2.5. A Play - My English Coursebook - Std 9 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board

Section 1: Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय

मराठी टीप: हा पाठ MSBSHSE मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार शालेय परीक्षेत येतो. 'अंधेर नगरी, चौपट राजा' या प्रसिद्ध लोककथेवर आधारित हे एक अत्यंत विनोदी नाटक आहे, ज्यातून मूर्खपणा आणि लोभाचे वाईट परिणाम दाखवले आहेत.

Section 2: About the Play / नाटक परिचय

Since this is an adaptation of a famous Indian folk tale ("Andher Nagari Chaupat Raja"), there is no single author. The play is a brilliant satire on foolish governance, blind justice, and human greed. It humorously illustrates the chaos that occurs when a ruler lacks basic logic and common sense, ultimately serving as a timeless moral lesson that a kingdom ruled by fools is destined for self-destruction.  

मराठी टीप: हे नाटक 'अंधेर नगरी' या सुप्रसिद्ध भारतीय लोककथेवर आधारित आहे. यातून न्यायव्यवस्थेची थट्टा आणि मूर्ख राजाच्या कारभाराचे अत्यंत विनोदी पद्धतीने वर्णन केले आहे.

Section 3: Summary / सारांश

"A Play" is a hilarious story set in the absurd kingdom of Andher Nagari, ruled by the foolish King Chaupat. In this bizarre land, everything is sold at the exact same price ("Taka ser bhaji, taka ser khaja"), which initially impresses a visiting disciple.  

The plot kicks off when a thief complains to the king that his partner was killed by a collapsing wall while they were burgling a merchant's house. Instead of punishing the thief, the foolish king attempts to execute someone for this "murder," sparking a ridiculous chain of blame. The merchant blames the bricklayer, who blames the mortar-maker, who blames the potter, who blames the money-lender's daughter, who blames the goldsmith.  

When the executioner's noose is too large for the goldsmith's thin neck, the king absurdly orders anyone with a fitting neck to be hanged! Unfortunately, the noose fits the innocent disciple. Just in time, his wise Sage arrives and tricks the greedy king by falsely predicting that whoever is hanged that day will become a glorious future king. Blinded by immense greed, King Chaupat promptly orders his own execution, inadvertently saving the disciple.  

मराठी सारांश: अंधेर नगरीत सर्व वस्तू एकाच भावाने मिळतात हे पाहून एक संन्यासी (disciple) तिथे राहायचे ठरवतो. एका चोराचा साथीदार चोरी करताना भिंत पडून मरतो, तेव्हा राजा न्यायासाठी भलत्याच लोकांना फाशीची शिक्षा सुनावतो. व्यापारी, गवंडी, कुंभार अशा अनेकांवरून आरोप फिरत शेवटी सोनारावर येतो. सोनाराच्या गळ्यात फाशीचा दोर बसत नाही, म्हणून राजा 'ज्याच्या गळ्यात दोर बसेल त्याला फाशी द्या' असा मूर्ख आदेश देतो! तो दोर संन्याशाच्या गळ्यात बसतो. तेव्हा संन्याशाचा गुरू (Sage) तिथे येतो आणि राजाला सांगतो की आज जो फासावर जाईल तो पुढच्या जन्मी महान सम्राट बनेल. हे ऐकून मूर्ख व लोभी राजा स्वतःच फासावर चढतो आणि संन्याशाचे प्राण वाचतात.  

Section 4: Characters / पात्रे

1. King Chaupat

King Chaupat is the absurd, foolish, and easily manipulated ruler of Andher Nagari. He completely lacks basic logic, happily ordering the execution of innocent citizens based on ridiculous excuses while ignoring a thief's actual crime. His ultimate downfall is his profound greed; when he hears a fake prophecy about future glory, he eagerly orders his own hanging, proving his ultimate stupidity. मराठी टीप: चौपट राजा हा अतिशय मूर्ख आणि लोभी (greedy) आहे. तो खऱ्या गुन्हेगाराला शिक्षा देण्याऐवजी निर्दोषांना फाशी देतो आणि शेवटी स्वतःच्या लोभामुळे स्वतःच फासावर जातो.  

