Upagupta

4. Upagupta

- Rabindranath Tagore

1. Two kinds of lives are depicted in the poem Upagupta. What are they?

A. In the poem ‘Upagupta’, two kinds of lives are depicted. One is dancing girl who was only after bodily pleasures and worldly possessions. The other is Upagupta who is quite opposite in living to the dancing girl. He leads a life of simplicity and gave away all worldly possessions. He leads a saint life.

2. What did the dancing girl ask the ascetic to do? Why do you think he declined her invitation?

A. The dancing girl asked the ascetic to come to her house and sleep on her bed. The ascetic declined since he gave up all his worldly possessions.

3. What happened as soon as the young ascetic had spoken his words?

A. When the young ascetic had spoken his words, the black night showed his teeth in a flash of lightning and a storm growled. This trembled the dancing girl.

4. What did Upagupta mean when he said to the young woman that he would come to her when the time was ripe?

A. The dancing girl was proud of her youth and fond of worldly possessions and pleasures. Upagupta was aware of what was to come to her in future. He, therefore, promised her that when time was ripe i.e., when she was totally discarded and dying he would come in her aid.

5. “The time, at last, has come to visit you……” What time had come? Who was the visitor?

A. The time for the ascetic to come to dancing girl to attend her in need had come as it was promised by him some years ago. The visitor was Upagupta.