A grain as big as a Hen's egg

Text – I

One day some children found, in a ravine, a thing shaped like a grain of corn, with a groove down the middle, but as large as a hen’s egg. A traveller passing by saw the thing, bought it from the children for a penny, and taking it to town sold it to the King as a curiosity. The King called together his wise men and told them to find out what the thing was. The wise men pondered and pondered and could not make head or tail of it till one day when the item was lying on a window sill, a hen flew in and pecked at it till she made a hole in it, and then everyone saw that it was a grain of corn. The wise men went to the King and said: ‘It is a grain of com’.

ଦିନେ କେତେକ ପିଲା ଏକ ଗଭୀର ସଂକୀର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଉପତ୍ୟାକାରୁ ଶସ୍ୟ ଆକାରର ଏକ ଜିନିଷ ପାଇଲେ ଯାହାର ମଧ୍ୟଭାଗରେ ଏକ ଲମ୍ବା ସଂକୀର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଓ ଗଭୀର କଟା ଦାଗ ଥିଲା; କିନ୍ତୁ ଏହା କୁକୁଡ଼ା ଅଣ୍ଡା ଭଳି ବୃହଦାକାର ଥିଲା । ସେହି ରାସ୍ତା ଦେଇ ଯାଉଥିବା   ଜଣେ ପଥ୍ୟ ଜିନିଷଟିକୁ ଦେଖିଲେ ଏବଂ ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ତାହାକୁ ଏକ ପେନି (ବ୍ରିଟିଶ ମୁଦ୍ରା) ବିନିମୟରେ କିଣିନେଲେ । ତାହାକୁ ସହରକୁ ନେଇ ଏକ ବିସ୍ମୟକର ଜିନିଷଭାବେ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ବିକ୍ରୟ କଲେ । ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କର ବିଜ୍ଞ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିମାନଙ୍କୁ ଡାକିଲେ ଏବଂ ସେହି ଜିନିଷଟି କ’ଣ ବୋଲି ଖୋଜି ବାହାର କରିବାପାଇଁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ । ବିଜ୍ଞ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିମାନେ ଗଭୀର ଭାବେ ଚିନ୍ତା କଲେ ଏବଂ ତା’ର ଆଦିଅନ୍ତ କିଛି ପାଇପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ । ଦିନେ ଜିନିଷଟି ଝରକା ଦାଢ଼ରେ ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ସମୟରେ ଏକ କୁକୁଡ଼ା ଉଡ଼ି ଆସି ଏହାକୁ ଖୁମ୍ପିଲା ଏବଂ ଏହାର ମଝିରେ ଏକ ଗାତ କରିଦେଲା । ତା’ପରେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଦେଖିଲେ ଯେ ଏହା ଏକ ଶସ୍ୟଦାନା । ବିଜ୍ଞ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିମାନେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଗଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ ‘ଏହା ଏକ ଶସ୍ୟଦାନା ଅଟେ ।’’

Word Meaning / Glossary:
ravine – A very deep narrow valley
shape – size
wise men – intelligent people
ponder – to think deeply
make head or tail – ଆଦି-ଅନ୍ତ ନିରୂପଣ କରିବା, ଉତ୍ପତ୍ତି ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ପ୍ରୟାସ କରିବା |
window-sill – a lodge forming the bottom part of the window sill below the window
peck.

At this, the King was much surprised, and he ordered the learned men to find out when and where such corn had grown. The learned men pondered again, and searched in their books, but could find nothing about it. So they returned to the King and said: ‘We can give you no answer. There is nothing about it in our books. You will have to ask the peasants; perhaps some of them may have heard from their fathers when and where grain grew to such a size.

So the King gave orders that some very old peasants should be brought before him; his servants found such a man and brought him to the King. Old and bent, ashy pale and toothless, he just managed with the help of two crutches to totter into the King’s presence. The King showed him the grain, but the old man could hardly see it; he took it, however, and felt it with his hands. The King questioned him, saying: ‘Can you tell us, old man, where such grain as this grown? Have you ever bought such corn, or sown such in your fields?’

