The Shepherd’s Treasure Summary Explanation Question

The Chapter “The Shepherd’s Treasure” is taken from Let’s Read VI English for students of Class 6 of JKBOSE Board for students of Jammu and Kashmir and A Pact with The Sun textbook for NCERT students. This particular post is about The Shepherd’s Treasure Summary Explanation Question. You will find Difficult words and their meanings, a Summary of the chapter, a Line by Line explanation of The Shepherd’s Treasure and Question Answers to the chapter The Shepherd’s Treasure. In my previous post, I discussed the A Tale of Two Birds Summary Explanation Questions. So, let’s not waste more time and get started with this post.

The Shepherd’s Treasure Summary Explanation Question

Introduction

The chapter “The Shepherd’s Treasure” is an Iranian folktale. The story describes the importance of human values like honesty, wisdom, and humanity in our life. In this story, a shepherd became a Governor by following such high values and principles.

The Shepherd’s Treasure Word Meaning

The Shepherd’s Treasure Class 8 Summary in English

Once there lived a shepherd in a village in Iran. He was very poor and did not even have a hut of his own. He was illiterate as there were very few schools in those days.

Despite being poor and uneducated, he was very wise. He understood people’s sorrows and troubles and helped them in facing their problems. Many people came to him for advice and he became famous for his wisdom and friendly nature. The king heard about him and thought of meeting him.

One day king disguised himself as a shepherd rode a mule came to the cave where the wise shepherd lived. He greeted the traveller very nicely. He offered him water to drink and share his food with him. The king rested for the night in the cave. He was greatly impressed by the shepherd’s hospitality and wise talk.

The king decided to leave the next morning. He thanked the shepherd for his kindness to the poor traveller. He took leave of the shepherd. The shepherd then looked straight into the eyes of his guest and thanked him as a king for paying him the compliment of a visit:

The king was astonished as well as pleased with the shepherd’s wisdom. The king appointed this poor shepherd the governor of a small district. Although he rose to power and dignity, he remained as humble as before. People loved and honoured him for his wisdom, sympathy and goodness. He was kind and just to one and all. His fame as a wise and fair governor soon spread throughout the country.

The governors of other provinces grew jealous of him and began to talk to the king against him. They said that he was very dishonest, and kept for himself part of the money that he collected as tax from the people.

They added that he always carried with him an iron chest. They said perhaps he carried the secretly collected treasure in that box. They further that added he was an ordinary shepherd and could behave no better than a shepherd.

The king summoned the new governor (shepherd) to his palace. He came riding on the camel, and even then he carried the famous iron chest with him. The king asked him angrily why he carried that iron chest with him. The governor smiled. He asked his servant to bring in the chest. The chest was opened in the presence of the king. Only an old blanket was all that came out. He held it up proudly. Then he said that this was his only treasure. He always carried it with him.

The king asked him why he carried such an ordinary blanket with him. He was the governor of a district. The shepherd replied with quiet dignity. This blanket was his old friend. It could still protect him at any time. He spoke to the king that if he ever wished to take away his new cloaks, his old blanket could still protect him. The king felt pleased on hearing this. The jealous governors felt embarrassed to hear the shepherd’s answer. Now they knew that the humble shepherd was the humblest and the wisest man in the land. The king made him the governor of a much bigger district.

The Shepherd’s Treasure Class 8 Summary in English

एक बार ईरान के एक गाँव में एक चरवाहा रहता था। वह बहुत गरीब था। वह अनपढ़ था क्योंकि उस समय बहुत कम स्कूल थे।

गरीब और अशिक्षित होने के बावजूद भी वह बहुत बुद्धिमान था। उसने लोगों के दुखों और परेशानियों को समझा और उनकी समस्याओं का सामना करने में उनकी मदद की। कई लोग उनके पास सलाह के लिए आते थे और वे अपने ज्ञान और मिलनसार स्वभाव के लिए प्रसिद्ध हो गया। राजा ने उसके बारे में सुना और उससे मिलने के बारे में सोचा।

एक दिन राजा चरवाहे का भेष बदलकर खच्चर पर सवार होकर उस गुफा में आया जहाँ बुद्धिमान चरवाहा रहता था। उसने यात्री का बहुत अच्छे से अभिवादन किया। उसने उसे पीने के लिए पानी दिया और उसके साथ अपना भोजन साझा किया। राजा ने रात को गुफा में विश्राम किया। वह चरवाहे के आतिथ्य और बुद्धिमानी भरी बातों से बहुत प्रभावित हुआ।

राजा ने अगली सुबह जाने का फैसला किया। राजा ने गरीब यात्री के प्रति दयालुता के लिए चरवाहे को धन्यवाद दिया। उसने चरवाहे से विदा ली। फिर चरवाहे ने सीधे अपने मेहमान की आँखों में देखा और उसे एक राजा के रूप में धन्यवाद दिया कि उसने एक यात्रा की प्रशंसा की:

