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    7. सिकतासेतुः - Sikatasetu - Class 9 - Shemushi 1

    • 4 days ago
    • 6 min read

    Updated: 16 hours ago

    1. Chapter Summary (Paath Saar)


    English Summary:

    This dramatic piece is adapted from the seventh chapter of the famous story collection "Kathasaritsagara" written by Somadeva. The story revolves around a boy named Tapodatta, who did not study in his childhood and was consequently criticized by his family and relatives. Regretting his ignorance, he decides to acquire knowledge through severe penance (Tapasya) rather than studying books or attending a Gurukul.

    To make him realize his mistake, Lord Indra appears in the guise of a man and starts building a bridge over the rushing river using only sand (Sikata). Tapodatta mocks the man, asking how a bridge of sand can stand against the flow of water. The man replies that if Tapodatta can acquire knowledge without reading, writing, or learning the alphabet, then surely a bridge can be built with sand. Tapodatta understands the irony, realizes that hard work and systematic study are necessary for learning, and goes to the Gurukul.


    Moral (Sandesh):

    Knowledge cannot be acquired by mere desire or penance; it requires systematic effort, study, and the guidance of a teacher.


    2. Selected Dialogue Translation (Anuvad)

    Sanskrit Text (Split Sandhis)

    English Translation

    (ततः प्रविशति तपस्यारतः तपोदत्तः)

    (Then enters Tapodatta, engaged in penance.)

    तपोदत्तः - अहमस्मि तपोदत्तः।

    Tapodatta: I am Tapodatta.

    बाल्ये पितृचरणैः क्लेश्यमानोऽपि विद्यां नाऽधीतवानस्मि।

    In childhood, even though urged/troubled by my father, I did not study.

    तस्मात् सर्वैः कुटुम्बिभिः मित्रैः ज्ञातिजनैश्च गर्हितोऽभवम्।

    Therefore, I was insulted by all family members, friends, and relatives.

    (नेपथ्ये) अये! कुतोऽयं कल्लोलोच्छलनध्वनिः?

    (From behind the curtain) Oh! Where is this sound of splashing waves coming from?

    कथम् अयं जलोच्छलनध्वनिः?

    Why is there this sound of splashing water?

    (दृष्ट्वा) अये! एकः पुरुषः सिकताभिः सेतुं निर्मातुं प्रयतते। (सहासम्)

    (Seeing) Oh! A man is trying to build a bridge with sand. (Laughing)

    हन्त! नास्ति अभावः जगति मूर्खाणाम्।

    Alas! There is no shortage of fools in the world.

    तीव्रप्रवाहायां नद्यां मूढोऽयं सिकताभिः सेतुं निर्मातुं प्रयतते।

    This fool is trying to build a bridge with sand in the fast-flowing river.

    (पार्श्वमुपेत्य) भो महाशय! किमिदं विधीयते?

    (Approaching him) O Sir! What are you doing?

    अलम् अलम् तव श्रमेण। पश्य-

    Enough, enough with your labor. Look-

    पुरुषः - भोस्तपस्विन! कथं माम् अवरुणत्सि?

    Man (Indra): O Ascetic! Why do you stop me?

    प्रयत्नेन किं न सिद्धं भवति? का आवश्यकता शिलानाम्?

    What cannot be achieved by effort? What is the need for rocks?

    सिकताभिरेव सेतुं करिष्यामि स्वदृढसङ्कल्पतया।

    I will make the bridge with sand alone through my firm determination.

    तपोदत्तः - आश्चर्यम्! सिकताभिरेव सेतुं करिष्यसि?

    Tapodatta: Amazing! You will make a bridge just with sand?

    सिकताः जलप्रवाहे स्थास्यन्ति किम्?

    Will the sand stay in the water flow?

    पुरुषः -... यदि लिपि-अक्षर-ज्ञानं तपोभिरेव केवलम्...

    Man: ...If knowledge of script and letters (can be attained) only by penance...

    विद्या वशे भवेत् ते, सेतुरेषः तथा मम।

    If knowledge becomes yours (without study), then this bridge of mine (will also exist).

    तपोदत्तः - (सवैलक्ष्यम् आत्मगतम्) अये! मामेव उद्दिश्य भद्रपुरुषोऽयं आक्षिपति।

    Tapodatta: (With shame, to himself) Oh! This noble man is hinting at me/mocking me.