ଏଥରେ ରାଜା ଖୁବ୍ ବିସ୍ମିତ ହେଲେ ଏବଂ ବିଜ୍ଞ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏହିଭଳି ଶସ୍ୟ କେବେ ଏବଂ କେଉଁଠାରେ ବଢ଼ିଥିଲା ନିରୂପଣ କରିବାକୁ ଆଦେଶ ଦେଲେ । ବିଜ୍ଞ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିମାନେ ପୁନର୍ବାର ଚିନ୍ତା କଲେ ଏବଂ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ପୁସ୍ତକସବୁରୁ ଖୋଜିଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଏ ବିଷୟରେ କିଛି ପାଇପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ । ସେମାନେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଫେରିଗଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ, ‘‘ଆମେ କୌଣସି ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଇପାରିବୁ ନାହିଁ । ଏ ବିଷୟରେ ଆମ ପୁସ୍ତକଗୁଡ଼ିକରେ କିଛି ନାହିଁ । ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ଏ ବିଷୟରେ କୃଷକମାନଙ୍କୁ ପଚାରିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ, ହୁଏତ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ କେତେକ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ବାପାମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ଏଭଳି ଆକାରର ଶସ୍ୟ କେବେ ଏବଂ କେଉଁଠାରେ ବଢ଼ୁଥିଲା ଶୁଣିଥାଇପାରନ୍ତି ।’’

ତେଣୁ କିଛି ବୃଦ୍ଧ କୃଷକଙ୍କୁ ତାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଅଣାଯାଉ ବୋଲି ରାଜା ଆଦେଶ ଦେଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କ କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନେ ଏଭଳି ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କୁ ପାଇଲେ ଓ ତାଙ୍କୁ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆଣିଲେ । ସେ ବୁଢ଼ା ଥିଲେ ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ଅଣ୍ଟା ନଇଁ ଯାଇଥିଲା । ସେ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଓ ଦନ୍ତହୀନ ଥିଲେ । ସେ କୌଣସି ପ୍ରକାରେ ଦୁଇଟି ଆଶାବାଡ଼ି ଧରି ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆସିଲେ । ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କୁ ସେହି ଶସ୍ୟଟିକୁ ଦେଖାଇଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ବୃଦ୍ଧଜଣଙ୍କ ତାକୁ ଠିକ୍‌ ଭାବେ ଦେଖିପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ । ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ହାତରେ ଧରି ଏହାର ଆକାରକୁ ଅନୁଭବ କରିପାରିଲେ । ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ କରି କହିଲେ : ‘‘ହେ ବୃଦ୍ଧ, ତୁମେ ଏହିଭଳି ଆକାରର ଶସ୍ୟ କେଉଁଠାରେ ବଢ଼ିଥିଲା ଆମକୁ କହିପାରିବ କି ? ତୁମେ ଏହିଭଳି ଶସ୍ୟ କେବେ କିଣିଛ କି କିମ୍ବା ତୁମ ଜମିରେ ବୁଣିଛ କି?’’

Word Meaning / Glossary:
surprise – amaze
Search – ଖୋଜିବା
peasants – କୃଷକ
bent – ବଙ୍କା
ashy pale – unhealthy
toothless – without tooth
crutches – ଆଶାବାଡ଼ି
totter – to walk unsteadily

The old man was so deaf that he could hardly hear what the King said, and only understood with great difficulty. ‘No,’ he answered, at last, 7 never sowed nor reaped any like it in my fields, nor did / ever buy any such. When we bought corn, the grains were always as small as they are now. But you might ask my father. He may have heard where such grain grew.’

So the King sent for the old man’s father, and he was found and brought before the King. He came walking with one crutch. The King showed him the grain, and the old peasant, who was still able to see, took a good look at it. And the King asked him: ‘Can you not tell us, old man, where corn like this used to grow? Have you ever bought any like it, or sown any in your fields?’

