Literature Chapter 10 - The Sermon At Benares

The Author Betty Renstaw’s was an American writer. She was born on October 2, 1921, in the Renshaw family. She died on April 30, 1999, at the age of 77.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 10 – The Sermon At Benares

The story is about a very unfortunate lady whose name is Kisa Gotami. She carried the dead body of her son from one place to another in grief that she had lost her only one. After a long journey, she came to Lord Buddha in need of the medicine that could resurrect her son. Buddha asked her to bring some mustard seeds from the house where no child, parent, friend or husband died. Naturally, Gotami couldn’t find a house where some beloved person has never died. She, then had the thought that death was the fate of humankind; it was inevitable. No one is immortal. The world is afflicted with death and decay, and that the wise don’t grieve. He who has overcome all will soon become free from sorrow.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 10

Buddha said that death is inevitable and unavoidable for all mortal beings. It is common for all. Weeping and lamenting can never bring back someone from death. So it is wise not to grief, for it will only spoil one’s health. To overcome sorrow, you have to be free from it. Weeping and grieving are said to bring no gain and rather spoils one’s health. If only you take out the arrow of lamentation and be aware of the bitter truth, only then will you find peace and overcome sorrow.

In the story, Siddhartha, on way to one of his hunting expeditions, saw an older man, a sick man, a funeral procession and a monk begging. This was his first encounter with grief and suffering of the world. It engulfed him with sorrow, and he immediately decided to renounced everything.

Kisa Gotami has lost her only son, she carried her dead child everywhere and asked for a cure and later encountered Buddha. When she asked for medication, she was instructed by Buddha to go the door of the house where no beloved died and get a handful of mustard seeds. In grief, Kisa forgot that everyone had to suffer such type of loss in their family and death is common to all. This is why, in her grief, she became selfish to fulfil the impossible condition.

Though Kisa Gotami couldn’t complete the task, she was free from all illusions. She came face to face with the universal truth that all mortal beings are destined to die sooner or later. Lamentation and grieving can’t bring anyone back from death.

We at UrbanPro aim to bring you the best NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 10 Solutions that include many important questions and answers. To know more about this story, refer to the solutions given below. These can be beneficial for all students appearing in the examinations and get the best grades to ensure their success.