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Karnataka 1st PUC English Textbook Answers Reflections Chapter 8 Watchman of the Lake
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Watchman of the Lake Questions and Answers, Notes, Summary
Watchman of the Lake Comprehension I
Watchman Of The Lake Notes Question 1.
Why was the headman in a hurry to complete the road work?
Answer:
The king of the land was to pass by that way the next day and the road had to be ready for use.
Watchman Of The Lake Question 2.
The village headman asked Mara to keep away from the road workers because of ______
Answer:
He did not want the king to know that the village had such fools as Mara.
Watchman Of The Lake Questions And Answers Question 3.
How did Mara manage to draw the attention of the king? Why?
Answer:
Mara hid among the branches of a tree and jumped down from the tree in front of the king when the king passed that way. Mara did it as he was desperate to tell the king about his dream and what the Goddess had revealed to him in the dream.
Watchman Of The Lake Question And Answers Question 4.
The Goddess’ command to Mara was to ______
Answer:
build a tank for Veda so that Veda found a home.
1st Puc English Watchman Of The Lake Notes Question 5.
How does the king respond to Mara’s information about the tank?
Answer:
The king does not doubt Mara. He asks Mara to go with him to the palace the next day as he wanted to discuss further
the tank to be built.
The Watchman Of The Lake Notes Question 6.
The Watchman Of The Lake NotesWhat does Mara advise his son in saving the lake and the creatures?
Answer:
Mara reminded his son that he had to be the watchman of the lake after him (Mara). Mara also shared with his son what the Goddess had instructed Mara to do. She had commanded that nothing that flew, swam or walked those parts, where the lake existed, be killed as the place was scared. So Mara told his son that no killers should be allowed there whether they came with arrows for the gulls which skimmed over the water or with the rod for the fish.
1st Puc English Notes Watchman Of The Lake Question 7.
Why did the visitor approach Mara?
OR
Why did the visitor request Mara for water?
OR
In ‘Watchman of the Lake’, one day a visitor approached Mara to
(a) get water to his village
(b) stop fishing in the lake
(c) work as watchman of the lake.
OR
Why did the visitor from the farthest village come to Mara?
Answer:
The visitor approached Mara for some water from the tank as his village was the farthest from the king’s domain and crops parched up and cattle were dying of drought.
The Watchman Of The Lake Question 8.
Mara rushed to the king because he wanted to save
(a) his own life
(b) the king
(c) the lake.
Answer:
(b) the king.
Watchman Of The Lake Pdf Question 9.
Mara was trembling at the king’s palace because
(a) he was afraid of the king
(b) he was drenched in the rain,
(c) he was worried about the lake.
Answer:
(c) he was worried about the lake.
Watchman Of The Lake Answers Question 10.
On what condition did Mara make the Goddess wait for him?
Answer:
Mara requested the Goddess not to carry out her act of devastation until he returned from the capital after informing the king about the danger.
Watchman of the Lake Comprehension II
Watchman Of The Lake Textbook Question 1.
What was the significance of Mara’s dream?
OR
Write about Mara’s dream in ‘Watchman of the Lake’.
OR
Describe the sacrifices made by Mara to build and to save the lake.
Answer:
Mara gets two dreams in the course of the play. The first time, it is the dream of the Goddess who urges Mara to get a bank built for river Veda so that she could find a home for herself. The second time, it is the same Goddess, furious that her plaything Veda has been imprisoned in the man-made bank. When Mara reminds her that it was at her behest that the bank was built, the Goddess, who is in the mood of destruction, retorts that she is now ready for devastation.
After the vision, both the times, Mara works for the general welfare. After the first dream, he wants the bank to be built because he knows that the preserved water would be of great use to the subjects of the king. He undergoes a lot of harassment at the hands of the village headman before he gets to speak to the king. The second time, after the dream, when he realises that nothing can stop the Goddess from the act of destruction, he sacrifices himself in order to save the king and his kingdom.
Thus, we see that Mara is a true saviour of the people. If this is one significant aspect of the dream, there is one more point full of wrath. Maybe she is displeased by selfish people who try to exploit the water in the bank for their own good and wants to teach all a lesson. Even here, it is Mara’s sacrifice that comes to the forefront.
The significance of the dreams is that we have no control over divine design. Yet, if we have the nobility of Mara, we can escape the destructive edge of even divine plans.
1 Puc English Notes Watchman Of The Lake Question 2.
What instructions did Mara give his son about the lake and the creatures? What light do these instructions throw on Mara’s character?
OR
What instructions did Mara give his son, Ganga, about the duties of the watchman of the lake?
Answer:
Mara reminded his son that he had to be the watchman of the lake after his death. Mara also shared with his son what the Goddess had instructed Mara to do. She had commanded that nothing that flew, swam or walked those parts, where the lake existed, be killed as the place was scared. So Mara told his son that no killers should be allowed there, whether they came with arrows for the gulls which skimmed over the water or with the rod for the fish. These instructions are given by Mara to his son, first of all, show that Mara was obedient to the Goddess.
Secondly, it shows that he was a great lover of nature. Thirdly, it shows his sense of responsibility. He wanted the lake and the bank to be taken care of in an exemplary way. At the same time, he was authoritative too. He did not allow anyone to exploit the bank. Yet, he did not deny anyone the just use of the water of the bank. Thus, we see that Mara was a noble watchman of the lake.
Watchman Of The Lake Question And Answer Question 3.
Bring out the significance of the sacred spot that Mara describes to the king.
OR
Describe the myth regarding the sacred spot from where the sacred river Veda was born, as narrated by Mara to the king.
OR
What mythological story did Mara narrate about the sacred spot to the King?
Answer:
According to Mara’s narration, the spot was sacred because Hanuman stood there on the day Lakshmana lay in a dead faint in the battle-field at Lanka. Hanuman was guided by divine omens and came to the spot where the king stood, and went up the mountain to find sanjeevini, with which he revived Lakshmana. In the place of the sanjeevini a stream arose and it flowed past the spot where the king stood. Thus, the place was sacred for two reasons. First of all, the great Hanuman came there; secondly, river Veda, originating from the spot where sanjeevini grew, flowed there.
Watchman Of The Lake Notes Pdf Question 4.
How did Mara react to the Goddess when she appeared before him
(a) the first time?
(b) the second time?
Answer:
(a) The first time, when the Goddess appeared before Mara, he recognised her immediately as the divine mother and fell at her feet. He was struck by her grandeur, and this is evident from the graphic description he gives to the king of the tresses, the stars in her coronet and the ruby on the forehead of the Goddess.