ବୃଦ୍ଧଲୋକଟି ଏତେ ମାତ୍ରାରେ ବଧୂର ଥିଲା ଯେ ସେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ କଥା ଶୁଣିପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ, କେବଳ ବହୁ କଷ୍ଟରେ ବୁଝିପାରିଲା । ଶେଷରେ ସେ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲା, ‘ନା, ମୁଁ ଏଭଳି ଶସ୍ୟ ମୋ ଜମିରେ ବୁଣିନାହିଁ କି ଅମଳ କରିନାହିଁ, କିମ୍ବା ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ କେବେ କିଣି ନାହିଁ । ଆମେ ଯେତେ ଶସ୍ୟ କିଣିଥିଲୁ, ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଆଜିକାର ଭଳି କ୍ଷୁଦ୍ର ଥିଲା । କିନ୍ତୁ ଆପଣ ମୋ ବାପାଙ୍କୁ ପଚାରିପାରନ୍ତି । ସେ ଏଭଳି ଶସ୍ୟ କେଉଁଠାରେ ବଢ଼ୁଥିଲା ଶୁଣିଥାଇ ପାରନ୍ତି ।’ ତେଣୁ ରାଜା ବୃଦ୍ଧବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କ ବାପାଙ୍କୁ ଡକାଇ ପଠାଇଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଖୋଜାଗଲା ଓ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଅଣାଗଲା ।

ସେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଆଶାବାଡ଼ି ଧରି ଚାଲିଚାଲି ଆସିଲେ । ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କୁ ଶସ୍ୟଦାନାଟି ଦେଖାଇଲେ ଏବଂ ଏବେବି ଦେଖି ପାରୁଥବାରୁ ସେ ଏହାକୁ ଭଲଭାବେ ଦେଖ‌ିଲେ । ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କୁ ପଚାରିଲେ, ‘ହେ ବୃଦ୍ଧ! ଏଭଳି ଶସ୍ୟ କେଉଁଠାରେ ବଢ଼ୁଥିଲା ଆମକୁ ତୁମେ କହିପାରିବ କି? ଏଭଳି କିଛି ତୁମେ କେବେ କିଣିଛ କି କିମ୍ବା ତୁମ କ୍ଷେତରେ ବୁଣିଛ କି?’’

Word Meaning / Glossary:
sow – ବୁଣିବା
send for – ଡକାଇ ପଠାଇବା
reap – ଅମଳ କରିବା

Question 1.
What did the children find in the ravine?

Answer:
The children found in the ravine a thing shaped like a grain of corn with a long narrow, deep line cut in its middle surface. Its size was as large as a hen’s egg.

Question 2.
How did the wise men know that was a grain of corn?

Answer:
When the wise men were told to find out what the thing was, they thought over the matter deeply but did not get any answer. One day, when the thing was lying on a window sill, a hen flew in and pecked at it till she made a hole in it. Then everyone, including the wise men, knew that was a grain of com.

Question 3.
What did the king do to collect information about the grain?

Answer:
To collect information about the grain, the king ordered the learned men to find out when and where such com had grown.

Question 4.
Could the learned men find out the answer? What were their suggestions?

Answer:
The learned men could not find out the answer even after thinking carefully and searching thoroughly their books. But they gave suggestions to the king to ask the peasants who might have heard from their fathers when and where the grain of such a size grew.

Question 5.
What was the king’s question to the old peasant who came first?

Answer:
The king showed the grain to the 01(1 peasant who could hardly see it. However, he felt it with his hands. The king asked him if he had ever bought such corn or sown such in his fields.

Question 6.
Was he able to hear and see? What was his answer?

Answer:
No, the old man was neither able to see nor hear what the king said, but he understood it with great difficulty. His answer was that he never sowed nor reaped such a large size of corn in his fields. He also never bought any such. During his time the grains were always as small as they are now. He suggested the king ask his father about the grain.

Question 7.
How did the old peasant’s father come to the king? Was he able to see?

Answer:
The old peasant’s father came to the king walking with one crutch. His eyesight was better than his son and he was able to see.

Question 8.
The king asked the same question to the old man’s father. Now goes what could be his answer, will he be able to recognize the grain?
Answer:

The king asked the same question to the old man’s father. But he would not be able to recognize the grain. Because during his time, the grains were larger than today but not as large as the grain found by the children.