2. The Sage

The Sage is a wise, clever, and quick-thinking holy man from the Ghangor forest. When his disciple is unjustly sentenced to death, the Sage uses brilliant reverse psychology. By pretending he desperately wants to be hanged to fulfill a glorious prophecy, he successfully exploits King Chaupat's greed and saves his disciple's life. मराठी टीप: गुरू (Sage) हा अतिशय चतुर (clever) आहे. तो खऱ्या भविष्यवाणीचे नाटक करून राजाच्या लोभाचा फायदा घेतो आणि आपल्या शिष्याचे प्राण वाचवतो.  

3. The Disciple

A greedy but naive visitor who is easily impressed by the cheap market prices of Andher Nagari. His desire for an "easy life" almost gets him killed when the absurd justice system decides to hang him simply because his neck fits the noose. मराठी टीप: शिष्य हा स्वस्त गोष्टींच्या लालचेपोटी अंधेर नगरीत राहतो आणि मूर्ख राजाच्या न्यायव्यवस्थेत विनाकारण फाशीला सामोरा जातो.  

Section 5: Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये

5A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी

5B. Values / मूल्ये

• Wisdom and Common Sense (शहाणपण आणि सामान्य ज्ञान): The play highlights how dangerous it is to live in a society without logical thinking or basic common sense.  

• True Justice (खरा न्याय): True justice requires careful investigation and reason, not just blindly punishing the most convenient person available.  

5C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश

A kingdom ruled by a foolish and greedy leader is a constant danger to everyone; true justice cannot exist without logic, and greed often leads to self-destruction. मराठी टीप: जिथे मूर्ख आणि लोभी राजा असतो, तिथे न्याय मिळू शकत नाही. स्वतःच्या लोभामुळेच माणसाचा विनाश होतो, हा या नाटकाचा मुख्य संदेश आहे.  

Section 6: Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह

Section 7: Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर आधारित प्रश्न

Extract 1

Q.(A)(i) State True or False: (2 Marks)

1. The thief and his partner were trying to protect the merchant's house. — False

     

2. The thief's partner was instantly killed when a wall collapsed on him. — True

     

3. The thief blamed himself for his partner's death. — False

     

4. The thief called his profession "honest" and "hard-working." — True

     

मराठी टीप: चोराने स्वतःला 'प्रामाणिक आणि कष्टाळू' म्हटले आहे आणि भिंत पडल्याचा दोष त्याने व्यापाऱ्याला (merchant) दिला आहे.  

Q.(A)(ii) Choose the correct alternative: (2 Marks)

1. The thief's partner peered into the house through ________. (a) an open window (b) a hole in the wall (c) the front door (d) the chimney Answer: (b)  

2. The word 'collapsed' in the passage means ________. (a) grew stronger (b) became taller (c) fell down suddenly (d) painted beautifully Answer: (c)  

Q.(B)(i) Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 Marks) Why did the thief beg for justice before King Chaupat? Answer: The thief audaciously begged for justice because his partner was instantly killed while they were committing a burglary. He bizarrely blamed the merchant for living in a house with weak walls that collapsed, and expected the king to punish the merchant for his partner's death. मराठी टीप: चोराने न्याय का मागितला? कारण चोरी करताना भिंत पडून त्याचा साथीदार मेला होता. त्याने व्यापाऱ्याला कमकुवत भिंतीचा दोष देत राजाकडे तक्रार केली.  

Q.(B)(ii) Answer in 3-4 sentences (Personal Response): (2 Marks)

What is absurd or funny about the thief's complaint?

Answer: It is completely absurd and hilarious that a thief refers to burglary as a "hard-working, honest profession." Furthermore, instead of running away from the law, he confidently goes to the king's court to complain that a house he was trying to rob was not built strongly enough. It highlights the total lack of logic in that kingdom.