चरवाहे की बुद्धि से राजा चकित होने के साथ-साथ प्रसन्न भी हुआ। राजा ने इस गरीब चरवाहे को एक छोटे से जिले का राज्यपाल नियुक्त किया। हालाँकि वह सत्ता और गरिमा तक पहुँच गया, फिर भी वह पहले की तरह विनम्र बना रहा। लोगों ने उन्हें उनकी बुद्धिमत्ता, सहानुभूति और अच्छाई के लिए प्यार और सम्मान दिया। वह एक और सभी के प्रति दयालु और न्यायप्रिय था। एक बुद्धिमान और निष्पक्ष राज्यपाल के रूप में उनकी ख्याति शीघ्र ही पूरे देश में फैल गई।

अन्य प्रान्तों के हाकिम उससे ईर्ष्या करने लगे और राजा से उसके विरुद्ध बातें करने लगे। उन्होंने कहा कि वह बहुत बेईमान था, और उसने लोगों से कर के रूप में एकत्र किए गए धन का एक हिस्सा अपने लिए रखा।

उन्होंने कहा कि वह हमेशा अपने साथ लोहे का संदूक रखता था। उन्होंने कहा कि शायद उसने गुप्त रूप से एकत्र किए गए खजाने को उस बक्से में रखा था। उन्होंने आगे कहा कि वह एक साधारण चरवाहा था और एक चरवाहे से बेहतर व्यवहार नहीं कर सकता था।

राजा ने नए राज्यपाल (चरवाहा) को अपने महल में बुलाया। वह ऊँट पर सवार होकर आया, तब भी वह प्रसिद्ध लोहे का संदूक अपने साथ ले गया। राजा ने गुस्से में उससे पूछा कि वह लोहे का संदूक अपने साथ क्यों ले गया। राज्यपाल मुस्कुराए। उसने अपने नौकर से संदूक लाने को कहा। राजा की उपस्थिति में संदूक खोला गया पर उमसे से केवल एक पुराना कंबल निकला। तब उसने कहा कि यह उसका एकमात्र खजाना है। वह इसे हमेशा अपने साथ रखता था।

राजा ने उससे पूछा कि वह इतना साधारण कंबल अपने साथ क्यों रखता था। वह एक जिले का राज्यपाल था। चरवाहे ने शांत गरिमा के साथ उत्तर दिया। यह कंबल उनका पुराना दोस्त था। यह अभी भी किसी भी समय उसकी रक्षा कर सकता है। उसने राजा से कहा कि यदि वह कभी भी अपने नए वस्त्र छीनना चाहे, तो भी उसका पुराना कंबल उसकी रक्षा कर सकता है। यह सुनकर राजा को प्रसन्नता हुई। चरवाहे का जवाब सुनकर ईर्ष्यालु राज्यपालों को शर्मिंदगी महसूस हुई। अब वे जान गए थे कि विनम्र चरवाहा देश का सबसे विनम्र और बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति है। राजा ने उसे एक बहुत बड़े जिले का राज्यपाल बना दिया।

The Shepherd’s Treasure Class 8 Line by Line Explanation

• A poor shepherd once lived in Iran.
• Though uneducated, he was very wise and helpful.
• The king decided to meet him in disguise.

In a village in Iran, there once lived a shepherd. He was very poor. He did not even have a small cottage of his own. He had never been to school or learnt to read and write, for there were very few schools in those days.

Explanation: There lived a shepherd in a village in Iran. He was so poor that he doesn’t even have a house or cottage of his own. He was illiterate because there was very less number of schools in his vicinity in those days.

Though poor and uneducated, this shepherd was very wise. He understood people’s sorrows and troubles and helped them face their problems with courage and common sense. Many people came to him for advice. Soon he became famous for his wisdom and friendly nature. The king of that country heard about him and thought of meeting him.

Explanation: Even though he was poor and illiterate he was very wise. He understands the problems of people and figures out ways to solve their problems with courage and wisdom.  People often visit him for suggestions. Soon, he became famous for his ability and humble nature. The talks of his popularity reached the king and he decided to meet him.

Disguised as a shepherd and riding on a mule, one day the king came to the cave where the wise shepherd lived. As soon as the shepherd saw the traveller coming towards the cave, he rose to welcome him. He took the tired traveller inside the cave and gave him water to drink and a share of his meagre meal. The king rested for the night in the cave and was greatly impressed by the shepherd’s hospitality and wise conversation.

Explanation: The king decided to hide his true identity while meeting the shepherd so he dressed as a shepherd and went to meet him riding a mule. When the shepherd saw a traveller coming towards the cave he welcomed him and took him inside the cave and served him food and water. The king spent that night with him in the cave and was greatly influenced by his friendly behaviour and wise way of talking.

• The shepherd was able to make out that his visitor was none other than the king.
• The king made the wise shepherd governor of a small district.
• Other governors became jealous of the new governor and called him dishonest.

