Sonbhadra Times

In a Forest, there once lived a wicked wolf. Though there was no dearth of food for him in the forest, he would often walk into the nearby village and lift a sheep or a lamp from there. He would then kill it and feast on it for 2-3 days.

In the beginning, the wolf went into the village only in the quite of the night as he was frightened of humans. But, with the passage of time, he become bolder. He would even barge into the village at day time and prey upon the villagers’ herds.

When he incidents of missing animal increased the villagers began to keep hounds for their safety. The fierce dogs were alert and they hated the wolves. They would bark and snarl at the wolf whenever he dared come into the village. Slowly, the wolf’s visits to the village were reduced. If the hounds spotted him anywhere near the village, they would chase him back to the forest. It had become almost impossible for the wolf to prey upon the sheep or goats. Despite this, he was always on the look-out for lamp walking alone, so that he could attack him.

One day, when the wolf was thus looking for a prey in the fields near the forest, a pack of 6 hounds attacked him. Actually, the dogs had been waiting for him for the last few days. Hiding in the fields, they knew that wolf would come there sooner or later. The wolf could not fight the hounds single-handedly. The dogs bruised him badly at several places and when they felt that they had taught the wolf the lesion of his life, they left there.

After the hounds left, the injured wolf remained lying there for some time. Then, with great difficulty, he dragged himself upto a tree the forest. He sat under the and began to lick his wounds. This gave him some relief, but by this time he had begun to feel thirsty and hungry.

A little later, he saw a lamp passing by. He called out to him and said, “My pretty lamp, come here and look at the miserable state I am in. I had fight with some beasts and see what they have done to me. “Have pity on me . I can’t even walk properly. And here I m felling thirsty. I will be eternally grateful to you if you bring me some water.” Hearing him, the lamb who was standing a safe distance away, said, “I do feel sorry for you but more than that I am amused by your request. You are sadly mistaken if you think I will come near you.

“If I bring water for you, you will first kill me for your food. My mother has taught me that if one has to help a wicked being , he should do so, keeping a reasonable distance. Thus, I can help you only by telling you the place from which can get water. And the lamp told the wolf about a pond which was at a little distance away from there. Thereafter the wise lamb went on his way to the village.

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Meanings :

Dearth :n अकाल , दुर्भिछ

Lamb : the young one of the sheep

Heards : पशु

Hounds : शिकारी कुत्ता

Bruised : v आघात करना (ब्रूज)
Bruise : n आघात , चोट

Fierce : adv उग्र , क्रूर , भयंकर

Bark : v कुत्ते या भेडिये की भूंक या भौ भौ

Lick : चाटना

Beast : n पशु

Feast : v पर्याप्त भोजन करना , भोजन से संतुस्ट होना

Feast : n भोज, उत्सव

Amuse : v विनोद करना , बहलाना

Though there was no dearth of food

Quiet of the night.

Quite and Quiet difference ?

Quite : adv – completely, entirely, wholly

Quiet : adj- with little or no sound or motion, शांत

Look-out : Careful watching

Have pity on me.

A little later

Passing by

Called out

My pretty lamp

I will be eternally grateful to you if you bring me some water.

I do feel sorry for you but more than that I am amused by your request.

As he was frightened of humans.

But, with the passage of time, he become bolder.

You are sadly mistaken if you think I will come near to you.

A wolf in lamb skin.

Hear and there :

Though Uttam was sitting in his room, pretending to be studying but his mind was not there. Time and again, his attention wandered towered the young boys and men swimming and bathing in the pond. Uttam also wanted to go out and join them.
There was a big pond just a little distance away form Uttam’s house. People used to go there for washing their clothes and taking bath.
Uttam also went there in the evening and enjoued playing in eater.
Gradually, he learnt swimming also.
On Sunday, or on any other holiday, Uttam would reach the pond in the morning and then swim in it for hours together. But Uttam’s parents did not want him to swim in the pond. They felt that he wasted his lot if precious time in this useless exercise while they wanted him to study.
“Sun, you should concentrate on your studies instead of wasting time on such useless pursuits. You will be successful in the long run , if you study hard now,” his father would say.
“Uttam, why do you waste your time in swimming? You have to study hard and become a doctor, ” his mother would tell him.
“But Mummy, I want to become a professional swimmer so that I can earn name and fame in the world, ” stressed the Uttam.
“Don’t argue, Uttam, swimming is an absolutely worthless exercise. Then there is always a risk of life too. What if you get drowned…no…no,” his mother was equally adamant.

“How could I drown , Mummy ? I can swim very well . Swimming is a good exercise to keep the body fit,” said Uttam.
“You are being very obstinate , Uttam . Concentrate on your studies and forget about swimming , ” mother warned him.

Uttam was speechless. He become tense as his mother was forcing him to leave his favorite sport and hobby. How could he even think of giving it up? But his parents wanted him to only study. They never wanted him to waste his time in any of other activities.

One afternoon when Uttam was on his way to home from school, he heard the screams of a boy from the direction of the pond. Immediately, he rushed towards it and was shocked to see a boy of his age, shouting for help in the middle of the pond.
It was noon and the sun was shining brightly. There was no one around the pond. The boy must have come there alone to bathe. He them slipped and fell into the pond. Perhaps, he did not know how to swim. Uttam jumped into the pond immediately to save him from drowning. He caught the boy from hair and tried to bring him out. On hearing voices, many people had gathered there. 2-3 more boys also jumped into the water. Together, they took him out of the pond and lying him flat on his stomatch, made him puck the water he had swallowed, by thumping his back.

Soon the boys’ mother also came there, wailing. When she was told that Uttam had saved her son’s life, she hugged him affectionately. Her eyes were filled with tears of gratitude. When Uttam’s mother heard the noise and saw the crowd through the window of her house, she also came out. She was rather benumbed and surprised when she came to know that the savior of that boy was none other than her own son Uttam. She looked at him. He was standing there with his head bent as he was afraid that mother would be scolding him. She did not say anything and hugged him.

In the evening when father came, she narrated the whole incident of her son’s bravery. His father also patted him on the shoulders. Uttam than asked ,Papa , will you never allow me to go near the pond ? ”

Father looked up at the sad face of his son and then said, “Why not , son ? You will definitely go to there. Nobody will stop you from swimming.”
“Oh really!” exclaimed Uttam in disbelief.
“Yes, my son, no sport is bad, be it swimming or any other game. You yourself have proved this. You are free to do swimming now, but without neglecting your studies.” Uttam promised his father that he would never neglect his studies and try to do well in his exams.


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Meanings :

Pursuit (Noun) : व्यवसाय (उद्यम), प्रबृत्ति ,the act of pursuing,

In the long run :

Precious : adj अनमोल

Stressed : To lay emphasis,

Adamant : n अटल

Drown : डूबना,

Patted :v (-tt-) strike gently with flat palm, esp. in affection, sympathy etc.


You will be successful in the long run, if you study hard now,”

Just a little distance away.

Time and again.

Gradually, he learnt swimming also.

Instead of wasting time .

Such useless pursuits .

Absolutely worthless exercise.

What if you get drowned.

You are being very obstinate, Uttam .

Forget about swimming .

How could he even think of giving it up?

He didn’t know how to swim.

When she was told.

Her eyes were filled with tears of gratitude.

She saw the crowd through the window.

Came out .

She was rather benumbed .

She come to know .

That boy was none other than her own son.

His father also patted him on the shouders.

Oh, really!

You yourself have proved this.