Part 1: Story Text & Bengali Meaning (Pages 1-3)
A tiger was caught in a storm. He had wandered near the village, looking for something to eat. On the outskirts of that village lived an ill-tempered old woman. The tiger huddled in shelter close to the wall of the woman's hut.
বাংলা অর্থ: একটি বাঘ ঝড়ের মধ্যে পড়ে গেল। সে খাবারের খোঁজে গ্রামের কাছে ঘুরছিল। সেই গ্রামের প্রান্তে একটি বদমেজাজি বুড়ি থাকত। বাঘটি বুড়ির কুঁড়েঘরের দেয়ালের পাশে আশ্রয়ের জন্য গুটিয়ে বসেছিল।
The old woman was feeling very ill-tempered that night. The rainwater was leaking through the roof. "There is no escape from this drip-drip," she muttered angrily, pushing her bed around the room to keep it dry. She shoved the bed and a tin trunk against a wall. The wall shook. "This drip-drip will be the death of me!" she shouted.
বাংলা অর্থ: সেই রাতে বুড়ি খুবই বদমেজাজি ছিল। চাল দিয়ে বৃষ্টির জল চুঁইয়ে পড়ছিল। "এই টপটপানি থেকে রেহাই নেই," সে রাগ করে বিড়বিড় করে বলল, বিছানা শুকনো রাখার জন্য ঘরের চারপাশে ঠেলতে ঠেলতে। সে বিছানা আর একটা টিনের ট্রাঙ্ক দেয়ালের দিকে ধাক্কা দিল। দেয়াল কেঁপে উঠল। "এই টপটপানি আমার মৃত্যুর কারণ হবে!" সে চিৎকার করে বলল।
The tiger on the opposite side of the wall felt the wall shake and was frightened. "The drip-drip must be a very dreadful creature," he thought.
বাংলা অর্থ: দেয়ালের অপর পাশে থাকা বাঘ দেয়াল কাঁপতে টের পেল আর ভয় পেয়ে গেল। "এই টপটপানি নিশ্চয়ই খুব ভয়ংকর কোনো প্রাণী," সে ভাবল।
Meanwhile, Bholenath, the potter, was out in the night, looking for his donkey in the storm. Suddenly he saw an animal huddled in the dark against the wall of the woman's hut.
বাংলা অর্থ: এদিকে, ভোলানাথ নামে এক কুমোর, ঝড়ের রাতে তার গাধাটিকে খুঁজছিল। হঠাৎ সে বুড়ির কুঁড়েঘরের দেয়ালের পাশে অন্ধকারে একটা প্রাণীকে গুটিয়ে বসে থাকতে দেখল।
Word Nest:
| English Word | Bengali Meaning |
|---|---|
| outskirts | প্রান্ত, সীমানা |
| huddled | গুটিসুটি মেরে বসা |
| muttered | বিড়বিড় করা |
| shoved | ধাক্কা দেওয়া |
| dreadful | ভয়ঙ্কর |
Part 2: Story Text & Bengali Meaning (Pages 4-6)
"There is my donkey!" Bholenath shouted, and running to the tiger, grabbed it. He pulled the tiger's ears. "Move, you lazy donkey, or I will give you a hard time!" The tiger was really frightened. "This must be the terrible drip-drip!" He thought. Bholenath dragged the tiger home and kept him tied by a sturdy rope to a tree near his hut.
বাংলা অর্থ: "এই তো আমার গাধা!" ভোলানাথ চিৎকার করে বলল, আর দৌড়ে গিয়ে বাঘটাকে ধরে ফেলল। সে বাঘের কান ধরে টান দিল। "চল, অলস গাধা, নাহলে তোকে কষ্ট দেব!" বাঘটা সত্যিই ভয় পেয়ে গেল। "এটাই নিশ্চয়ই সেই ভয়ানক টপটপানি!" সে ভাবল। ভোলানাথ বাঘটাকে টেনে বাড়ি নিয়ে গেল আর তার কুঁড়েঘরের কাছে একটা গাছে শক্ত দড়ি দিয়ে বেঁধে রাখল।
In the morning, Bholenath's wife discovered the tiger tied to the tree and screamed in fear. Hearing her, the neighbours came running out of their huts. Bholenath was sleeping. He came out, too. The people were all mystified. "Who tied this tiger to the tree?" They asked. A neighbour said, "I think Bholenath can tell us. I saw him last night dragging an animal through the storm." Bholenath was too frightened to admit his mistake.