(b) The second time, Mara sees the Goddess in her destructive mood. Her tresses are wild, her eyes gleam with a strange light, her forehead is splashed with vermilion and she carries a sword. This time too Mara falls at her feet, but this time he is frightened and pleads for mercy.
Watchman of the Lake Comprehension III
Watchman Of The Lake Solutions Question 1.
Was the headman.justified in calling Mara a lunatic? Give reasons.
OR
Why did the headman call Mara a lunatic? Give reasons.
Answer:
No, he was not. First of all, he gives Mara no hearing at all. Right from the beginning, he has been very insulting towards not only Mara but also the other labourers. Even if he doesn’t believe Mara’s stories, it is not necessary to be so harsh towards Mara. He even goes to the extent of imprisoning Mara. Moreover, we see that the king has no doubts about the story of Mara. Thus, it is clear that the headman is not justified in calling Mara a lunatic.
1st Puc Watchman Of The Lake Notes Question 2.
“Nature is both protective and destructive.” How does the play bring out this idea?
OR
The Goddess says “Veda is my plaything” indicating that nature can be constructive as well as destructive. How is this true in the play ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
OR
How does the play ‘Watchman .of the Lake’ bring out both the protective and destructive faces of nature?
Answer:
The play makes it very clear that nature is both protective and destructive and that we are at the mercy of nature. We see the same river Veda as the life-giver, life maintainer and life destroyer. The play shows it as the whim and fancy of the Goddess, for whom River Veda is a plaything. But, what the author tries to show is that nature can impact us in different ways at different times and we are not in a position to understand why it acts as it does. But, what is important is that we should protect nature and not exploit it.
Watchman Of The Lake Question Answer Question 3.
How differently did Mara treat the fisherman and the visitor?
OR
Why did Mara treat the fisherman and the visitor differently?
Answer:
Mara is a devoted watchman of the lake and he follows all the commands ordained by the Goddess. That is why he does not harm the tiger that comes to the lake to quench its thirst. For the same reason, he threatens the fisherman with dire consequences if he tries to fish at the lake again. Mara’s duty is to ensure that no living creature got harmed at the lake. At the same time, he does not misuse his power. He is very courteous with the visitor and offers him all the assistance, according to the rules put down by the king. Mara knows that the water of the lake is for consumption and does not deny anyone the rightful use of it.
Watchman Of The Lake Extra Questions And Answers Question 4.
Why do you think Mara asked the king make his son, son’s son, and soon, the watchman of the lake?
Answer:
Mara’s attachment to the lake is such that he cannot trust anyone else with the welfare of it. He has seen selfish people like the fisherman, misusing their power. Moreover, he has guided his son at every point as to how to look after the lake and knows that his son can look after the lake very well. So, when Mara knows that his end is near, he requests the king to grant him his last wish, and that is to appoint his son and his grandsons after his son as the watchmen of the lake. Thus, Mara’s selfless attitude is evident even when he makes a request that might seem to others as a selfish one.
Question 5.
In what way do you think Mara’s sacrifice saved the lake? What ‘sacrifices’ need to be made to save the lakes today?
Answer:
Since the Goddess couldn’t make Veda overflow her banks till the return of Mara, with Mara’s death, Mara ensured that the river would never overflow its banks. His selflessness in making the king kill him saved the life of the king and all his subjects. In the present time, we have no watchmen to guard our rivers and other sources of water. We have been exploiting the water resources selfishly. We throw rubbish, including factory effluence, into the water; we wastewater; we don’t try to preserve water through watershed management, rainwater harvesting etc.
We have polluted our most sacred river – Ganga – beyond measure. It is high time we realised that water is the elixir of life and unless we treat water respectfully, there is no future for us. The year 2013-14 has been declared by the UN as the Year of Water Cooperatives. Let us, at least now, start celebrating the importance of the life¬giving water.
Watchman of the Lake Additional Questions and Answers
I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase or a sentence each:
Question 1.
What had the Goddess instructed Mara in his dream in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
OR
What was the command of the Goddess to Mara in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
The Goddess instructed Mara to build a tank for Veda so that Veda found a home.
Question 2.
Name the river mentioned in the play ‘Watchman of the Lake’.
Answer:
River Veda.
Question 3.
What is the name of Mara’s son?
Answer:
Ganga.
Question 4.
Bhima frees Mara from the cellar because of he
(a) is bribed by Mara
(b) learns about the command of the Goddess to Mara
(c) hates the village headman.
Answer:
(b) learns about the command of the Goddess to Mara.
Question 5.
What did Bhima’s mother give him to become strong?
Answer:
Iron decoction.
Question 6.
Where was Mara waiting for the king?
Answer:
On the branch of a tree.
Question 7.
Who had come in Mara’s dream to talk about the tank?
Answer:
The Goddess.
Question 8.
Who had given Mara the greatest gift that any man could give?
Answer:
His father-in-law.
Question 9.
What does the Goddess regard as her own plaything?
Answer:
River Veda.
Question 10.
Whom did the village headman ask to put Mara in the cellar?
Answer:
Bhima.
Question 11.
Why did Mara want to meet the king?
OR
Why was Mara waiting for the king in a tree?
Answer:
Mara wanted to report to the king about his dream in which the Goddess had asked him to speak to the king about a tank to be built to preserve the water of river Veda.
Question 12.
Who was initially appointed as the watchman of the lake by the king in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
Mara.
Question 13.
Who informed Ganga that his father was no more?
Answer:
The King.
Question 14.
Who was appointed as the watchman of the lake after Mara?
Answer:
His son Ganga.
Question 15.
Why did the king install Mara’s statue in the temple along with the Goddess’s statue?
Answer:
Just as the Goddess was the guardian Goddess of the lake, Mara was also the guard who sacrificed himself for the sake of the kingdom.
Question 16.
Where, according to Mara, did Hanuman find ‘sanjeevini’?
Answer:
On the crest of a mountain.
Question 17.
Why were the roads being repaired in Mara’s village in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
In ‘Watchman of the Lake’, the roads in Mara’s village were in a bad shape and unfit for the king of the land to pass through. As the king was to pass by that way the next day, the roads were being repaired.
Question 18.
Who did the village headman consider as a ‘lunatic’ in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
In ‘Watchman of the Lake’, the headman of the village considered Mara a lunatic.
Question 19.
The village headman was angry with Mara because of _______
(a) he wanted to marry his daughter
(b) he disturbed the good work
(c) none of the above.
