THE PERFECT LIFE

                                 

                                   THE PERFECT LIFE  

Central Idea of the Poem

The poem 'The Perfect Life' presents the picture of life through beautiful and contrasting images.The poet says that a short and meaningful life is far better than a life that is long but uneventful.The poet compares the long life to an oak tree that grows tall and lasts for hundreds of years but is of no use to anyone.On the other hand, a lily is short-lived but it spreads sweetness and beauty all around . It gives joy to the people. Ben Jonson, in short, says life can be made beautiful and prefect even in a small life span.

     It is not growing like a tree 

     In bulk, doth make Man better be,

     Or standing as an oak, three hundred year,

     To fall a log at last, dry, bald and sere;

     A lily of a day

     Is fairer far in May.

     Although it fall and die that night_

     It was the plant and flower o'light.

     In small proportions we just beauties see.

     And in short measures life may perfect be.

                                                                                                                                          by Ben Jonson 

THE PSALM OF LIFE

                                 

                                  THE PSALM OF LIFE

Central Idea of the Poem

     Life is not an empty dream. It is a serious reality. Death is not its ultimate object for soul is immortal. Sorrow or joy is not its preordained way or aim. Our main duty in life is to work hard and progress day by day. In this short and temporary camp of life we should face the circumstances of life as a hero, and not be driven this way by them like helpless cattle. We should give up idleness and start working hard to achieve success after success. We should learn to labour  hard and wait for the result.                    

Life is real! Life is earnest!

              And the grave is not its goal.

"Dust thou art to dust returnest.

              Is not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

              Is our destined end or way;

But to act that each tomorrow

              Finds us farther than today.

In the world;s broad field of battle,

              In the bivouac of life.

Be not like dumb, driven cattle;

              Be a hero in the strife!

Let us, then,be up and doing,

             With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

             Learn to labour and to wait.....

                                                                                                                                  by H. W. Longfellow

THE FOUNTAIN

                                              

                                       The Fountain

Central  Idea of the Poem

'The Fountain' is a very inspiring poem. The poet describes the fountain in three different aspects.In the sunshine it is bright and upward leaping and glittering. In the moon light it appears snowy white and sways rhythmically like flowers when the wind rushes. Under the starlight it rises and falls like spray. All the time it is cheerful and lively. All the time it seems to be aspiring higher and higher. The poet wishes to learn these qualities of freshness, change fitness,constancy and aspiring from the fountain.

Into the sunshine,

Full of the light,

Leaping and flashing

From morn till night!              

                               

                   Into the moonlight,

                   Whiter than snow.

                   Waving so flower-like,

                   When the winds blow

Into the starlight,

Rushing in spray,

Happy at midnight,

Happy by day!

                    

                   Ever in motion,

                   Blithesome and cheery,

                   Still climbing heavenward,

                   Never a weary;

Glad of all weathers,

Still seeming best,

Upward or downward

motion thy rest;

                  

                   Full of a nature

                   Nothing can tame,

                   Changed every moment,

                   Ever the same 

Ceaseless aspiring,

Ceaseless content,

Darkness or sunshine,

Thy element;

                   Glorious fountain!

                   Let my heart be

                   Fresh, changeful, constant,

                   Upward like thee!

                                                                                                                               by james Russell Lowell

                                                                  

THE ENCHANTED POOL

                             

                                              THE ENCHANTED POOL

About the lesson

This lesson is an extract from 'The Mahabharata'.It reflects the character of Yudhishthira, the Dhram Raj; his patience, kindness,love for his brothers and intelligence.He pleases Yaksha by giving satisfactory answers to his questions.The Yaksha was pleased with Yudhishthira's impartiality.The Yaksha was 'Yama' the lord of Death who had taken the form of Yaksha to see Yudhidhthira and test his knowledge. Being satisfied with his answers he blessed him and disappeared.

Yudhishthira waited for his brothers in anxiety and thirst. "Can they have been subjected to a curse or are they still wandering about in the forest in search of water? Can they have fainted or died of thirst? "Unable to bear these thoughts, and driven by an overpowering thirst,he gave-up waiting and started out to look for his brothers and the pool hoping that he might find them.

