Listening

Listening

Listen to the play "The Red Peacock". The incidents described in the one act play happen as a result of people’s responses and actions.

F. Complete the table with suitable responses.

SOLUTION:

Listen to the play and answer the questions that follow.

Krishna Deva Raya’s greedy minister, Chatur Pandit, arrives at the court with a red peacock.

Krishna Deva Raya: I have never seen such a creature!

Courtiers: We agree.

Chatur Pandit: Please accept this gift, Your Majesty! My servants searched the jungles to find this creature.

Tenali Raman (thinks): How can a bird so bright survive in the jungle? It will be easily spotted by other animals.

Krishna Deva Raya: Thank you, Chatur Pandit! How can we reward you?

Chatur Pandit: Your Majesty, 1000 gold coins will be enough, as I spent that to get the bird.

Tenali Raman: Your Majesty, I think we should observe this peacock for a while before we give Chatur Pandit his reward. I will go to the jungles and get more birds like these.

Krishna Deva Raya: Alright, Tenali. You have two weeks.

(Tenali Raman did not go to the jungles.)

Tenali Raman (to his attendants): Look for the person who has painted that peacock red.

Attendants: Yes, sir!

(The attendants found the painter.)

Tenali Raman (to the painter): Don’t worry, I won’t punish you. Just paint another four peacocks the same colour.

Painter: Yes sir.

(Tenali Raman takes the peacocks to the court, two weeks later.)

Krishna Deva Raya: Bravo, Tenali.

Treasurer, give him 1000 gold coins.

Tenali Raman: That is not what they cost, Your Majesty.

Krishna Deva Raya: What is your price then, Tenali Raman?

Tenali Raman: A bucket of water, a bag of red paint, and a gold coin for this artist.

Krishna Deva Raya (angrily): Chatur Pandit, I sentence you to…

Tenali Raman: Your Majesty, your desire for fame led you to believe a red peacock could exist. For a long time, there has been needless spending on such curiosities.

It is better that your subjects are prosperous, rather than a display of wealth. I request you to let Chatur Pandit go and reward the artist for highlighting this matter.

Krishna Deva Raya: You’re right, Tenali.

Chatur Pandit (falls at the king’s feet): Your Majesty, please forgive me.

Krishna Deva Raya: I will do so, but you are banished from the court for a month.

And you must return the gifts you got earlier.

(It starts to rain and the peacocks dance. The rain washes off their red colour.)

Krishna Deva Raya (laughs): Look, Tenali!

(Tenali smiles.)

(The people of the kingdom dance in the rain.)

The people (to each other): We are lucky to have a king who is not afraid to admit his mistake.

(Chatur Pandit walks home alone in the rain.)

G. Answer the following questions based on your listening.

1. Why did Chatur Pandit ask the king for 1000 gold coins?

Chatur Pandit brought a ' red peacock' to the court as his gift to the king. So he asked the king 1000 gold coins for the money that he spent on it.

2. Where did Chatur Pandit find the red peacock?

According to Chatur Pandit, he found the peacock in the jungle.

3. What sort of a person was Chatur Pandit?

Chatur Pandit was greedy and wanted to become rich.

4. State whether the statement is true or false.

Tenali was given three weeks to bring more red peacocks.

This statement is ' False'.

5. Why did the people feel that they were lucky to have Krishna Deva Raya as their king?

Krishna Deva Raya was not afraid to admit his mistake of spending the money needlessly. So the people felt that they were lucky to have him as their king.