Answer:
(b) he disturbed the good work.
Question 20.
The village headman asked Mara to keep away from the road workers because of ______
(a) he was disturbing them by talking about his dream
(b) he was destroying the road
(c) he has snatched away the implements of the workers.
Answer:
(a) he was disturbing them by talking about his dream.
Question 21.
According to Mara, why was the village headman jealous of him?
Answer:
According to Mara, the village headman was jealous of him because the Goddess came to Mara in his dream rather than to the village headman.
Question 22.
Who threatened to lock up Mara if he did not go out of sight for two days?
Answer:
The village headman threatened to lock up Mara if he did not go out of sight for two days.
Question 23.
Who commanded Mara to tell the king to build a tank to the river Veda?
Answer:
The Goddess commanded Mara to tell the king to build a tank to the river Veda in that village.
Question 24.
Who helped Mara to escape from the cellar?
Answer:
Bhima, one of the village headman’s workers, helped Mara to escape from the cellar.
Question 25.
When the king was passing through Mara’s village, there was a sudden confusion as _____
(a) the king fell down on an unrepaired road
(b) Mara jumped down from the branches of a tree before the king
(c) someone tried to attack the king.
Answer:
(b) Mara jumped down from the branches of a tree before the king.
Question 26.
Who had given Bhima iron decoction when he was a baby?
Answer:
Bhima’s mother had given him iron decoction when he was a baby.
Question 27.
Who was Mara’s jailor in watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
Bhima, one of the headman’s workers, was Mara’s jailor in Watchman of the Lake’.
Question 28.
Where was Mara held as a prisoner in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
Mara was held as a prisoner in the cellar behind the old temple in Mara’s village.
Question 29.
_____ was bound and thrown into the cellar in ‘Watchman of the Lake’.
(a) Mara
(b) Racha
(c) Bhima.
Answer:
(a) Mara.
Question 30.
The command of the Goddess to Mara was to ______
(a) wait for the king in the tree
(b) tell the king to build a tank for the river Veda
(c) drink iron decoction to become strong like Bhima.
Answer:
(b) tell the king to build a tank for the river Veda.
Question 31.
_______ believed that Mara had the grace of the gods upon him.
(a) The village headman
(b) The fisherman
(c) The king.
Answer:
(c) The king.
Question 32.
According to Mara, the command of the Goddess about the creatures of the lake was ______
(a) one can catch fish occasionally
(b) only gulls (birds) should be caught
(c) nothing that flies, swims or walks should ever be killed.
Answer:
(c) nothing that flies, swims or walks should ever be killed.
Question 33.
According to Mara, ________ comes down the mountain to slake its thirst in the dead of the night.
Answer:
a tiger.
Question 34.
Who was Mara waiting for, hiding in the tree?
Answer:
Mara, hiding in the tree, was waiting for the king.
Question 35.
What is described as the ‘life-blood of the King’s subjects’?
Answer:
The water of the Veda River is the very life-blood of the king’s humble subjects.
Question 36.
Who summoned the king on a torrential night?
Answer:
Mara, the watchman of the lake, summoned the king on a torrential night.
Question 37.
The Goddess considered river Veda as her
(a) daughter
(b) own plaything
(c) life-blood.
Answer:
(b) own plaything.
Question 38.
What did Mara convey to the king late at night?
Answer:
On a torrential night, Mara told the king that the Goddess had appeared before him that evening. She had asked him to clear out of his hut immediately as she was going to destroy the tank in which Veda had been imprisoned.
Question 39.
What was the command of the Goddess when she appeared in Mara’s dream for the first time.
Answer:
When the Goddess appeared in Mara’s dream for the first time, she commanded him to tell the king that he should build a tank, give Veda a home and not to let her leave that village.
Question 40.
____ was the mood of the Goddess when she appeared in Mara’s dream for the first time?
(a) Protective, motherly, and divine
(b) Fierce, unkind and threatening
(c) Disagreeing, demanding and commanding.
Answer:
(a) Protective, motherly, and divine.
Question 41.
What was the mood of the Goddess when she appeared in front of Mara on a stormy night?
Answer:
When the Goddess appeared in front of Mara on a stormy night, a most terrible and reckless mood of destruction seemed to have come upon the Goddess.
Question 42.
What was the suggestion given by Mara to save the lake?
OR
What did Mara offer to do in order to save the lake?
Answer:
Mara suggested to the king that he should get him executed and make it impossible for him to return to his place.
Question 43.
What was Mara’s last request to the king before he sacrificed his life?
Answer:
Mara’s last request to the king was to make his son and the sons of his future generations only as of the watchman of the lake.
Question 44.
Who ordered Ganga to perform his father’s duties after the death of Mara?
Answer:
The king ordered Ganga to perform his father’s duties after the death of Mara.
Question 45.
Whose idol is installed on the top pedestal in the shrine?
Answer:
The idol of the Guardian Goddess of the lake is installed on the top pedestal in the shrine.
Question 46.
Whose idol is installed on the lower pedestal in the shrine?
Answer:
The idol of Mara, the watchman of the lake, is installed on the lower pedestal in the shrine.
II. Answer the following questions in 80 – 100 words each:
Question 1.
What instructions does the Headman give Bhima? Why?
OR
How does the Headman try to frighten Mara?
OR
How does the village Headman try to prevent Mara from approaching the king?
Answer:
Initially, the Headman tries to control Mara with his harsh words. He calls him a lunatic and orders him to keep away from the path. When this fails, he even tries to cajole Mara by offering him a gift on condition that he kept away. After failing to persuade Mara to leave the spot with either threat or reward, the Headman decides to use force on Mara. He decides to make use of Bhima, a giant-sized man, to restrict Mara from coming to the spot. He instructs Bhima to bind Mara hand and foot and throw him into the cellar behind the old temple and keep him there till the king passed by that way. He also cautions Mara that if he tried any trick, Bhima would crush him between his thumb and forefinger.
Question 2.
Why does Mara rush to the King? What request has he made to the Goddess?
OR
How does Mara save the village and the kingdom from the threat of the flood?
OR
How does Mara attempt to save the kingdom from the wrath of the Goddess?
OR
How does Mara sacrifice his life for the people in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
Mara rushes to the king after witnessing the dangerously rising levels of river Veda. In his vision, he sees the Goddess in her destructive mood and no amount of pleading on Mara’s part makes her change her decision of overflowing the bank. It is then that Mara pleads with the Goddess to contain her wrath and ensure that the water didn’t overflow the banks submerging the whole kingdom until he informed the king and returned. The Goddess agrees and Mara rushes to the kingdom to let the king know what has happened.