Though still tired, the king decided to depart the next morning. He said, “Many thanks for your kindness to a poor traveller. I have a long way to go. Permit me to leave.” Looking straight into the eyes of his guest, the shepherd replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for paying me the compliment of a visit.”

Explanation: The king decided to leave the cave the next morning although he was still feeling tired. The king thanked the poor shepherd for his warm and kind welcome. He asked for his permission to leave the place saying that he has a long way to go. The shepherd looking straight into the eyes of the king said that it was an honour to serve him at his place. 

The king was astonished as well as pleased. ‘He is indeed very wise.’ he thought to himself. ‘I need people like him to work for me.’ And the king appointed this humble shepherd the governor of a small district. Although he rose to power and dignity, the shepherd remained as humble as ever. People loved and honoured him for his wisdom, sympathy and goodness. He was kind and just to one and all. His fame as a fair and wise governor soon spread throughout the country.

Explanation: The king was amazed and very happy after meeting and he thought that the shepherd was a wise person. He thought that the people like him should work for him. The king appointed him as the Governor of a small district. Even after he became powerful after getting appointed as governor the shepherd remained humble and simple. People liked him and were full of praise for his wisdom, sympathy and kind behaviour. He behaved similarly to everyone and soon he became famous throughout the country as a good and wise governor.

Now the governors of other provinces grew jealous of him and began to talk to the king against him. They said, “He is very dishonest, and keeps for himself part of the money that he collects as tax from the people.” Why did he always carry with him, they added, an iron chest? Perhaps he carried in it the treasure that he had secretly collected. After all, they said mockingly, he was an ordinary shepherd and could behave no better.

Explanation: Looking at his growing popularity, the governors of other states became very jealous of him and started conspiring against him. They started backbiting against him and talked to the king against him. They blamed him to be dishonest and accused him of keeping the part of tax money for himself. They also questioned about the iron chest he used to carry with him all the time. They said that he may be carrying the stolen treasure with him in that iron box. They made fun of him for this behaviour and said that he was a common shepherd and was expected to behave in such a manner.

• The new governor was called to the palace.
• He was ordered to explain why he always carried an iron chest.
• The chest contained no gold or silver.

At first, the king did not pay attention to these reports, but how long could he ignore these governors and their endless stories about the shepherd? One thing was certain, the king discovered. The new governor did carry an iron chest with him all the time.

Explanation: In the beginning, the king hardly paid any attention to the reports of other governors but he could not ignore them and their fake stories about the shepherd for a long time. The king also found that the new governor would carry an iron box with him all the time.

So, one day, the new governor was summoned to the palace. He came riding on his camel, and to everyone’s delight, the famous iron chest was there fastened securely behind him on the camel’s back.

Explanation: Finally, the king decided to enquire about the matter of that iron box and so the new governor was called to the palace. He came to the palace riding his camel and the most talked about the iron box was also with him and was tied behind him on the camel’s back.

Now the king was angry. He thundered, “Why do you always carry that iron chest with you? What does it contain?”

Explanation: The king got angry after he saw the governor carrying the iron box with him, he shouted angrily and asked him the reason to carry that iron box with him every time.

The governor smiled. He asked his servant to bring in the chest. How eagerly the people standing around waiting for the shepherd to be found out! But how great was their astonishment, and even of the king himself, when the chest was opened! No gold or silver or jewels but an old blanket was all that came out. Holding it up proudly, the shepherd said, “This, my dear master, is my only treasure. I always carry it with me.”

Explanation: Instead of getting angry in response the new governor smiled and asked the servant to bring the iron box. Everyone in the palace was very curious to know about the contents of the box. But everybody including the king was surprised when the box was opened because there were no precious items like gold, silver or jewels in the box but just an old blanket. The shepherd picked up the blanket proudly in his hand and proudly announced that it was his only treasure and that he always carry it with him.

“But why do you carry such an ordinary blanket with you? Surely, you are the governor of a district?” the king asked. To which the shepherd replied with quiet dignity, “This blanket is my oldest friend. It will still protect me if, at any time, Your Majesty should wish to take away my new cloaks.”

Explanation: Seeing this, the king asked him the reason to carry that ordinary old blanket with him because he was governor of a district now and not a shepherd. The new governor respectfully replied to this question and said that the blanket was his oldest friend and has protected him during the hardest time of his life. He further said that it will protect him in future too if the king wished to take away the power and new clothes and that was the reason he used to carry that with him.

How pleased the king was, and how embarrassed the jealous governors became to hear the wise man’s reply! Now they knew that the shepherd was indeed the humblest and the wisest man in the land. The king made him the governor of a much bigger district that very day.

Explanation: The king became so happy after hearing the words of the shepherd whereas the other governor who complained against him were feeling ashamed of themselves. Now everyone in the palace was sure that the shepherd was the humblest, kind and wise person in their country and the king at that very moment made him the governor of a bigger district.

The Shepherd’s Treasure Class 8 Question Answers

Thinking About the Text

The Shepherd’s Treasure Class 8 Extra Questions

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