole poem)
Have you ever visited a river or a stream? What did you like about it?
Answer: Yes, I visited a river during a family picnic last year. I liked the cool breeze, the sound of the flowing water, and the bright sand on the banks. It was very peaceful compared to the noisy city.
मराठी टीप: होय, मी एका नदीला भेट दिली आहे. तिथली शांतता, वाहणाऱ्या पाण्याचा आवाज आणि वाळू मला खूप आवडली. (तुम्ही तुमचा स्वतःचा अनुभव लिहू शकता.)
Which season do you like more: Summer or Monsoon? Why?
Answer: I like the Monsoon season more. Just like in the poem, the rain brings everything to life, makes the trees green again, and makes the weather cool and pleasant after a hot summer.
मराठी टीप: मला पावसाळा जास्त आवडतो कारण पावसामुळे निसर्ग हिरवागार होतो आणि उन्हाळ्याच्या उकड्यानंतर थंडावा मिळतो. (तुम्ही उन्हाळाही निवडू शकता आणि त्याचे कारण देऊ शकता.)
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