বাংলা অর্থ: সকালে, ভোলানাথের স্ত্রী গাছের সাথে বাঁধা বাঘটাকে দেখতে পেয়ে ভয়ে চিৎকার করে উঠল। তাকে শুনে প্রতিবেশীরা তাদের কুঁড়েঘর থেকে দৌড়ে বেরিয়ে এল। ভোলানাথ তখন ঘুমোচ্ছিল। সেও বাইরে এল। সবাই বিভ্রান্ত হয়ে গেল। "বাঘটাকে গাছের সাথে কে বেঁধেছে?" তারা জিজ্ঞাসা করল। এক প্রতিবেশী বলল, "আমি মনে করি ভোলানাথ আমাদের বলতে পারে। আমি কাল রাতে ওকে ঝড়ের মধ্যে একটা প্রাণীকে টেনে নিয়ে যেতে দেখেছি।" ভোলানাথ নিজের ভুল স্বীকার করতে ভীষণ ভয় পেল।
In the meantime, the tiger, disturbed and confused by all the people, had chewed through the rope. It ran away to the jungle. The villagers were relieved. Bholenath now saw an opportunity to brag. "It is I who captured the tiger last night. I even pulled its ears," Bholenath announced proudly. Everyone marvelled at his bravery.
বাংলা অর্থ: ইতিমধ্যে, সব মানুষ দেখে বিরক্ত ও বিভ্রান্ত বাঘ দড়িটা চিবিয়ে কেটে ফেলেছিল। সেটা জঙ্গলে পালিয়ে গেল। গ্রামবাসীরা স্বস্তি পেল। ভোলানাথ এবার বড়াই করার সুযোগ দেখল। "কাল রাতে আমিই বাঘটাকে ধরেছিলাম। আমি এর কানও ধরে টান দিয়েছিলাম," ভোলানাথ গর্বভরে ঘোষণা করল। সবাই তার সাহসিকতায় অবাক হল।
Soon the news of Bholenath's bravery reached the king. The king was highly impressed. He made Bholenath the Commander-in-chief of the king's army. Bholenath and his wife were given a huge house to live in.
বাংলা অর্থ: তাড়াতাড়ি ভোলানাথের বাহাদুরির খবর রাজার কাছে পৌঁছাল। রাজা খুবই প্রভাবিত হলেন। তিনি ভোলানাথকে তার সেনাবাহিনীর সেনাপতি নিযুক্ত করলেন। ভোলানাথ ও তার স্ত্রীকে থাকার জন্য বিরাট এক বাড়ি দেওয়া হল।
A few months after that evening, news came that a neighbouring king has declared war. Bholenath and his king gathered at the royal court. The king told Bholenath, "You are the Commander-in-chief of my army. I entrust you with the duty of protecting my state." Bholenath came back home in utter despair. "I don't even know how to ride a horse", he told his wife helplessly, "How will I defend our borders against eight thousand enemy soldiers?"
বাংলা অর্থ: সেই রাতের কয়েক মাস পর, খবর এল যে প্রতিবেশী রাজা যুদ্ধ ঘোষণা করেছে। ভোলানাথ ও তার রাজা রাজদরবারে মিলিত হলেন। রাজা ভোলানাথকে বললেন, "তুমি আমার সেনাবাহিনীর সেনাপতি। আমার রাজ্য রক্ষার দায়িত্ব আমি তোমার হাতে তুলে দিলাম।" ভোলানাথ সম্পূর্ণ হতাশায় বাড়ি ফিরল। "আমি তো ঘোড়ায় চড়াই জানি না", সে অসহায়ভাবে তার স্ত্রীকে বলল, "আমি কিভাবে আট হাজার শত্রু সৈন্যের বিরুদ্ধে আমাদের সীমানা রক্ষা করব?"
"Don't worry," his wife said, "I'll tie you to the horse." In the morning, the king sent Bholenath a magnificent stallion. Bholenath got up glumly on the horse and his wife securely tied him to it with a rope. The horse did not like the feel of the tight ropes. It reared suddenly and galloped off wildly. Bholenath hung desperately to its mane.