TEXT – II

Though the old man was rather hard of hearing, he still heard better than his son had done. ‘No, he said, “I never sowed nor reaped any grain like this in my field. As to buying, I never bought any, for in my time money was not yet in use. Everyone grew his own corn, and when there was any need, we shared with one another. I do not know where corn like this grew, ours was large and yielded more flour than present-day grain, but ¡ never saw any like this. 1 have, however, heard my father say that in his time the grain grew larger and yielded more flour than ours. You had better ask him.”

ଯଦିଓ ବୃଦ୍ଧଲୋକଟି ଭଲ ଭାବରେ ଶୁଣିପାରୁ ନ ଥିଲେ, ତଥାପି ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ପୁଅ ଅପେକ୍ଷା ଅଧିକ ଶୁଣିପାରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ କହିଲେ, ‘ନା, ମୁଁ ମୋ କ୍ଷେତରେ ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ ବୁଣି ନ ଥୁଲି କି ଅମଳ କରି ନ ଥୁଲି । ମୁଁ ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ କେବେହେଲେ କିଣି ନ ଥିଲି, କାରଣ ମୋ ସମୟରେ ଟଙ୍କାର ପ୍ରଚଳନ ନ ଥିଲା । ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ନିଜର ଶସ୍ୟ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ କରୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଦରକାର ପଡ଼ୁଥିଲା ଆମେ ପରସ୍ପର ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବାଣ୍ଟି ନେଉଥିଲୁ । ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ କେଉଁଠାରେ ବଢ଼ୁଥିଲା ମୁଁ ଜାଣେ ନାହିଁ । ଆମ ବେଳର ଶସ୍ୟ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଅପେକ୍ଷା ବଡ଼ ଥିଲା ଓ ଅଧିକ ଅଟା ଉତ୍ପାଦନ ହେଉଥିଲା, କିନ୍ତୁ ଏଭଳି ଶସ୍ୟ ମୁଁ କେବେ ଦେଖୁନଥିଲି । ମୁଁ ମୋ ବାପା କହୁଥିବାର ଶୁଣିଛି ଯେ ତାଙ୍କ ସମୟରେ ଶସ୍ୟଦାନା ଆମ ସମୟ ଅପେକ୍ଷା ବଡ଼ ଥିଲା ଓ ଅଧିକ ଅଟା ଉତ୍ପାଦିତ ହେଉଥିଲା । ଆପଣ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପଚାରିଲେ ଭଲ ହେବ ।’’

So the king sent for this old man’s father, and they found him too and brought him before the King. He entered walking easily and without crutches: his eye was clear, his hearing good, and he spoke distinctly. The King showed him the grain, and the old grandfather looked at it and turned it about in his hand. ‘It is long since I saw such a fine grain’, said he, and he bit a piece off and tasted it.

‘It’s the very same kind’, he added. ‘Tell me, grandfather, said the King’, ‘When and where was such com grown? Have you ever bought any like it, or sown any in your fields?’ And the old man replied: ‘Corn like this used to grow everywhere in my time. I lived on corn like this in my young days and fed others on it. It was grain like that we used to sow and reap and thrash’.

ତେଣୁ ରାଜା ବୃଦ୍ଧବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କର ବାପାଙ୍କୁ ଡକାଇ ପଠାଇଲେ ଓ ସେମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପାଇଗଲେ ଏବଂ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆଣିଲେ । ସେ ବିନା ଆଶାବାଡ଼ିରେ ସ୍ଵଚ୍ଛନ୍ଦରେ ଚାଲି ଚାଲି ଆସିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କର ଚକ୍ଷୁ ଉଜ୍ଜଳ ଥୁଲା, ଶ୍ରବଣ ଶକ୍ତି ଉତ୍ତମ ଥିଲା ଏବଂ ସେ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟଭାବେ କହିପାରୁଥିଲେ । ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କୁ ଶସ୍ୟଦାନାଟି ଦେଖାଇଲେ ଏବଂ ବୃଦ୍ଧ ଜେଜେବାପା ଏହାକୁ ହାତରେ ଲେଉଟାଇ ଦେଖିଲେ । ସେ କହିଲେ, ‘ଏପରି ଉତ୍ତମ ଶସ୍ୟଦାନା ମୁଁ ବହୁଦିନ ତଳେ ଦେଖୁଥୁଲି ।’’ ସେ ସେଥୁରୁ ଖଣ୍ଡିଏ କାମୁଡ଼ି କରି ଚାଖିଲେ ।