Just as the king gets ready to face the inevitable deluge and the destruction of his whole kingdom, Mara points out to him that if he (Mara) didn’t return, the Goddess would keep her word of the water not overflowing the bank. He then urges the king to put an end to his life so that he wouldn’t be able to return. The king, though reluctant, is helpless, and fulfils the request of Mara. Thus, Mara saves the king and his kingdom by sacrificing himself.
Question 3.
What instructions does Ganga give his son?
Answer:
Ganga carries on the legacy of his father and keeps the trust of his father. Just as Mara wanted his son to continue his duty as the watchman, Ganga wants his son to continue after him as the watchman of the lake. Ganga has another instruction for his son. He wants his son not to miss the worship at the shrine. Even as he reminds his son that after his death he should watch over the lake, he also tells him that he would be annoyed if his son missed the worship at the shrine. Thus, we see that Mara’s wish that the lake should be taken care of by his son and later by his son’s son has been fulfilled.
Question 4.
Sketch the character of Mara, the watchman.
OR
Mara can be called ‘a common man with uncommon determination’. Elucidate.
Answer:
The title of the play ‘Watchman of the Lake’ by R.K. Narayan refers to a watchman, a common man, who is instrumental in a lake coming into being. The one-act play unfolds before us the saga of Mara who against stiff opposition ensures that the lake comes into being, and sacrifices himself to ensure that the lake does not overflow its banks, destroying the whole capital of the king who has constructed the lake. The play revolves around the vision of Mara who has been told by the Goddess that a tank must be built for river Veda.
Though the Headman tries his best to prevent Mara from meeting the King, a lake comes into being after Mara convinces the king. Mara supervises the building of the tank, taking into consideration every stone that is placed and after the tank is built, protects the lake and all the creatures near the lake from trespassers. He also gives water to the needy according to the rules of the king and trains his son to be the future watchman of the lake. Thus, we see that Mara is: god-fearing; loyal to the king; hard-working as the watchman of the lake; fair and impartial in his dealings with the people who come to the lake; a common man with uncommon determination, and above all, is selfless in sacrificing his life for the sake of the kingdom. He is fearless too. When the Headman is insulting towards him, he makes fun of him. He is an admirable mixture of dedication, vision and hard work.
Question 5.
What does Mara, the watchman, reveal to the king on the night of the storm?
Answer:
The night of the storm is a dark night for Mara, the watchman of the lake, who realises that the lake which until then had been the life-giver is on the verge of turning into the life-destroyer. After we see that Mara is worried about the rising levels of the water, we see him at the palace seeking permission to speak to the king late at night. Mara, who is drenched in water and has mud splashed all over him, confides with the king that the Goddess had appeared in his dream again and had warned him about Veda overflowing the banks of the lake. She hadn’t relented even when Mara had reminded her that it was at her behest that the bank had been built. Mara adds that the Goddess seemed to be in a destructive mood. Mara tells the king that if the water overflowed, then the whole kingdom would be destroyed.
Even as the king gets ready to inform his subjects about the impending deluge and doom, Mara tells him that there is one way of saving the kingdom. He says that the Goddess had promised not to overflow the bank until Mara returned and the king could ensure that Mara didn’t return by killing him. Thus, we see that Mara sacrifices himself for the welfare of the king and his subjects. His only request is to make his son the next watchman and his grandson and great-grandsons after his son to be subsequent watchmen of the lake.
Question 6.
Contrast the different moods of the Goddess that are portrayed in “Watchman of the Lake”.
Answer:
The constructive and destructive appearances of the Goddess are symbolic of the constructive and destructive aspects of nature. They are also symbolic of God himself being both the preserver and the destroyer. The two facets of the Goddess also make one more point clear. Human beings cannot follow the design of the supreme being. He has to only accept the divine will unquestioningly.
First time when the Goddess appears before Mara, he recognises her immediately as the divine mother and falls at her feet. He is struck by her grandeur, and this is evident from the graphic description he gives to the king of the tresses, the stars in her coronet and the ruby on the forehead of the Goddess.
The second time Mara sees the Goddess in her destructive mood. Her tresses are wild, her eyes gleam with a strange light, her forehead is splashed with vermilion and she carries a sword. This time too Mara falls at her feet, but this time he is frightened and pleads for mercy. The Goddess offers no explanation for her fury. However, she shows mercy and asks Mara to leave the hut. She also agrees to contain herself until he returned.
Question 7.
Give an account of Mara’s second meeting with the king.
Answer:
If the first meeting of Mara with the king is adventurous, the second meeting is very disturbing. In Scene Four we see Mara at the palace seeking permission to speak to the king late at night. Mara, who is drenched in water and has mud splashed all over him, confides with the king that the Goddess had appeared in his dream again and had warned him about Veda overflowing the banks of the lake. She hadn’t relented even when Mara had reminded her that it was at her behest that the tank had been built. Mara adds that the Goddess seemed to be in a destructive mood. Mara tells the king that if the water overflowed, then the whole kingdom would be destroyed. Even as the king gets ready to inform his subjects about the impending deluge and doom, Mara tells him that there is one way of saving the kingdom.
He says that the Goddess had promised not to overflow until Mara returned and the king could ensure that Mara didn’t return by killing him. Thus we see that Mara sacrifices himself for the welfare of the king and his subjects. His only request is to make his son the next watchman and his grandson and great-grandsons after his son to be subsequent watchmen of the lake.
Question 8.
Narrate the story ofSanjeevini as told by Mara in the play ‘Watchman of the Lake’.
Answer:
According to Mara’s narration, the spot was sacred because Hanuman stood there on the day Lakshmana lay in a dead faint in the battlefield at Lanka. Hanuman was guided by divine omens and came to the spot where the king stood, and went up the mountain to find Sanjeevini, with which he revived Lakshmana. In the place of the Sanjeevini, a stream arose and it flowed past the spot where the king stood. Thus, the place was sacred for two reasons. First of all, the great Hanuman came there; secondly, river Veda, originating from the spot where Sanjeevini grew, flowed there.
Question 9.
What did Mara tell the king about the tank on a stormy night?