मराठी टीप: चोराची तक्रार विनोदी का वाटते? कारण तो चोरीसारख्या गुन्ह्याला 'प्रामाणिक काम' म्हणतो आणि स्वतः चोरी करत असताना भिंत कमकुवत असल्याचा दोष घरमालकाला देतो. (स्वमत)  

Extract 2

Q.(A)(i) State True or False: (2 Marks)

1. The prophets foretold that the sage would naturally become the next king. — False

2. The Sage pretended that he wanted to be hanged to achieve great fame. — True

3. The Sage actually wanted to die on the gallows. — False

4. King Chaupat generously granted the Sage's wish to be hanged. — False

मराठी टीप: राजाने स्वतः फासावर जाण्याचा निर्णय घेतला, त्याने संन्याशाला फाशी दिली नाही (King Chaupat did not grant the Sage's wish to hang him).  

Q.(A)(ii) Choose the correct alternative: (2 Marks)

1. According to the fake prophecy, the person hanged that day would ________. (a) become a recluse (b) conquer many more nations and become the next king (c) lose all his wealth (d) go to heaven immediately Answer: (b)  

2. The word 'recluse' means a person who ________. (a) lives away from others (b) commands an army (c) makes gold ornaments (d) builds weak walls Answer: (a)  

Q.(B)(i) Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 Marks) What fake prophecy did the Sage tell the king?

Answer: The Sage falsely claimed that great prophets had foretold a massive blessing for the kingdom. He lied that whoever was hanged on that specific day in Andher Nagari would be reborn to become a glorious future king and conquer many more nations.

मराठी टीप: गुरूने कोणती खोटी भविष्यवाणी सांगितली? जो आज फासावर जाईल, तो पुढच्या जन्मी महान सम्राट बनेल आणि अनेक राज्ये जिंकेल, अशी खोटी थाप त्याने मारली.  

Q.(B)(ii) Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 Marks) How did King Chaupat react to the Sage's prophecy?

Answer: Blinded by his extreme greed for power and glory, King Chaupat reacted exactly as the Sage had hoped. Refusing to let anyone else claim the privilege of ruling a greater kingdom, the foolish king immediately ordered his guards to take him to the gallows and hang him without delay.

मराठी टीप: राजाने भविष्यवाणी ऐकल्यावर काय केले? लोभापायी राजाने तो मान दुसऱ्याला न देता, स्वतःलाच तातडीने फाशी देण्याचा आदेश दिला.  

Section 8: Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे

(2-3 marks · 3-5 sentences)

Q1. What impressed the disciple about the kingdom of Andher Nagari?

Answer: The disciple was highly impressed by the fact that absolutely everything in the Andher Nagari market was sold at the exact same price. He liked the lack of complications, happily noting that one could buy the most rich and delectable sweets for the exact same price as an equal measure of plain vegetables.

मराठी टीप: शिष्याला अंधेर नगरीची कोणती गोष्ट आवडली? बाजारात भाजी आणि उत्कृष्ट मिठाई (sweets) एकाच भावाने मिळते, हे पाहून शिष्याला तिथे राहायचा मोह झाला.  

Q2. Why did the Hangman fail to execute the goldsmith?

Answer: The Hangman failed to execute the goldsmith because of a ridiculous technical problem: the executioner's noose did not fit the goldsmith's neck. The goldsmith's neck was too thin, and the noose was too loose to properly hang him.

मराठी टीप: सोनाराला फाशी का देता आली नाही? कारण फाशीचा दोर (noose) खूप सैल होता आणि तो सोनाराच्या बारीक गळ्यात बसत नव्हता.  

Q3. How did King Chaupat decide who should be hanged instead of the goldsmith

Answer: Showing a total lack of logic, the foolish King ordered the hangman to try the noose around everyone's neck in the court. He declared that the primary goal was prompt justice, so whosoever had a neck that fit the size of the noose perfectly must be hanged immediately.

मराठी टीप: राजाने फाशी कोणाला द्यायची हे कसे ठरवले? त्याने फर्मान काढले की ज्याच्या गळ्यात फाशीचा दोर अचूक बसेल, त्याला फाशी द्या.  

Q4. Why did the Sage pretend to fight with his disciple to be hanged

Answer: The Sage intentionally pretended to fight for the right to be hanged to trigger the King's curiosity and greed. By acting desperate to die, he made his fake prophecy—that whoever was hanged that day would become a glorious emperor—believable enough to completely trick the foolish King.