‘‘ଏହା ଠିକ୍ ସେହି ପ୍ରକାରର,’’ ସେ ପୁଣି କହିଲେ । ରାଜା କହିଲେ, ‘ଜେଜେବାପା ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ କେବେ ଓ କେଉଁଠି ବଢ଼ୁଥିଲା ଆମକୁ କୁହନ୍ତୁ? ତୁମେ କେବେ ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ କିଣିଛ କି କିମ୍ବା ନିଜ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ବୁଣିଛ କି? ଏବଂ ବୃଦ୍ଧ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଜଣକ କହିଲେ, ‘ମୋ ସମୟରେ ଏଭଳି ଶସ୍ୟ ସବୁଠାରେ ବଢ଼ୁଥିଲା । ମୋ ଯୁବାବସ୍ଥାରେ ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ ଖାଇ ବଞ୍ଚୁଥୁଲି ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ଖୁଆଉଥୁଲି । ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ ଆମେ ବୁଣୁଥିଲୁ ଏବଂ ବାଡ଼େଇ କରି ଅମଳ କରୁଥିଲୁ ।’’

And the King asked: Tell me, grandfather, did you buy it anywhere, or did you grow it all yourself? The old man smiled. ‘In my time, he answered, ‘no one ever thought of such a sin as buying or selling bread, and we knew nothing of money. Each man had corn enough of his own.’ ‘Then tell me, grandfather’, asked the King, ‘where was your field, where did you grow corn like this?’ And the grandfather answered: My field was God’s earth, wherever 1 ploughed, there was my field. The land was free. It was a thing no man called his own. Labour was the only thing men called their own.’

ଏବଂ ରାଜା ପଚାରିଲେ: ‘‘ଜେଜେବାପା, ଆମକୁ କୁହନ୍ତୁ, ତୁମେ ଏହାକୁ କୌଣସିଠାରୁ କିଶୁଥୁଲ ନା ନିଜେ ସବୁ ଉତ୍ପନ୍ନ କରୁଥୁଲ?’’ ବୃଦ୍ଧବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଜଣକ ହସିଲେ । ସେ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ, ‘ଆମ ସମୟରେ ଶସ୍ୟ ବିକିବା ଓ କିଣିବା ଭଳି ପାପ କଥା କେହି କେବେ ଚିନ୍ତା କରୁ ନ ଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଆମେ ଟଙ୍କା ବିଷୟରେ କିଛି ଜାଣି ନ ଥିଲୁ । ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ନିଜ ପାଇଁ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାପ୍ତ ଶସ୍ୟ ଥିଲା । ରାଜା ପଚାରିଲେ, ‘ଜେଜେବାପା, ତେବେ ମୋତେ କୁହନ୍ତୁ ତୁମର କ୍ଷେତ କେଉଁଠି ଥିଲା ଏବଂ ତୁମେ କେଉଁଠି ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ ଚାଷ କରୁଥି? ଏବଂ ଜେଜେବାପ! ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ: ‘‘ମୋ’ର କ୍ଷେତ ଥିଲା ଭଗବାନ୍‌ଙ୍କ ପୃଥିବୀ, ମୁଁ ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ଚାଷ କରୁଥିଲି, ତାହା ମୋର କ୍ଷେତ ଥିଲା । ଏହାକୁ କେହି ନିଜର ବୋଲି କହୁ ନ ଥିଲେ । ଶ୍ରମ ହେଉଛି ଏକମାତ୍ର ଜିନିଷ ଯାହାକୁ ଲୋକମାନେ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ନିଜର ବୋଲି କହୁଥିଲେ ।’’

Answer me two more questions, said the King. ‘The first is, why did the earth bear such grain then and has ceased to do so now? And the second is, why your grandson walks with two crutches, your son with one, and you yourself with none? Your eyes are bright, your teeth sound, and your speech clear and pleasant to the ear. How have these things come about?’ And the old man answered: ‘These things are so because men have ceased to live by their own labour and have taken to depending on the labour of others. In the old time, they lived according to God’s law. They had what was their own, and coveted not what others had produced.