    नूनं सत्यमत्र पश्यामि। अक्षरज्ञानं विना एव वैदुष्यम् अवाप्तुम् अभिलषामि।

    I surely see the truth here. I desire to attain scholarship without learning the alphabet.

    3. Shloka Analysis


    Shloka 1 (Spoken by Tapodatta)

    परिधानैरलङ्कारैर्भूषितोऽपि न शोभते।

    नरो निर्मणिभोगीव सभायां यदि वा गृहे॥

    • Anvaya: यदि (नरः विद्याहीनः अस्ति तर्हि) परिधानैः अलङ्कारैः भूषितः अपि सभायां वा गृहे न शोभते, इव निर्मणिभोगी (न शोभते)।

    • English Meaning: Even if decorated with clothes and ornaments, a person (without knowledge) does not look good in an assembly or at home, just as a snake without a jewel does not look impressive.


    Shloka 2 (Spoken by Tapodatta mocking the Man)

    रामं बबन्ध यं सेतुं शिलाभिर्मकरालये।

    विदधद् बालुकाभिस्तं यासि त्वमतिरामताम्॥

    • Anvaya: रामः मकरालये शिलाभिः यं सेतुं बबन्ध, त्वं बालुकाभिः तं (सेतुं) विदधत् अतिरामतां यासि।

    • English Meaning: Lord Rama built the bridge over the ocean (abode of crocodiles) using rocks. By building that bridge with sands, you are exceeding (trying to surpass) Rama!


    Shloka 3 (Spoken by the Man/Indra)

    विना लिप्यक्षरज्ञानं तपोभिरेव केवलम्।

    यदि विद्या वशे स्युस्ते सेतुरेष तथा मम॥

    • Anvaya: यदि लिपि-अक्षर-ज्ञानं विना केवलं तपोभिः एव विद्याः ते वशे स्युः, (तदा) मम एषः सेतुः तथा (भविष्यति/सम्भवः अस्ति)।

    • English Meaning: If you can master knowledge/sciences merely by penance without learning the script and letters, then this bridge of mine is also possible (just like that).


    4. Word Meanings (Kathin Shabdarth)

    1. सिकता (Sikata) = Sand (बालुका)

    2. मकरालये (Makaralaye) = In the ocean (समुद्रे)

    3. पितृचरणैः (Pitricharanaih) = By respected father (पित्रा)

    4. गर्हितः (Garhitah) = Insulted / Blamed (निन्दितः)

    5. कल्लोलः (Kallolah) = Large wave (बृहत् तरंगः)

    6. अट्टहासम् (Attahasam) = Loud laughter (उच्चैः हासः)

    7. साधु (Sadhu) = Well done / Good (उचितम् / सम्यक्)

    8. अञ्जनेयम् (Anjaneyam) = Hanuman (हनुमन्तम्)

    9. कुटुम्बिभिः (Kutumbibhih) = By family members (परिवारजनैः)

    10. सभ्यः (Sabhyah) = Courteous / Civilized (सज्जनः) [Note: In text context, Tapodatta reflects on civility]


    5. Competency-Based Assessment

    A. Question Construction (Prashna Nirman)

    Sentence

    Question

    Explanation

    तपोदत्तः तपस्यायां निरतः आसीत्।

    कः तपस्यायां निरतः आसीत्?

    Used 'Kah' because 'Tapodattah' is Masculine Singular.

    सः बालुकाभिः सेतुं निर्माति।

    सः काभिः सेतुं निर्माति?

    Used 'Kabhih' for Feminine Instrumental Plural.

    गुरुकुलं गत्वा एव विद्या अभ्यसमीया।

    कुत्र गत्वा एव विद्या अभ्यसमीया?

    Used 'Kutra' (Where) for destination.

    नद्यां जलोच्छलनध्वनिः श्रूयते।

    कस्याम्/कुत्र जलोच्छलनध्वनिः श्रूयते?

    Used 'Kasyam' for Feminine Locative.

    अक्षरज्ञानं विना वैदुष्यं न लभ्यते।

    किम् विना वैदुष्यं न लभ्यते?

    Used 'Kim' for the object 'Aksharajnyanam'.

    B. Bhashik Karyam (Linguistic Work)


    1. Question: In "अहं सोपानमार्गैः गन्तुं न विश्वसिमि", what is the Kriya Padam (Verb)?

      • Answer: विश्वसिमि (Believe).

      • Explanation: It is the action performed by the subject 'Aham'.


