A Tale - Four Levels and Question Answers | B.P Koirala | Mero Solution

A Tale Four Levels and Question Answers

Four Levels of a Tale

                             - Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala

  (Translated and edited by Shreedhar Lohani)

1.LITERAL COMPREHENSION:

This story by famous Nepali literary figure B.P Koirala, is about human lust and passion. It also presents the conflict between gods and mortal.

In ancient period, human beings were in competition with gods. The mortals aspired to become gods through hard penance, but gods did not like that, and they did everything to destroy the penance of the sages.

A sage decided to renounce all the worldly pleasures in the society and went to live in the jungle. He performed severe forms of penance such as sitting in front of seven tongued fire in hot summer and diving in the ice-cold water in winter. He sat on the grass for meditation and continued even after termites built their nests on his legs. He was not even disturbed by wild animals. He lay motionless with his eyes closed. But when his penance shook the seat of heaven, Indra, the king of gods, sent the most beautiful nymph from his palace down to the forest. She took off her clothes and started playing with water in the river. Her postures were spellbinding. The sage, who was feeling a great joy and ecstasy, suddenly happened to open his eyes. When his eyes fell on the body of naked nymph, he felt the same joy he was having in his meditation. He didn't find any difference between his inner peace and the beauty of the maiden. He thought she was the living image of the goddess at the last stage of his penance.

Soon they got married and started making preparation to return to society. Just then a great king along with his courtiers came to pay homage to the sage but when they saw the beautiful lady in the hut, they turned away in shock. Later the couple came to village and began a simple domestic life. The sage was still experiencing the bliss and ecstasy as in the jungle. He helped his neighbors in vilage whatever way he could, but the villagers never forgave him for his downfall. They blamed nymph for this.

2.INTERPRETATION:

The writer may be trying to show us the importance of bodily pleasures. The popular social view that one must give up earthly pleasures to attain sainthood is mistaken here. Satisfaction of bodily desires also leads on to happiness and mental peace. The writer implies that it is mistake of the villagers not to forgive the sage. Heavenly pleasure can be achieved by living domestic life, helping neighbors and loving your family members. To gain the level of ecstasy and bliss, it is not necessary to renounce domestic life. The sage was experiencing these pleasures even after he came back to the society.

3.CRITICAL THINKING:

Although the story gives a moral lesson, it is contrary to our religious scriptures and philosophy. All those who have strived to attain supreme knowledge have renounced the pleasures of domestic life. Buddha left his palace and his family. So, what the writer is implying here goes against the popular mythologies. Moreover, can we really believe in the existence of gods and nymphs? How could the sage meditate till the termites build nests on his legs? Are gods jealous like human beings?

4.ASSIMILATION:

After reading this story I remembered the Hindu religious serials telecasted in TV. I used to watch that serials with my family. I could see that type of penance in that serial. Also, I understood that satisfaction of bodily desires leads on to happiness and mental peace.

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Question Answers of a Tale

Q.1. Why were the villagers unhappy with the nymph?

ANSWER: The penance of the sage was destroyed by a nymph sent by Indra, the king of God. They got married and went to his village to spent simple life. The villagers were unhappy with the nymph because they blamed nymph for destroying the penance of the sage.

Q.2. Why did the king of God send nymph to the hermitage?

ANSWER: The king of God sent nymph to the hermitage to destroy the penance of the sage. In ancient period, human beings were in competition with gods. The mortals aspired to become gods through hard penance, but gods did not like that, and they did everything to destroy the penance of the sages.

Q.3. What idea does B.P. Koirala try to communicate in the story "A Tale"?

OR,

# What possible interpretation can you make from Koirala's "A Tale"?

ANSWER: In the story "A Tale", B.P Koirala might be trying to show the importance of bodily pleasures. The popular social view that one must give up earthly pleasures to attain sainthood is mistaken here. Satisfaction of bodily desires also leads on to happiness and mental peace. Heavenly pleasure can be achieved by living domestic life, helping neighbors and loving your family members.

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Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Four Levels

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