ରାଜା ପଚାରିଲେ, ‘‘ମୋତେ ଆଉ ଦୁଇଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ଦିଅ । ପ୍ରଥମ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନଟି ହେଲା, ପୃଥିବୀ ସେତେବେଳେ କାହିଁକି ଏପରି ଶସ୍ୟ ଉପୁଜାଉଥିଲା ଏବଂ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ କାହିଁକି ସେପରି କରିବା ବନ୍ଦ କରିଦେଇଛି? ଏବଂ ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟଟି ହେଲା, ତୁମ ନାତି କାହିଁକି ଦୁଇଟି ଆଶାବାଡ଼ି ଧରି ଚାଲୁଛି, ତୁମ ପୁଅ ଗୋଟିଏ ଆଶାବାଡ଼ି ଧରି ଚାଲୁଛି ଏବଂ ତୁମେ ବିନା ଆଶାବାଡ଼ିରେ ଚାଲୁଛ? ତୁମର ଚକ୍ଷୁ ଦୁଇଟି ଉଜ୍ଜଳ ଅଛି, ଦାନ୍ତ ସୁସ୍ଥ ଅଛି ଏବଂ ତୁମର କଥା ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଏବଂ ଶ୍ରୁତିମଧୁର ହେଉଛି । ଏସବୁ କିପରି ସମ୍ଭବ ହେଉଛି? ଏବଂ ବୃଦ୍ଧବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଜଣକ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ: ‘ଏସବୁ ଏପରି ହୋଇଛି, କାରଣ ଲୋକମାନେ ନିଜ ଶ୍ରମରେ ବଞ୍ଚିବା ଚାଡ଼ି ଦେଇ ଅନ୍ୟର ଶ୍ରମ ଉପରେ ନିର୍ଭର କରି ବଞ୍ଚିବା ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ପ୍ରାଚୀନ କାଳରେ ସେମାନେ ଭଗବାନ୍‌ଙ୍କ ନିୟମାନୁଯାୟୀ ବଞ୍ଚୁଥିଲେ । ଯାହା ନିଜସ୍ବ ତାହା ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଥିଲା, ଅନ୍ୟର ଉତ୍ପାଦନକୁ ସେମାନେ ନିଜର କରିବାକୁ ଆଗ୍ରହୀ ନ ଥିଲେ ।’’

Word Meaning / Glossary:
cease – stop (ବନ୍ଦ କରିଦେବା)
pleasant – full of pleasure (ଆନନ୍ଦମୟକ)
God’s law – law of nature (ଭଗବାନଙ୍କ ନିୟମ)
covet – wish eagerly to have other’s possession (ଅନ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପତ୍ତି ଅଧିକାର ପାଇ ପ୍ରଇବା ଇଚ୍ଛା )
produce – (ଉତ୍ପାଦନ କରିବା)

Ravine: a very deep narrow valley (ପାହାଡର ପାଦତଳେ ଥିବା ଅଣଓସାରିଆ ରାସ୍ତା)

Grove: a long, narrow, deep line cut in a surface (ନାଳି)

Pondered: thought carefully

Ashy pale: unhealthy

Totter: to walk in unsteady way

Thrash: to beat repeatedly

COMPREHENSION CHECK:

1.     How big was the corn in his father’s time?

Answer: In his father’s time, the corn was larger and yielded more flour than the present-day grain.

2.      Read the lines that describe the old man’s grandfather.

Answer: The old man’s grandfather entered walking easily without crutches: his eyes were clear, the hearing was good, and he spoke distinctly because his teeth were intact.