Answer:
Mara told the king that until that evening there was no sign of the coming rain, but at dusk, the sky darkened all of a sudden. Raindrops started battering his roof and at midnight the wind rocked his hut. He came out of his hut and saw a terrifying sight. Veda was thundering down the mountain, and the wind shook the earth. When he went to the edge of the water, the waves rose to a man’s height and hammered at the bank; the water level was just a hair’s breadth below the shore. It appeared as though it might heave and flow over.
Question 10.
Give an account of Mara’s vision of the Goddess on the night of the storm.
Answer:
Until that evening there was no sign of the coming rain, but at dusk, the sky darkened all of a sudden. Raindrops started battering Mara’s roof and at midnight the wind rocked his hut. He came out of his hut and saw a terrifying sight. Veda was thundering down the mountain, and the wind shook the earth. When he went to the edge of the water, the waves rose to a man’s height and hammered at the bank; the water level was just a hair’s breadth below the shore. It appeared as though it might heave and flow over. On seeing the turbulent Veda, Mara fell down and prayed. He had a vision of the Goddess of the lake. He saw the Goddess standing before him. Her tresses were wild, and her eyes gleamed with a strange light; she carried a sword in her hand and she had splashed her forehead with vermilion.
Question 11.
How did Mara save the lake?
Answer:
When Mara fell at her feet, the Goddess asked him to rise up and hear her intently. She told him that she was the Goddess of the Lake and that river Veda was her plaything. She asked him to leave the hut at once and save his life. Mara asked her what was going to happen. She told him that she was going to destroy the tank that imprisoned Veda. When Mara told her that they had built the tank at her command, the Goddess replied that she was in a different mood and wanted to splash away the waters of Veda. Mara told the Goddess that the waters of Veda would wash away hundreds of villages and towns and the king’s capital beyond if the bank was removed.
Mara prostrated before her and begged her to stay her hand and not to carry out the devastation until he came back after informing the king about it. After meeting the king he requested the king to get him executed and prevent him from returning to the Goddess. Though the king disliked the suggestion, finally he granted Mara’s wish and got him executed. The Goddess stayed her hand, did not destroy the tank and waited for Mara’s return. Thus, Mara saved the lake.
Question 12.
Why did Mara meet the king the first time?
Answer:
Mara met the king the first time in order to tell him about the conversation he had with the Goddess in his dream. The Goddess of the river appeared in Mara’s dream several times and told him to ask his king to build a tank for river Veda and to not let river Veda leave their village. The Goddess appeared in Mara’s dream and told him that the king was passing through their village the next day and he should tell the king to build a tank for Veda and give her a home.
Question 13.
How did Mara manage to meet the king the first time?
Answer:
After having been told by the Goddess of the river that the king was passing through their village the next day, Mara went to see the road the king would pass through. The workers told the headman of the village that Mara had peeped at them from behind a rock and had run away.
The village headman considered Mara a lunatic. Therefore, he wanted to prevent Mara from meeting the king. He called Bhima, a worker, who was well-built and strong, to bind Mara hand and foot and throw him into a cellar behind the old temple and keep him there for two days. Mara went along with Bhima without showing any resistance. On the way, Mara told him about what the Goddess had asked him to tell the king. Bhima was convinced that Mara was telling the truth and so set him free.
Mara hid on a tree near the road on which the king was passing through. Later, that day, while the king was going through that road, Mara jumped down from the tree and was brought before the king by his servants. When the king asked him why he was hiding there, he told the king what the Goddess had asked him to do.
Question 14.
Describe the circumstances that prompted Mara to meet the king on a stormy night.
Answer:
One evening, when daylight was gradually fading and the sky was darkening, Mara sensed that it was going to rain very heavily. He called his son in and shut the door of his hut. Raindrops started battering his roof and at midnight the wind rocked his hut. Mara became anxious and came out of his hut. He saw Veda thundering down the mountain and also felt the wind shaking the earth. He went to the edge of the water in the tank and watched the waves rising to a man’s height and hammering at the bank. The water level had risen to just a hair’s breadth below the shore. He thought it might heave and flow over the banks any moment.
Mara went on his knees and prayed to the Goddess of the river. She appeared before him in an angry mood. Her tresses were wild, her eyes gleamed with a strange light; there was a sword in her hand and her forehead was splashed with vermilion. When he cowered at her sight she asked him to stand up and listen to what she was going to say. Then she told him to clear out of his hut at once as she desired to destroy the tank built around her. Mara pleaded with her to spare them and have pity on them. But the Goddess did not change her mood. Then Mara requested her to grant his one wish. He begged her to promise him that she would stay her hand and not carry out the devastation until he returned from the king’s palace after informing him about what was going to happen to the tank.
The Goddess gracefully granted his wish and agreed to wait until he came back. Thus having stayed the decision of the river Goddess, Mara had to somehow save the tank and his people. That is why Mara met the King on a stormy night.
Question 15.
How did the king respond to Mara’s information about the command of the Goddess?
Answer:
Mara met the king in order to tell him about the conversation he had with the Goddess in his dream. The Goddess of the river appeared in Mara’s dream several times and told him to ask his king to build a tank for river Veda and to not let river Veda leave their village. The Goddess told him that the king was passing through their village the next day and he should tell the king to build a tank for Veda and give her a home. As soon as he heard what Mara told him, the king was very happy to learn about the command of the Goddess. He was also happy that Mara had been lucky enough to have spoken to the Goddess. That is why Mara asked the king that he might get him trampled down by his royal elephant if he did not believe his words. The king, on the contrary, expressed his appreciation for Mara for having been graced by the Goddess. The king said that Mara’s words were valuable and needed due consideration.
Question 16.
Describe Mara’s reaction to the Goddess on a stormy night.
Answer:
On that stormy night, when the raindrops started battering the roof of his hut and the wind rocked his hut, Mara was disturbed by the change in the weather. He came out of the hut and saw the huge waves rising to a man’s height and hammering at the banks of the tank. The tank was almost full and it looked as if it might heave and flow over the land any moment.
Mara was shocked to see the tank in such a state. He prostrated and prayed to the Goddess of the river. The Goddess appeared before him. Her tresses were wild, her eyes gleamed with a strange light; she carried a sword in her hand and she had splashed her forehead with vermilion. He cowered at the sight of her. The Goddess asked him to get up and hear her intently.
The Goddess told him that she was the Goddess of the lake and that river Veda was her plaything. She ordered him to clear out of his hut at once. Mara begged the Goddess to spare them. He asked the Goddess what was going to happen. She told him that she was going to kick away the stones that bound the tank as she wanted to destroy the tank. Mara then told the Goddess that they had built the tank at her command. The Goddess told him that she was in a destructive mood, Veda was her plaything and she liked to splash away its waters.