বাংলা অর্থ: "চিন্তা করো না," তার স্ত্রী বলল, "আমি তোমাকে ঘোড়ার সাথে বেঁধে দেব।" সকালে, রাজা ভোলানাথকে একটি দুর্দান্ত ঘোড়া পাঠালেন। ভোলানাথ বিষণ্ণ ভাবে ঘোড়ায় চড়ল আর তার স্ত্রী তাকে দড়ি দিয়ে শক্ত করে ঘোড়ার সাথে বেঁধে দিল। ঘোড়াটা শক্ত দড়ির বাঁধন পছন্দ করল না। সেটা হঠাৎ পিছনের পায়ে ভর দিয়ে লাফিয়ে উঠল এবং বেপরোয়াভাবে ছুটতে শুরু করল। ভোলানাথ মরিয়া হয়ে ঘোড়ার কেশর ধরে ঝুলতে থাকল।
Realising that the horse was headed straight for the enemy camp, Bholenath shouted in fear. The horse could not be stopped. Bholenath noticed a large tree with its branches hanging over the road. As the horse galloped under the tree, Bholenath reached up to grasp the branches and pull himself free. But the branches broke away in his hands. The horse had entered the enemy camp.
বাংলা অর্থ: ঘোড়াটা সোজা শত্রু শিবিরের দিকে যাচ্ছে বুঝতে পেরে, ভোলানাথ ভয়ে চিৎকার করে উঠল। ঘোড়াটাকে থামানো গেল না। ভোলানাথ রাস্তার উপর ঝুলন্ত ডালপালা-সহ একটা বড় গাছ দেখতে পেল। ঘোড়াটা যখন গাছের নিচ দিয়ে ছুটে গেল, ভোলানাথ ডালগুলো ধরে নিজেকে ছাড়ানোর জন্য উপরের দিকে হাত বাড়াল। কিন্তু ডালগুলো তার হাতেই ভেঙে গেল। ঘোড়াটা শত্রু শিবিরে ঢুকে পড়ল।
The enemy soldiers were astonished to see a wild-looking man tied to a fierce stallion, waving branches excitedly. "Help, help!" Bholenath was shouting. The enemy soldiers did not hear him. They were greatly scared. "This must be some great warrior come single-handedly to defeat us!" The soldiers were overcome with fear and instantly ran away without putting up a fight. Soon the news of Bholenath's great victory spread. Everyone was amazed that he had defended his state all by himself against eight thousand enemy soldiers. The king awarded him in a public ceremony. Bholenath became a legend. It all had started with a drip-drip!
বাংলা অর্থ: শত্রু সৈন্যরা একটা ভয়ংকর ঘোড়ার সাথে বাঁধা, উত্তেজিতভাবে ডালপালা নাড়ানো বুনো চেহারার লোককে দেখে অবাক হয়ে গেল। "বাঁচাও, বাঁচাও!" ভোলানাথ চিৎকার করছিল। শত্রু সৈন্যরা তাকে শুনতে পেল না। তারা ভীষণ ভয় পেয়ে গেল। "ইনি নিশ্চয়ই কোন মহান যোদ্ধা যিনি একাই আমাদের পরাজিত করতে এসেছেন!" ভয়ে আতঙ্কিত সৈন্যরা কোনোরকম লড়াই না করেই সঙ্গে সঙ্গে পালিয়ে গেল। তাড়াতাড়ি ভোলানাথের মহান বিজয়ের খবর ছড়িয়ে পড়ল। সবাই আশ্চর্য হয়ে গেল যে সে একা হাতে আট হাজার শত্রু সৈন্যের বিরুদ্ধে রাজ্য রক্ষা করেছে। রাজা তাকে জনসমক্ষে পুরস্কৃত করলেন। ভোলানাথ কিংবদন্তি হয়ে গেল। সবকিছু শুরু হয়েছিল একটা টপটপানি দিয়ে!
Word Nest:
| English Word | Bengali Meaning |
|---|---|
| sturdy | শক্ত, মজবুত |
| mystified | বিভ্রান্ত, হতবুদ্ধি |
| brag | বড়াই করা, গর্ব করা |
| despair | হতাশা |
| stallion | পূর্ণবয়স্ক পুরুষ ঘোড়া |
| reared | পিছনের পায়ে ভর দিয়ে ওঠা |
Activity Solutions
Activity 1 Tick [√] the correct alternative:
(a) The tiger took shelter near the house of (i) an old woman.
(b) The old woman was (ii) ill-tempered.
