Lesson 8: The Gulistan of Sa’di
This chapter is from the 11th class English book 1 and it has been written by the Sheikh Saadi. we have presented the important questions of this chapter for the intermediate (part 1) FSc FA first year students.
Questions Answers
Q: What reply did the boy give to the king?
He replied: “A son looks to the affection of the parents. If they fail, they are a expected to bring the case before the Qazi. But in the present case, both are guilty. So I see no other refuge besides God Almighty.”
Q: Why did the king weep? OR What was the effect of the boy’s reply on the king?
The king felt disturbed and could not control his tears when he heard the boy’s reply. He realized his mistake and kissed the boy. He spared him and presented him with a lot of Wealth.
Q: How did the king recover?
The king recovered by the grace of Allah Almighty. He took pity on the boy and Allah took pity on him. His good deed was rewarded by Allah Almighty.
Q: What impression do you gather of Sadi’s writings?
Sadi tells common tales, but they are packed with wisdom. They aim at correcting man’s manners and morals. He is an entertainer as well as teacher. We do not find any ill-will or prejudice in his writings.
Q: Write a note on the character of Nushirvan.
Nushirvan was a famous Persian king. He was regarded as a very kind and noble ruler for whom justice was of supreme importance. He gave great value to the rights of the people. He asked his men to observe them as well. History tells us that the period in which justice is available to everyone is called the golden rule. So it is very rightly claimed that Nushirvan’s period was a golden period. People were happy and the country made a great progress. This is why he is remembered with respect and honour.
Q: What should be the role of a king?
A king is guide and caretaker of the country and the countrymen. He should be wise and must have his own opinion. He must be God-fearing. Only then he can maintain justice in his state. An ideal king does not keep himself away from his people. He keeps them happy by creating better opportunities for them. He should be loving to his people. Only then his people will love him. For him the rich and the poor are alike. Kindness and justice should be his principles.
Q: What moral lesson do you get from the second tale?
In the present situation, the Second story teaches us a very good moral lesson. The main problem of the underdeveloped countries is that all the members of the government machinery are involved in financial corruption. If they behave like the great lover of justice, King Nushirvan, the whole situation will be changed. Nushervan did not like to take a little amount of salt without paying for it. He knew that his small act in this regard would result in corruption of great size. The wisdom of the man at the top saves the nation from evils effects of any sort. If every ruler displays character and wisdom, the nation is sure to make success. Justice in the society is the key to a good rule.
Q: Compare and contrast the three tales.
All of Sa’di’s tales present before us moral lessons of different sorts. As these are the stories of the past, they are mostly about kings and their rules. These stories have a universal appeal because now in place of kings, we have the upper class who has wealth and power. The first story gives a moral lesson that we realize the value of safety when we have faced the real danger. The second story tells us that a society prospers when its rulers are just and kind. The third story tells us that the ruler should be God-fearing. Only in this way he can keep himself from any act of cruelty.
Q: What was the effect of the sergeant’s technique on the slave?
This technique proved very effective. After that he sat down in a corner and remained quiet. The king and the other people were amazed to see the difference in his behaviour.
Q: What explanation did the sergeant give for his act of throwing the slave into water?
He said: “Before the slave had experienced the danger of being drowned, he knew not the safety of the boat. A man does not realize the worth of safety unless he has suffered misfortune.”
Q: What happened when the deer was being roasted for Nushirvan?
When the deer was being roasted for Nushirvan, salt was not available. So a boy was sent to the nearby village to fetch some salt.
Q: Why did the king Nushirvan insist on paying for the salt?
He insisted so because he did not want to do injustice to his people. He said that if he took a small amount of salt without payment, his workers would loot the people mercilessly.
Q: What examples did Nushirvan give to prove that small acts of injustice could prove fatai?
Nushirvan said: “if the king eats one apple from the garden of a subject, his slaves will pull all the trees from the roots. For five eggs, which the king allows to be taken by force the people belonging to his army will put a thousand fowls on the spit.
Q: What advice was given by Nushirvan to the people?
He advised the people to be kind and just. He asked them not to take anything from anyone without paying the price.
Q: What idea do you gather about the rule of King Nushirvan?
Justice is the key to good rule, King Nushirvan did justice to his people and they had great regard for him. So we can say that he was an ideal ruler.
Q: What was the remedy suggested by the physicians for the disease of the king?
The physicians suggested a very strange medicine to cure the king’s disease. They said that the secretions got from the liver of a man having certain qualities could cure his disease.
Q: How did the king get the consent of the parents of the boy?
The king called the parents of the boy to his court and offered them a huge amount of wealth. In this way, he succeeded in getting their consent.
Q: What was the Qazi’s decision in that case?
The Qazi issued a decree to shed the blood of a person for the health of the king.
Q: What should be the role of a Qazi?
The role of a Qazi should be to maintain justice. He should support truth only. His decisions should be full of justice. He should help the weak against the strong.
Q: Why did the boy look to the sky and smile when everything was set for his killing?
When the boy felt certain that he would be killed, he looked upward and smiled, He could not get justice from anywhere, So he looked toward the sky to seek justice from God.
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