Then Mara pleaded with her and requested her to stay her hand until he returned to the village after informing the king about it. The Goddess granted his wish.
Question 17.
What did Mara request the Goddess and the king to save the lake?
Answer:
The Goddess of the river told Mara that she intended to destroy the lake and splash the waters of the river Veda. She asked him to clear out of the hut at once. Mara pleaded with her to spare them. He then told her that they had built the tank aj her command. The Goddess told him that Veda was her plaything and she was now in a destructive mood and wished to destroy the tank. Mara requested the Goddess to stay her hand until he returned to his village after informing the king about it. The Goddess granted his wish.
Then Mara met the king at midnight and told him the whole story. He then asked the king to execute him and make it impossible for him to return to his village. That way, he would be able to save the tank, since the Goddess had agreed to not destroy the tank until he came back. Mara then requested the king to make his son the watchman of the lake, and after him, his son, and then his son’s son to the last generation of his family. Though the king was disturbed by his request, he finally agreed and got Mara executed.
Question 18.
Give an account of Mara’s meeting with the king on a stormy night in ‘Watchman of the Lake’.
Answer:
When Mara fell at her feet, the Goddess asked him to rise up and hear her intently. She told him that she was the Goddess of the Lake and that river Veda was her plaything. She asked him to leave the hut at once and save his life. Mara asked her what was going to happen. She told him that she was going to destroy the tank that imprisoned Veda. When Mara told her that they had built the tank at her command, the Goddess replied that she was in a different mood and wanted to splash away the waters of Veda.
Mara told the Goddess that the waters of Veda would wash away hundreds of villages and towns and the king’s capital beyond if the bank was removed. Mara prostrated before her and begged her to stay her hand and not to carry out the devastation until he came back after informing the king about it. After meeting the king he requested the king to get him executed and prevent him from returning to the Goddess. Though the king disliked the suggestion, finally he granted Mara’s wish and got him executed. The Goddess stayed her hand, did not destroy the tank and waited for Mara’s return. Thus, Mara saved the lake.
Question 19.
Why was the shrine dedicated to Mara by the king in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
‘Watchman of the Lake’ by R.K. Narayan enacts the legendary story of the martyrdom of Mara, an innocent villager of Sakkarepatna situated in the eastern base of Baba Sudan Hills, in Karnataka. It was once the capital of a king called Rukmangada.
One night Mara saw in his dream, the Goddess of the River Veda which flows down the hills throughout the year. The Goddess told Mara to meet the king and ask him to build a tank and to give her a home. Though no one believed Mara’s story and made fun of him, Mara managed to meet the king one day and narrate his story. The king, unlike the others, believed Mara’s account and eventually got a tank built and stored the waters of the river Veda. The king made Mara the watchman of the lake and saw to it that the water of the lake was properly utilized for agricultural and other useful purposes.
Many years later, one evening Mara noticed that there was going to be a thunderstorm and owing to strong winds, there were waves in the tank rising very high and hammering at the bank. Mara at once realized that it was a dangerous situation and the waters of the lake might overflow the banks and destroy his village. He feared for the lives of the people and their property in the village. Mara, at once, went down on his knees and prayed earnestly to the Goddess of the river. The Goddess appeared before him carrying a sword in her hand and her forehead was splashed with vermilion. She told Mara to move out of his hut at once and save himself. She told him that she was going to break out of the tank and flow over the villages and the towns and the king’s capital beyond it.
Mara immediately prostrated before her and begged her to give him enough time to go and inform the king about it. He requested her to wait and not do anything until he returned.
Later Mara met the king, narrated the whole story and also gave him a suggestion as to how he could save the tank and his people. He requested the king to get him executed so that he would never return to his place and the Goddess would continue to wait for Mara.
Though the king was not ready to accept Mara’s suggestion, Mara persuaded the king to get him executed so that the tank and the people of his kingdom could be saved. The king agreed and as per his wish, got Mara executed. Next, he got a shrine built for Mara in which the top pedestal had the idol of the Guardian Goddess of the village and just below it was the idol of Mara. The king ordered that the villagers should worship those idols every Tuesday and Friday to commemorate the martyrdom of Mara.
III. Answer the following in about 200 words:
Question 1.
Do you think Mara took his responsibilities seriously in ‘Watchman of the Lake’? Illustrate.
Answer:
Yes. As watchman of the lake, Mara discharged his responsibilities very sincerely. He obeyed the command of the Goddess in letter and spirit. The Goddess had instructed that nothing that flew over the lake or swam in the lake or walked in those parts should be killed. She had also warned not to hurt even a tiger if it came down from the mountain to slake its thirst in the lake at night.
Soon after the tank had been constructed, Mara lived in a hut near the lake and watched over the lake day and night. If ever Mara saw anyone walking near the lake with a fishing rod or arrows, he would warn them not to fish in the lake or hunt the gulls that skimmed over the lake. Secondly, Mara tended the lake with great care so as to see that no one polluted the lake. If anyone wanted to take water from the lake he had to seek Mara’s permission.
Mara also managed to provide water to all the farmers in and around the village so that the crops and cattle did not die of drought. He did so by opening the gates that let the water into the fields at the right time and supervised the flow of water wisely.
Finally, when the Goddess told him that she wanted to destroy the tank, Mara prayed to her not to do so. When she refused to grant his request he obtained from her an assurance that she would wait until he came back after informing the king about it. After meeting the king, he requested the king to get him executed and prevent him from going back to the village so that the Goddess would never destroy the lake. He did so because he wanted to ensure that the lake was not destroyed and the king’s subjects and the whole village would not be washed away by the waters of the lake. He also got the king to promise him that his son, and after him, his son and then his son’s son to the last generation of Mara’s family would be made the watchman of the lake. Thus Mara, as watchman of the lake, took his responsibilities seriously.
Question 2.
How did Mara prepare his son to become the watchman of the lake?
Answer:
One late afternoon, Mara came out of his hut looking for his son. As he did not see Ganga anywhere nearby, he called out to him. When Ganga came back running, Mara asked him where he had gone. Ganga told him that he was watching a man fishing in the lake. Mara immediately ran to the spot where the man was fishing and asked him what he was doing there. The man told him that he was doing nothing. Mara then asked him why he was carrying a fishing rod in his hand and how did all the fish in his basket come to him. Mara then ordered him to put all the fish back into the lake and threatened to push him into the lake if ever he saw him there again with the hook and the rod.
