The Sermon at Benares English class 10 in English Medium ncert book solutions Summary

Chapter 8. The Sermon at Benares

The Sermon at Benares is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, one of the greatest spiritual teachers in history. The chapter narrates the story of Kisa Gotami, a grief-stricken woman who loses her only son. Through her experience, Buddha helps her realise that death is an unavoidable part of human life. The lesson teaches acceptance, compassion, wisdom, and the importance of overcoming sorrow through understanding rather than grief. 

Chapter Summary (English)

Gautama Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama in northern India. He spent his early life in luxury and was protected from the sufferings of the world. However, after seeing an old man, a sick man, a funeral procession, and a monk, he realised that suffering, old age, and death are unavoidable realities of life. Deeply moved by these experiences, he left his royal life in search of truth and enlightenment. After years of meditation beneath the Bodhi Tree, he attained enlightenment and became known as the Buddha. He later delivered his first sermon at Benares, where he shared his wisdom about human suffering and the path to inner peace. 

The central incident of the chapter revolves around Kisa Gotami, a young woman whose only son dies. Overcome with grief, she carries her dead child from one house to another, asking everyone for medicine to bring him back to life. Most people think she has lost her senses, but one kind man advises her to seek the help of Gautama Buddha. Hoping for a miracle, she approaches Buddha and begs him to save her son. 

The Buddha tells Kisa Gotami that he can help her if she brings him a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no parent, child, husband, or friend has ever died. Filled with hope, she visits every house in the village. Although everyone is willing to give her mustard seeds, she discovers that every family has experienced the death of a loved one. There is not a single house untouched by sorrow. Slowly, she begins to understand that death is universal and that no human being can escape it. 

As evening falls, Kisa Gotami reflects upon what she has learned. Watching the lights in the city appear and disappear, she realises that human life is just as temporary. She understands that her grief is not unique because every person experiences loss. This new understanding changes her attitude completely. She returns to the Buddha with an accepting mind instead of demanding a miracle. 

The Buddha explains that all living beings are mortal and that death is an unavoidable part of life. Just as ripe fruits eventually fall from trees and earthen pots are certain to break, every human being must one day die. He advises people not to remain trapped in endless grief because sorrow cannot bring the dead back to life. Instead, wisdom lies in accepting reality, controlling selfish attachment, and finding inner peace through understanding. 

Chapter Summary (Hindi / सारांश)

"The Sermon at Benares" गौतम बुद्ध की शिक्षाओं पर आधारित एक प्रेरणादायक अध्याय है। इसमें बताया गया है कि संसार में जन्म लेने वाला प्रत्येक व्यक्ति एक दिन मृत्यु को प्राप्त होता है और यही जीवन का अटल सत्य है। इस सत्य को समझाने के लिए लेखक ने किसा गौतमी की मार्मिक कहानी प्रस्तुत की है। 

गौतम बुद्ध का जन्म सिद्धार्थ गौतम के रूप में एक राजकुमार के रूप में हुआ था। राजमहल में रहने के कारण उन्होंने कभी संसार के दुख नहीं देखे थे। एक दिन उन्होंने एक बीमार व्यक्ति, एक वृद्ध व्यक्ति, एक शवयात्रा और एक संन्यासी को देखा। इन दृश्यों ने उन्हें जीवन के वास्तविक दुखों का अनुभव कराया। सत्य की खोज में उन्होंने राजमहल छोड़ दिया और वर्षों की तपस्या के बाद बोधि वृक्ष के नीचे ज्ञान प्राप्त किया। इसके बाद वे बुद्ध कहलाए और लोगों को जीवन का सही मार्ग बताने लगे।

कहानी की मुख्य पात्र किसा गौतमी है, जिसका इकलौता पुत्र मर जाता है। वह शोक से व्याकुल होकर अपने मृत पुत्र को जीवित करने के लिए घर-घर दवा माँगती फिरती है। एक व्यक्ति उसे गौतम बुद्ध के पास जाने की सलाह देता है। बुद्ध उससे कहते हैं कि यदि वह ऐसे घर से एक मुट्ठी सरसों के दाने ले आए जहाँ कभी किसी की मृत्यु न हुई हो, तो वे उसके पुत्र को जीवित कर देंगे। 

किसा गौतमी पूरे नगर में ऐसे घर की खोज करती है, लेकिन उसे पता चलता है कि हर परिवार ने किसी-न-किसी प्रियजन को खोया है। तब उसे यह समझ में आता है कि मृत्यु सभी के जीवन का एक अनिवार्य सत्य है और कोई भी इससे बच नहीं सकता। उसका शोक धीरे-धीरे समाप्त हो जाता है और वह जीवन के वास्तविक अर्थ को समझ जाती है। 

अंत में बुद्ध उसे समझाते हैं कि मनुष्य का जीवन क्षणभंगुर है। जन्म लेने वाला प्रत्येक प्राणी एक दिन अवश्य मृत्यु को प्राप्त होता है। इसलिए अत्यधिक शोक करने के बजाय जीवन के इस सत्य को स्वीकार करना चाहिए। यही बुद्ध का उपदेश है और यही इस अध्याय का मुख्य संदेश भी है। 

Main Characters

1. Gautama Buddha

Gautama Buddha is wise, compassionate, patient, and spiritually enlightened. Instead of performing a miracle, he teaches Kisa Gotami the universal truth that death is inevitable and acceptance brings peace. 

2. Kisa Gotami

Kisa Gotami is a loving mother who is deeply attached to her only son. Her grief makes her desperate, but through Buddha's guidance she becomes wise, calm, and accepting of the truth of life. 

Theme / Message of the Chapter

The chapter teaches that birth and death are natural parts of life. No person can escape death, and excessive grief cannot change reality. True peace comes from accepting the truth, overcoming selfish attachment, and facing life's challenges with wisdom and courage. 

Difficult Words and Meanings

1. Sermon – A religious or moral speech.

2. Enlightenment – A state of spiritual wisdom and understanding.

3. Afflicted – Suffering from pain or sorrow.

4. Lamentation – Expression of deep grief.

5. Desolation – Complete sadness and loneliness.

6. Procure – To obtain or get something.

7. Mortals – Human beings who are destined to die.

8. Kinsmen – Relatives or family members.

9. Composed – Calm and peaceful.

10. Inscrutable – Difficult to understand.

11. Bodhi Tree – The sacred tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

12. Mustard Seed – A small seed used by Buddha as a symbol to teach a life lesson.

13. Funeral Procession – A group of people accompanying a dead person for burial or cremation.

14. Immortality – The state of living forever.

15. Wisdom – The ability to make good judgments based on knowledge and experience.

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