(c) The tiger thought drip-drip was (iii) a creature.
(d) Bholenath was a (iii) potter.
(b) The old woman was (ii) ill-tempered.
(c) The tiger thought drip-drip was (iii) a creature.
(d) Bholenath was a (iii) potter.
Activity 2 Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in the given boxes:
| Correct Order | Sentence |
|---|---|
| (1) | A tiger was caught in a storm. |
| (2) | The tiger took shelter outside an old woman's hut. |
| (3) | The old woman was ill-tempered that night. |
| (4) | She pushed her bed around the room to keep it dry. |
| (5) | Bholenath was looking for his donkey. |
| (6) | Bholenath saw an animal huddled against the wall of the woman's hut. |
Activity 3 Answer the following question:
What do you think would Bholenath's reaction be if he knew that the animal 'huddled in the dark' was actually a tiger?
Answer: If Bholenath had known that the animal was a tiger, he would have been extremely frightened and would have run away to save his life instead of grabbing its ears and dragging it home.
Answer: If Bholenath had known that the animal was a tiger, he would have been extremely frightened and would have run away to save his life instead of grabbing its ears and dragging it home.
Activity 4 Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(a) The tiger was frightened because the wall shook and he thought the "drip-drip" must be a very dreadful creature.
(b) Bholenath's wife screamed in fear when she discovered the tiger tied to the tree.
(c) Disturbed and confused by the people, the tiger chewed through the rope and ran away to the jungle.
(d) Bholenath announced proudly that he had captured the tiger and even pulled its ears.
(b) Bholenath's wife screamed in fear when she discovered the tiger tied to the tree.
(c) Disturbed and confused by the people, the tiger chewed through the rope and ran away to the jungle.
(d) Bholenath announced proudly that he had captured the tiger and even pulled its ears.
Activity 5 Answer the following questions:
(a) Why did Bholenath bring the tiger home?
Answer: Bholenath brought the tiger home because he mistook it for his lost donkey in the dark and stormy night.
(b) What made the neighbours come running out of their huts?
Answer: Bholenath's wife screamed in fear when she saw the tiger tied to the tree. Hearing her scream, the neighbours came running out of their huts.
(c) Why were the villagers relieved?
Answer: The villagers were relieved because the tiger had chewed through the rope and run away to the jungle, and they were safe from danger.
(d) How did the king reward Bholenath for his bravery?
Answer: The king was highly impressed and made Bholenath the Commander-in-chief of his army. He also gave Bholenath and his wife a huge house to live in.
Answer: Bholenath brought the tiger home because he mistook it for his lost donkey in the dark and stormy night.
(b) What made the neighbours come running out of their huts?
Answer: Bholenath's wife screamed in fear when she saw the tiger tied to the tree. Hearing her scream, the neighbours came running out of their huts.
(c) Why were the villagers relieved?
Answer: The villagers were relieved because the tiger had chewed through the rope and run away to the jungle, and they were safe from danger.
(d) How did the king reward Bholenath for his bravery?
Answer: The king was highly impressed and made Bholenath the Commander-in-chief of his army. He also gave Bholenath and his wife a huge house to live in.
Activity 6 Write 'T' for true and 'F' for false statements. Give supporting statements for each of your answers:
(a) Bholenath did not know how to ride a horse.
T
Supporting statement: "I don't even know how to ride a horse," he told his wife helplessly.
(b) The king sent Bholenath a magnificent elephant.
F
Supporting statement: In the morning, the king sent Bholenath a magnificent stallion.
(c) The enemy soldiers were happy to see Bholenath.
F
Supporting statement: The enemy soldiers were astonished and greatly scared.
(d) Bholenath defeated the enemy soldiers single-handedly.
T
Supporting statement: Everyone was amazed that he had defended his state all by himself against eight thousand enemy soldiers.
Activity 7 Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
(a) Why was Bholenath full of despair?
Answer: Bholenath was full of despair because the king entrusted him with the duty of protecting the state, but he did not even know how to ride a horse, let alone fight eight thousand enemy soldiers.
(b) How did his wife help him to overcome his trouble?
Answer: His wife helped him by tying him securely to the horse with a rope so that he would not fall off.
(c) What made the enemy soldiers greatly scared?
Answer: The sight of a wild-looking man tied to a fierce stallion, waving broken branches excitedly and shouting, made the enemy soldiers greatly scared. They thought he was a great warrior.