Yudhishthira proceeded in diction his brothers had taken and kept on walking through tracts full of wild beat and spotted dear and big forest birds till he came upon a beautiful green meadow, around a pool pf clear water. But when when he saw his brothers lying there like flagpoles,unable to restrain his grief, he lifted his voice and wept . 

he touched the faces of Bhima and Arjun, as they lay so still and silent,and mourned:"was this to be the end of all our vows? just when out exile is about to  end,you have been taken away. Even the Gods have forsaken me in my misfortune. 

As he looked at their mighty limbs,now so helpless, he sadly wondered who could have been powerful enough to kill then. Then he  too descended into pool, drawn to the water by an overpowering thirst. At once the voice without form warned.

"Your brothers died because they did not heed my words. They tried to drink water without answering  my questions. Don't follow them. Answer my questions first and then you can quench your thirst.This pool belongs to me." 

It did mot take Yudhishthira  a moment to understand that these could be none other than the words of a Yaksha and guessed what had happened to his brothers.It took him no time to see a possible way of bringing them back in life. He said to the bodiless voice: "please ask your questions."

The voice pt questions rapidly one after another. 
"What rescues man in danger?"
"Courage" 
"By the studying of which science does man become wise?"
"Not by studying any_'Shastra' does man become wise.It is by association with the great in wisdom that he gets wisdom."
The Yaksha asked, "What is swifter than the wind?"
"Mind."
"what is more faded than a dried straw?"
"A sorrow stricken heart."
What befriends a traveller?" 
"Learning."
"Who is the friend of who stays at home?"
"The wife."
"Who accompanies a man in death?"
"Dharma.That alone accompanies the soul in its solitary journey after death." 
"Which is the biggest vessel?"
"The earth,which contains all within itself, is the greatest vessel."
"What is happiness?"
"Happiness is the result of good conduct."
"What is that, by giving up which man becomes loved by all?"
"Pride.For,if man gives up being proud, will be loved by all"
"What is the loss which yields joy and not sorrow?"
"Anger,if we give up being angry, we will he no longer subject to sorrow."
"What is that, by giving-up which a man becomes rich?"
"Desire .if man gives up being greedy, he will become wealthy."
"What makes one a real 'Brahmana?' Is it birth, good conduct, or learning? Answer decisively."
Birth and learning do not make one a Brahman; good conduct alone does. 
However learned a person may be,he will not be a 'Brahaman' without giving up bad habits.Even though he may be learned in the four Vedas, a man of bad conduct falls to a lower class."

"What is the greatest wonder in the world?"

"Everyday men see creatures depart to Yama's kingdom; and yet those who remain want to live for ever.This truly is the greatest wonder."

Thus , the Yaksha put many questions and Yudhishthira answered them all .
In the end the Yaksha asked "O, King one of your dead brothers can now be revived.
Who do you want to come back to life?"

It took Yudhishthira a moment to think and then he wished that the cloud -complexioned, lotus-eyed, broad-chested and long-necked nkula , lying like a fallen ebony tree, might arise.
The Yaksha was pleased at this and Yudhishthira: "Why did you choose Nakula in the preference to Bhima, who has the strength of sixteen elephants ? I have heared that 
Bhima is most dear to you. And why not Arjuna, whose strength in arms is your protection? Tell me why you choose Nakula rather than either of these two."

Yudhishthira replied : "O Yaksha , 'Dharma' is the only shield of man and not Bhima or Arjuna, If 'Dharma' is given up,man will be ruined. kunti and madri were the two wives of my father. I am alive, a son of kunti and so she is not  completely bereaved. In order that the scales of  justice  may be even.I ask that madri's son, Nakula may revive."

The Yaksha was most Pleased with Yudhishthira's impartiality and granted that all his brothers come back to life.
It was Yama, the Lord of Death, who had taken the form of Yaksha so that he might see Yudhishthira  and test him. He embraced Yudhishthira's and blessed him; then he disappered.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         by c.Raj gopalachar