मराठी टीप: गुरू फासावर जाण्यासाठी का भांडत होता? राजाला मूर्ख बनवण्यासाठी. आपण फासावर गेल्यास पुढच्या जन्मी महान सम्राट बनू, असे भासवून त्याने राजाच्या लोभाचा (greed) फायदा घेतला.  

Section 9: Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे

(4-5 marks · 8-10 sentences)

Q1. Trace the ridiculous "blame game" sequence in King Chaupat's court from the thief to the goldsmith.

Answer: The absurd chain of blame in King Chaupat's court perfectly highlights the lack of justice in Andher Nagari. It begins when a thief complains that a wall collapsed and killed his partner; he blames the merchant for having weak walls. To save his life, the merchant shifts the blame to the bricklayer for building it weakly. The bricklayer blames the mortar-maker for mixing too much water into the cement.  

The mortar-maker blames the potter for selling him a pot with an extraordinarily large mouth, which caused excess water to pour out. The potter then blames the money-lender's daughter, claiming the sweet tinkling of her anklets distracted him while he was moulding the pot. Finally, the daughter blames the goldsmith for delaying her bridal ornaments, which forced her to walk past the potter's shop in the first place. This hilarious sequence shows how no one takes responsibility, and the foolish king blindly accepts every ridiculous excuse.  

मराठी टीप (दीर्घ उत्तर कसे रचावे):

1. सुरुवात: चोराने भिंत पडल्याचा दोष व्यापाऱ्याला (merchant) दिला, येथून ही मालिका सुरू होते.  

2. मुख्य घटनाक्रम:

   • व्यापाऱ्याने गवंड्याला (bricklayer) दोष दिला.  

   • गवंड्याने चुना बनवणाऱ्याला (mortar-maker) दोष दिला.  

   • चुना बनवणाऱ्याने कुंभाराला (potter) दोष दिला (मडक्याचे तोंड मोठे असल्याबद्दल).  

   • कुंभाराने सावकाराच्या मुलीला (तितून गेल्यामुळे लक्ष विचलित झाल्याचा) दोष दिला.  

   • शेवटी मुलीने सोनाराला (दागिने वेळेवर न दिल्याचा) दोष दिला.  

3. शेवट: यावरून राजाचा मूर्खपणा आणि न्यायव्यवस्थेची थट्टा दिसून येते.  

Q2. Write a detailed character sketch of King Chaupat, highlighting his foolishness and greed with examples from the play.

Answer: King Chaupat, the ruler of Andher Nagari, is the ultimate embodiment of a foolish, irrational, and greedy leader. His profound lack of common sense is established early on when he entertains a complaint from an admitted thief. Instead of punishing the thief for burglary, he blindly agrees that the "murder" of the thief’s partner demands a life for a life. He is easily manipulated by his subjects, accepting a long, ridiculous chain of excuses as he shifts the death penalty from a merchant to a bricklayer, all the way down to a goldsmith.  

His concept of "prompt action" is terrifyingly absurd. When the executioner's noose does not fit the guilty party, Chaupat simply orders an innocent bystander—the disciple—to be hanged just because his neck fits the rope. Finally, his immense greed proves to be his undoing. When the clever Sage invents a fake prophecy about future imperial glory, Chaupat is so blinded by his lust for power that he eagerly orders his own execution. He willingly destroys his own life, proving that a leader without wisdom and self-control brings destruction upon himself.  

मराठी टीप (दीर्घ उत्तर मार्गदर्शन):

1. सुरुवात: चौपट राजा हा अत्यंत मूर्ख, अविवेकी आणि लोभी राजा होता.  

2. मुख्य स्पष्टीकरण:

   • चोराला शिक्षा न देता तो निर्दोष लोकांना फाशी द्यायला निघतो.  

   • फाशीचा दोर सोनाराच्या गळ्यात बसत नाही, तेव्हा 'ज्याच्या गळ्यात दोर बसेल त्याला फाशी द्या' असा अजब न्याय तो देतो.  

3. शेवट: जेव्हा गुरू त्याला सांगतो की आज मरणारा पुढच्या जन्मी महान सम्राट बनेल, तेव्हा तो लोभापायी स्वतःच फासावर चढतो. यावरून त्याचा मूर्खपणा सिद्ध होतो.

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