3.      What was the grandfather’s reply to the king’s question?

Answer:
In reply to the king’s question, the grandfather said that it was a long since he saw such a large grain. Corn of this size had grown everywhere in his time. He lived on corn like that in his young days and fed others on it. It was a grain like this they used to sow and reap in the field.

4.      Did the people in grandfather’s time buy or sell bread?

Answer:

No, in grandfather’s time, people did not buy or sell bread. They thought buying or selling bread was a sin. They knew nothing of money. Each man had corn enough of his own.

5.      Was the land free during his time? Say the lines that suggest.

Answer:
Yes, the land was free during his time. The lines: “My field was God’s earth, wherever I ploughed, there was my field. Land was free. It was a thing no man called his own.” suggest it.

6.      What were the last two questions of the king?  

Answer:
The last two questions of the king were

-        Why the earth bore such big-size grain then and has ceased to do so now.

-        The second question was why his grandson walked with two crutches, his son with one crutch and he himself without a crutch. Why his eyes were clear, teeth sound, speech clear and pleasant to hear. The king wanted to know the reason behind this.

7.      What reply did the grandfather give?

Answer:
The grandfather replied that these things were so because men had ceased to live by their own labour and had depended on the labour of others. In old days. They lived according to God’s law. They never wished to have something that belonged to others.

D. WRITING

Answer the following questions in fifty words.
Question 1.
How did the grain of corn reach the king?
Answer:

One day some children found, in a ravine, a thing shaped like a grain of corn with a long deep line cut down the middle of its surface. The item was as large as a hen’s egg. A traveller was passing nearby. He saw the thing and bought that from the children for a penny. He took it to town and sold it to the king as a curiosity.

Question 2.
How did the wise men know that it was a grain of corn?
Answer:

After buying the grain of corn from the traveller which was as large as a hen’s egg, the king called together his wise men and told them to find out what the thing was. The wise men thought over the matter deeply but could not get any answer. One day, when the thing was lying on a window-sill, a hen flew in and poked at it till she made a hole in it. Then everyone saw that it was a grain of corn. In this way, the wise men came to know that it was a grain of corn.

Question 3.
What suggestions did the learned men give to the king to find out when and where such corn had grown?
Answer:

The learned men after pondering over the matter and searching in their books. Could find nothing about it. They suggested the king ask the peasants about the whereabouts of the corn because some of them might have heard from their fathers when and where grains had grown to such a size.

Question 4.
What were the replies given by the old peasant and his father regarding the corn?

Answer:
In reply to the king’s question, the old peasant told the king that he had never sowed nor reaped any corn like that in his fields. The grains they bought were as small as the present-day grains. His father might have known about such a large size grain. In reply to the king’s question his father said that he had never sowed nor reaped any corn like that in his fields. He had never bought any as money was not in use then.

In his time everyone grew his own corn and in time of need, they exchanged with one another. Of course, the grain of their time was larger and yielded more flour than the present-day grain. He had heard from his father that the grain grew larger in his father’s time. So it would be better for the king to ask his father.

Question 5.
How were the three old men in the story described?
Answer:

As per the king’s order, the first old man came with two crutches to the king. He had lost all his sense organs. Neither did he see clearly nor hear nor speak distinctly. He understood with great difficulty what the king told. The second old man was better than the first old man. He came walking with the help of one crutch.

He could see the grain but could manage to understand what the king told him. The third old man who was the grandfather of the first old man walked easily without the help of any crutch. He could speak distinctly and could see clearly. He recognized the corn which was produced during his time.

Question 6.
Briefly describe the lifestyle of the people during grandfather’s time?
Answer:

During my grandfather’s time, things were not sold or bought. They knew nothing of money. Each man had corn enough of his own. The land was free. It was a thing no man called his own. Labour was the only thing men called their own. Each man had corn enough of his own. The people lived according to God’s rule. They never wished to have something that belonged to others.

Question 7.
What comments did the grandfather give on the lifestyle of people today?
Answer:

Nowadays people have become selfish. Men have ceased to live by their own labour and have taken to depend on the labour of others. They have a strong desire for the things that belong to others. So they have become weak and unhealthy.