It was at this moment that Mara told his son that, after his death, he would be the watchman of the lake. Mara informed his son about the sanctity of the lake. He told his son Ganga that the lake was sacred and it belonged to the Goddess. She had commanded him that nothing that flew or swam or walked in those parts should ever be killed. Even if it was a tiger that came at the dead of night to slake its thirst at a distant corner of the lake, it should go untouched. The king had also given similar instructions to Mara.
Later, when the man who was fishing at the lake tried to treat Mara’s words as trivial and insignificant, Mara told him how the king had got the tank built for the river Veda and had given him the responsibility of taking care of the lake. Then he told him and his son how the river water nourished the cornfields of thousands of the king’s subjects. He also told him how he controlled the flow of water from the lake wisely and watched over the lake day and night vigilantly so that the water remained pure and unpolluted by man or beast. Then he told him that he had complete authority over the lake and no one could touch the water without his permission.
Mara next taught his son how to treat villagers who came to the lake for using the water for their needs. When Mara saw a man taking his cow to the water’s edge, Mara asked his son to warn that man that it was very deep at that spot and hence to move a little further off to a safer spot.
Later, when a villager came to see Mara asking for water for his fields at the farthest part of the king’s domain, Mara treated him hospitably and assured to guide him where to lay the channels. He also promised to let water into the channels as per the laws laid down by the king. Thus, Mara taught his son how he should take care of the lake after his death.
Question 3.
How was Mara treated differently by the king and the village headman in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
The village headman did not have a good opinion about Mara. He called him a worthless dog and a lunatic. When the workers told him that Mara had come there and stood behind a rock he had peeped at them, he got furious and asked his workers to catch him and bring him there.
Then, he admonished Mara for distracting and disturbing his workers. Next, he threatened to get Mara locked up in the cellar behind the old temple, until the king had passed through their village. Mara innocently told him that the Goddess of the river had appeared in his dream, and had informed him that the king was coming through his village and so he should go and ask the king to build a tank for Veda. The village headman got angry again and told him to be off, but when Mara gave him a jovial reply he ordered Bhima to bind Mara hand and foot and keep him in a cellar. Thus the village headman treated Mara with a lot of contempt.
On the contrary, the king treated him courteously and gave him a sympathetic hearing. When Mara told the king that he had been waiting for him since daybreak, the king suggested that he should have asked for an audience. Later, after listening to Mara’s account of how he had slipped out of the cellar and waited for the king to arrive, the king asked him what he wanted. Mara told the king about the spiritual significance of that place and the need to utilize the water of the river Veda. Then he conveyed the message of the Goddess to the king. When Mara told the king that he could get him punished if he did not believe him, the king told him that he believed him and was pleased that he had been blessed by the Goddess. Then he asked Mara to accompany him to the capital.
Though Mara humbly submitted that he had no good clothes to wear and he was only Mara the mad, the king told him that he should obey his command without fail. After the tank had been built, the king made him the watchman of the lake.
Question 4.
Compare and contrast the different circumstances that prompted Mara to meet the king.
Answer:
In the story ‘Watchman of the Lake’, Mara meets the king on two occasions – once, to get a tank constructed for the river Veda and the second time to save the tank from being destroyed.
One night the Goddess of the river appeared in his dream and instructed him to tell his king that he should build a tank for the river Veda and give her a home in that village.
A few days later the Goddess appeared again in his dream to inform him that the king was passing through their village and Mara should tell him about the tank.
Mara went to the spot where workers were making a road fit enough for the king to pass through. Mara hid behind a rock and peeped at the workers, which made the workers laugh and make fun of him. When the village headman came to know that Mara had come there, he sent his workers and got him caught and locked up in a cellar under the watchful eyes of Bhima. Later, when Mara narrated his meeting with the Goddess, Bhima let him escape and hide in a tree.
When Mara saw the king passing that way, he jumped down the tree and was brought before the king. The king gave him a patient hearing and later asked him to accompany him to the palace. Later, the king got a tank constructed for the waters of the river Veda and made Mara the watchman of the lake.
Several years later, one afternoon, Mara looking at the clouds gathering in the sky, realized that it was going to rain very heavily that evening and called his son back into the hut and both of them stayed indoors. Soon after that, there was a torrential downpour and a shrieking storm.
Late in the night, when the winds rocked his hut, Mara came out of the hut and saw the river water flooding the tank and the water level was a hair’s breadth below the shore. He concluded that the river might heave and flow over the tank any moment. Immediately, Mara knelt on the ground and prayed to the Goddess. The Goddess stood before him, wielding a sword in her hand. She asked him to move out of the hut at once, as she intended to destroy the tank. Mara pleaded with her earnestly to save the people, but she refused to grant his wish. Then Mara requested her to give him an assurance that she would stay her hand until he returned from the king’s palace after informing him about it. She granted his wish and Mara hurried to the king’s palace.
When Mara gave the king the message of the Goddess, the king was shocked and got ready to warn his subjects. Then Mara told the king that he had a plan to save the tank and the kingdom. He requested the king to get him executed and make it impossible for him to return. If he did not return, the Goddess would stay her hand and the tank would not be destroyed. Though the king was reluctant to do so, Mara persuaded the king to get him executed for the sake of his people.
Question 5.
What were the incidents that led the king to build the shrine in ‘Watchman of the Lake’?
Answer:
One afternoon, Mara, looking at the clouds gathering in the sky, realized that it was going to rain very heavily that evening and called his son back into the hut and both of them stayed indoors. Soon after that, there was a torrential downpour and a shrieking storm.
Late in the night, when the winds rocked his hut, Mara came out of the hut and saw the river water flooding the tank and the water level was a hair’s breadth below the shore. He concluded that the river might heave and flow over the tank any moment. Immediately, Mara knelt on the ground and prayed to the Goddess. The Goddess stood before him, wielding a sword in her hand. She asked him to move out of the hut at once, as she intended to destroy the tank. Mara pleaded with her earnestly to save the people, but she refused to grant his wish. Then Mara requested her to give him an assurance that she would stay her hand until he returned from the king’s palace after informing him about it. She granted his wish and Mara hurried to the king’s palace.
When Mara gave the king the message of the Goddess, the king was shocked. Then Mara told the king that he had a plan to save the tank and the kingdom. He requested the king to get him executed and make it impossible for him to return. If he did not return, the Goddess would stay her hand and the tank would not be destroyed. Though the king was reluctant to do so, Mara persuaded the king to get him executed for the sake of his people. Soon after that, the king got a shrine for the Goddess and one for Mara built. The king gave orders that worship is performed at both the shrines.