(d) Do you think Bholenath could truly be called a legendary character? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: No, Bholenath could not truly be called a legendary character. He was not brave; he was actually very frightened. His success was a result of a comical misunderstanding and pure luck, not of any genuine heroic deed.
Answer: Bholenath was full of despair because the king entrusted him with the duty of protecting the state, but he did not even know how to ride a horse, let alone fight eight thousand enemy soldiers.
(b) How did his wife help him to overcome his trouble?
Answer: His wife helped him by tying him securely to the horse with a rope so that he would not fall off.
(c) What made the enemy soldiers greatly scared?
Answer: The sight of a wild-looking man tied to a fierce stallion, waving broken branches excitedly and shouting, made the enemy soldiers greatly scared. They thought he was a great warrior.
(d) Do you think Bholenath could truly be called a legendary character? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: No, Bholenath could not truly be called a legendary character. He was not brave; he was actually very frightened. His success was a result of a comical misunderstanding and pure luck, not of any genuine heroic deed.
Grammar Activities - Let's Learn & Do
Activity 8(a) Underline the Nouns which indicate either a state of being or a quality of mind:
(i) The king is known for his kindness.
(ii) The beauty of the flower attracted me.
(iii) Childhood is fun.
(iv) India attained freedom in 1947.
(ii) The beauty of the flower attracted me.
(iii) Childhood is fun.
(iv) India attained freedom in 1947.
Activity 8(b) Form abstract nouns from the following words:
(i) dark : darkness
(ii) adult : adulthood
(iii) amaze : amazement
(iv) disturb : disturbance
(v) confuse : confusion
(vi) sweet : sweetness
(ii) adult : adulthood
(iii) amaze : amazement
(iv) disturb : disturbance
(v) confuse : confusion
(vi) sweet : sweetness
Activity 8(c) Underline the words that indicate a group of people, animals or things taken as a whole:
(i) I saw a crowd in front of the shop.
(ii) A herd of cattle is passing by.
(iii) Our school cricket team has won.
(iv) A bunch of flowers was kept in the vase.
(ii) A herd of cattle is passing by.
(iii) Our school cricket team has won.
(iv) A bunch of flowers was kept in the vase.
Activity 8(d) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate collective nouns:
(i) A posse of policemen marched by. (Already done)
(ii) I bought a bunch of grapes from the market.
(iii) A flock of sheep was grazing in the field.
(iv) I saw a swarm of bees buzzing around.
(v) The class is very noisy.
(ii) I bought a bunch of grapes from the market.
(iii) A flock of sheep was grazing in the field.
(iv) I saw a swarm of bees buzzing around.
(v) The class is very noisy.
Activity 8(e) Underline words that can be counted. Circle the words that cannot be counted:
(i) I am reading a book. (Underline book)
(ii) Iron is a useful metal. (Circle Iron)
(iii) Snowy is his pet dog. (Underline Snowy and dog)
(iv) She has long hair. (Circle hair)
(ii) Iron is a useful metal. (Circle Iron)
(iii) Snowy is his pet dog. (Underline Snowy and dog)
(iv) She has long hair. (Circle hair)
Activity 8(f) Read the sentences and put the underlined words in the correct columns:
| Countable Nouns | Uncountable Nouns |
|---|---|
| door (ii) | milk (i) |
| toys (iv) | sugar (iii) |
Activity 9 Find words from the text nearest in meaning to the words given below:
(a) kingly : royal
(b) sorrow : despair
(c) surprised : astonished
(d) afraid : frightened
(b) sorrow : despair
(c) surprised : astonished
(d) afraid : frightened
Activity 10(a) Write a short paragraph in about sixty words describing your experience of being caught in a storm:
Last Sunday, I was returning home from my aunt's place in the evening. Suddenly, the sky grew very dark, and a wild wind began to blow. Heavy rain started pouring down. I was all alone on the road, and there was no shelter nearby. I was very scared. I somehow managed to run under a large tree. After about ten minutes, the rain lessened, and I rushed back home, completely drenched and shivering.
Activity 10(b) Suppose you are Rima. Write a short paragraph in about six sentences about your family.
My name is Rima. My grandfather is Raghunath Jha, and I live in a joint family. My father is a doctor, and my mother is a teacher. I have a younger brother named Rahul. My grandparents love us very much. We all live together happily and share our joys and sorrows.
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