    2. Question: In "मूढोऽयं पुरुषः", what is the Visheshan (Adjective)?

      • Answer: मूढः (Foolish).

      • Explanation: It describes the noun 'Purushah'.


    3. Question: Write a synonym for "समुद्रः" from Shloka 2.

      • Answer: मकरालयः (Makaralayah).

      • Explanation: Used in the verse referring to Rama's bridge.


    4. Question: Write the antonym for "प्रशंसितः" (Praised) from the text context.

      • Answer: गर्हितः (Insulted/Blamed).

      • Explanation: Tapodatta says he was 'Garhitah' by family.


    6. Subjective Q&A (Pathit Avabodhanam)

    A. Ekpaden Uttarat (One Word Answers)

    • Q: कः बाल्ये विद्यां न अधीतवान्? (Who did not study in childhood?)

      • Ans: तपोदत्तः (Tapodatta).


    • Q: तपोदत्तः कया विद्याम् अवाप्तुं प्रवृत्तः अस्ति? (By what does Tapodatta try to attain knowledge?)

      • Ans: तपश्चर्यया / तपसा (By penance).


    • Q: मकरालये शिलाभिः सेतुं कः बबन्ध? (Who built the bridge with rocks over the ocean?)

      • Ans: रामः (Rama).


    • Q: पुरुषः सिकताभिः किं करोति? (What is the man doing with sand?)

      • Ans: सेतुनिर्माणम् (Building a bridge).


    B. Purnavakyen Uttarat (Full Sentence Answers)

    • Q: अनधीतः तपोदत्तः कैः गर्हितः अभवत्? (By whom was the uneducated Tapodatta insulted?)

      • Ans: अनधीतः तपोदत्तः सर्वैः कुटुम्बिभिः मित्रैः ज्ञातिजनैश्च गर्हितः अभवत्। (He was insulted by all family members, friends, and relatives).


    • Q: तपोदत्तः पुरुषस्य काम् चेष्टां दृष्ट्वा हसति? (Seeing what action of the man does Tapodatta laugh?)

      • Ans: तपोदत्तः पुरुषस्य सिकताभिः सेतुनिर्माणप्रयासं दृष्ट्वा हसति। (Tapodatta laughs seeing the man's attempt to build a bridge with sand).


    • Q: अन्ते तपोदत्तः विद्याग्रहणाय कुत्र गतः? (Where did Tapodatta go finally to acquire knowledge?)

      • Ans: अन्ते तपोदत्तः विद्याग्रहणाय गुरुकुलं गतः। (Finally, he went to the Gurukul to acquire knowledge).


    7. Integrated Grammar (Vyakaran)

    A. Sandhi (Joining/Splitting)

    1. कुतोऽयम् = कुतः + अयम् (Visarga - Utvam).

    2. नास्ति = न + अस्ति (Dirgha).

    3. सिकताभिरेव = सिकताभिः + एव (Visarga - Rutvam).

    4. तपोदत्तोऽहम् = तपोदत्तः + अहम् (Visarga - Utvam).

    5. पुनरत्र = पुनः + अत्र (Visarga - Rutvam).


    B. Pratyaya (Suffixes)

    1. गन्तुम् = गम् + तुमुन् (To go).

    2. उपगम्य = उप + गम् + ल्यप् (Having approached).

    3. दृष्ट्वा = दृश् + क्त्वा (Having seen).

    4. निर्मातुम् = निर् + मा + तुमुन् (To build).

    5. विचिन्त्य = वि + चिन्त् + ल्यप् (Having thought).


    8. Who Said to Whom? (Ka Kam Prati Kathayati)

    Sentence

    Speaker

    Listener

    "हा विधे! किमिदं मया कृतम्?"

    तपोदत्तः (Tapodatta)

    आत्मनम् (To himself)

    "भो महाशय! किमिदं विधीयते?"

    तपोदत्तः (Tapodatta)

    पुरुषम् (The Man/Indra)

    "का आवश्यकता शिलानाम्?"

    पुरुषः (The Man)

    तपोदत्तम् (Tapodatta)

    "विना लिप्यक्षरज्ञानं तपोभिरेव केवलम्..."

    पुरुषः (The Man)

    तपोदत्तम् (Tapodatta)

    "भवद्भिः उन्मीलितं मे नयनयुगलम्।"

    तपोदत्तः (Tapodatta)

    पुरुषम् (The Man)

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