Watchman of the Lake Vocabulary
Idioms and Phrases:
Idioms and phrases are a group of words with a fixed word order which give a particular meaning. This meaning is different from the meanings of individual words.
Here are some of the idioms and phrases.
praise something to the sky, to take somebody/something seriously, play the fool, all and sundry, quite a bit, keep out of one’s view, to behave oneself, have care, try tricks on somebody, rise to one’s feet, keep an eye.
All these expressions (idioms and phrases) have a specific meaning. Refer a good dictionary for their meaning.
Praise something to the sky – to overpraise something.
To take someone/something seriously -to think that someone/something is important and should be given careful attention
- Play the fool – to behave in a foolish or comical manner
All and sundry – everyone; one and all - Quite a bit – a considerable amount
- Keep out of one’s view (sight) – stay where you cannot be seen
- To behave oneself – not to misbehave
- Have care – to be more careful
- Try tricks on somebody – play a prank on someone
- Rise to one’s feet – to stand up
- Keep an eye – to watch someone or something; to monitor someone or something closely.
Watchman of the Lake by R.K.Narayan A Note on the Author:
R.K. Narayan (1906 – 2001) was an Indian author whose works of fiction include a series of books about people and their interactions in an imagined town in India called Malgudi. He is one of three leading figures of early Indian literature in English, along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao. He is credited with bringing Indian literature in English to the rest of the world and is regarded as one of India’s greatest English novelists. Narayan rarely wrote plays, and the present one is said to be a dramatised version of his short story,’The Watchman’.
Watchman of the Lake Summary in English
The title of the play ‘Watchman of the Lake’ by R.K. Narayan refers to a watchman who was instrumental in the lake coming into being. The one-act play which has five scenes unfolds before us the saga of Mara who, against stiff opposition, ensured that the lake came into being, and sacrificed himself to ensure that the lake did not overflow its banks destroying the whole capital of the king who had constructed the lake.
In scene one, we see road makers working under the instructions of the village headman. The village headman, who is rude to all the workers, repeatedly reminds them that the road should be ready within a day before the arrival of the king. When he catches some workmen laughing, he asks for the reason. He is furious to know that the reason behind their laughter is Mara hiding behind a rock. The headman orders his workers to go and catch Mara. When Mara is brought to him, he admonishes (scolds) Mara for distracting the workers and reminds him that he had repeatedly asked Mara to keep away from the workers for the present and the king when he passed that way.
When Mara shows his disobedience, he orders one of his workers – Bhima, who is as huge as a giant, to tie up Mara and lock him up in a cellar. Even when Mara tells him that he wants to inform the king about a dream in which he had seen the Goddess, the headman doesn’t relent. The headman cautions Bhima not to listen to the prattle of Mara.
In scene two, we see the king passing by that way. But suddenly Mara jumps down from a tree and places before the king the vision of the Goddess of his dream and her words. Mara says that the plate where the king stood was a sacred spot as Hanuman had come there in search of the sanjeevini to revive Lakshmana, fatally wounded in the war. The stream that arose from where the sanjeevini grew was Veda and she was a plaything for the Goddess. The Goddess kept her in the shelter in summer and made her flow past the kingdom of the king at other times. So, if a bank was built for her, even during summer, the king’s subjects could make use of the water. The king is impressed by the idea that Mara has had the vision of the Goddess and he asks Mara to follow him to the kingdom.
In scene three, we see that a huge tank has already been built for river Veda, and Mara loyally takes care of the lake. He is watchful of people who come there to fish but is ready to let the water for the use of all subjects, according to the law laid down by the king. He ensures that no one is harmed at the lake, not even the tiger that comes there to slake its thirst. We see Mara taking the help of his son – Ganga to maintain the lake. When the scene ends, we see that Mara is worried about the rising levels of the water in the lake.
In scene four, we see Mara at the palace seeking permission to speak to the king late at night. Mara, who is drenched in water and has mud splashed all over him, confides to the king that the Goddess had appeared in his dream again and had warned him about Veda overflowing the banks of the lake. She hadn’t relented even when Mara had reminded her that it was at her behest that the bank had been built. Mara adds that the Goddess seemed to be in a destructive mood. Mara tells the king that if the water overflowed, then the whole kingdom would be destroyed.
Even as the king gets ready to inform his subjects about the impending deluge and doom, Mara tells him that there is one way of saving the kingdom. He says that the Goddess had promised not to overflow until Mara returned and the king could ensure that Mara didn’t return by killing him. Thus we see that Mara sacrifices himself for the welfare of the king and his subjects. His only request is to make his son the next watchman and his grandson and great-grandsons after his son to be subsequent watchmen of the lake.
In scene five, we see that Ganga is the watchman of the lake and he narrates to his son when he took over his father’s duty. From his narration, we come to know that the king had come personally to inform Ganga that his father was more. The king had also asked Ganga to start doing his father’s duty immediately. The king had also built a shrine with two figures – one of the Guardian Goddess on the top pedestal and one immediately below it – of Mara. By the king’s order, worship was to be performed every Tuesday and Friday. Ganga remarks that scores of people since then had come from far and near to worship. Thus, we see that Mara, who was called a lunatic by the village headman, was worshipped by thousands of villagers.
Watchman of the Lake Summary in Kannada
Glossary:
- buck (n): a male deer
- crowbar (n): a straight Iron bar usually with a curved end
- prattle (n): a silly/foolish talk
- coronet (n): a small crown
- crest (n): the topmost ridge of a mountain
- dissipate (v): to gradually disappear
- slake (v): to drink so that you no longer feel thirsty
- sapphire (n): a precious stone of transparent bright blue colour
- torrential (adj): (of rain) falling in a large amount
- torrent (n): a large amount of water moving quickly
- crouch (v): to lower your body close to the ground by bending your legs under you
- executioner (n): a public official whose job is to execute criminals
Additional Glossary:
- rustic: (here) a simple villager
- lunatic: one who does crazy, stupid things
- cellar: an underground room
- prattle: meanIngless talk
- decoction: liquid obtained by boiling something for a long time in the water
- tresses: a woman’s long hair
- weighty: important
- halloing: shouting
- skim: rapidly move close to the surface or touching it
- gasping: breathing with difficulty
- bounds: (here) boundary walls
- cowered: bent low from fear
- deluge: heavy rain and flood
- pedestal: the base on which a statue stands
- scores: (here) large numbers
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