The Swan and The Princes
"The swan and the Princes" is a one-act play. It throws light on Lord Buddha's mercifulness. It is a touching story about a wounded swan. It proves that saviour is greater than the killer. The main characters in this play are Suddodhana (the king of Kapilvastu), Sidhartha(the Prince of Kapilvastu), Dev Datta (Sidhartha's cousin) and the Chief Minister.
King Suddodhana was sitting on his throne. He was discussing state affairs with his ministers. Just then the doorkeeper informed the king about the arrival of Dev Datta. The king allowed him.
Dev Datta complained that Sidhartha had taken his swan. He prayed for justice. He claimed the swan because he had shot it. The king found him just. The king sends for the Prince.
Prince Sidharthacomes there with a white swan in his arms. The Prince says that undoubtedly it has been shot by Dev Datta, but it has been saved by him. It is his suppliant. He has saved its life, therefore, it is his.
suppliant. The king is unable to take the decision. He allows the Chief Minister to decide the case.
The Chief Minister asked Prince Sidhartha to put the swan on the stool. He asked Dev Datta to call the swan to him. Dev Datta went ahead and said,"Come to me, O Swan, Come! " But the swan began to tremble and cry with fear.
Then the Chief Minister asked the Prince to call the swan to him. The prince said, "Dear swan, don't be afraid. Come and sit in my arms." The swan at once flew to Sidhartha's arms.
The Chief Minister said to the king that the swan had decided the case. The king accepted the decision. The swan belonged to Prince Sidhartha. Everyone liked this decision. Thus the Prince proved that saviour is greater than the killer.
SUBJECT
[A] Short AnswerType Questions on the Text.
Ans: Dev Datta shot down a swan.
Ans: Dev Datta had shot down a swan which was picked up by Sidhartha. Dev Datta was angry with Sidhartha because he refused to give the swan to him.
Ans: Dev Datta had shot down the swan. He was a Kshatriya and a Kshatriya had the right to his hunt. So he said the swan was his.
Ans: The swan was shot down by Dev Datta. But Sidhartha had saved its life. He said that he had the right because he protected it. So the swan belonged to him.
Ans: Dev Datta had shot down a swan. Sidhartha picked it up and refused to give it to Dev Datta. So Dev Datta went to the king for justice.
Ans: Dev Datta had shot down a swan and being a Kshatriya he had the right on it. But to protect a suppliant was also the duty of a Kshatriya and Sidhartha had protected it. The King could not decide as to whom the swan should be given. So the king was confused.
Ans: The Chief Minister asked Sidhartha to put the swan on a stool. When the swan did not respond to Dev Datta, then the Chief Minister asked Sidhartha to call the bird.
Ans: The swan itself decided the case finally.
Ans: Sidhartha got the swan because he had saved its life. The swan knew that Dev Datta would kill it but it would be safe with Sidhartha. So it responded to Sidhartha's call.
Ans: When Sidhartha asked the swan to come and sit in his arms, it at once flew to his arms because it knew that it would be safe with Sidhartha.
[B] Short AnswerType Questions on yourUnderstanding
Ans: Introduction :Prince Dev Datta is the cousin of Sidhartha, the crown Prince of Kapilvastu.Fond of hunting : Prince Dev Datta is fond of hunting. He shoots a flying swan with his arrow. The swan falls down wounded.
His argument :He establishes his claim over the swan because he has shot it. AKshartriya can't give up his kill. When Sidhartha does not give him the swan, he goes to the court for justice.
Cruel Nature : He cannot feel that shooting birds involves cruelty. When he asks the swan to come to him in the court, the swan trembles and cries with fear. It shows the cruel nature of Dev Datta. Conclusion :Dev Datta is a Kshatriya . He is a good bowman. He is an expert archer. But he is devoid of compassion.
Ans: Introduction :King Suddodhana is the king of Kapilvastu.Affectionate : Dev Datta complains that the Prince will not give him his swan. He wants justice from the king. Suddodhana smiles and asks Dev Datta to be calm. He feels that it was very naughty of Sidhartha. He approves the claim of Dev Datta saying that a Kshatriya can't give up what he had shot. Feels confused : When Sidhartha says that a Kshatriya can't give up a suppliant, It confuses the king Suddodhana because both the princes are right in their claim. He wants a fair deal in justice. Hence he asks the Chief Minister to decided the case.
Conclusion :The Chief Minister informs the king that it was the swan who decided the case. The king is satisfied with the decision.
Ans: Introduction :Prince Sidhartha is the son of king Suddodhana of Kapilvastu.
His love forthe swan :Awounded swan falls near him. He picks it up. He nurses it. He claims his right on the swan because he saved his life and he is a Kshatriya. He can't give up a suppliant . It came to him for protection.Swan's love forPrince Sidhartha :The swan is put on a stool. At the bid of Chief Minister, when the prince calls the swan to come to him, it at once flies to his arms.
Conclusion :Other ministers were satisfied with the final decision. They belived that Prince Sidhartha is a good lad. In the end they praised the prince by saying "Long live Prince Sidhartha!"
Ans: Sidhartha is the crown Prince of Kapilvastu. Dev Datta shoots a flying swan with his arrow. It falls down near the prince Sidhartha. The Prince feels pity for the swan. He keeps the swan into his arms. The Prince cares for the swan.
Dev Datta comes and demands his swan. Sidhartha says that he saved its life. It is his suppliant. The dispute of the Princes over the claim of the swan comes to the court. The Chief Minister applies the principal of natural choice.The swan begins to tremble and cries in fear when Dev Datta calls it . But when the Prince Sidhartha calls, it at once flies to his arms.It proves that saviour is greater than the killer. So Sidhartha was made the real owner of the swan.
Ans: WhenDev Datta called out to the swan, the swan did not come to him. It began to tremble. It cried with fear. Because it knew that it would not be safe with Dev Datta.
When Sidhartha asked the swan to sit in his arms, it at once flew to his arms because it knew that it would be safe with Sidhartha.
In this respect we can say that birds can feel the difference between love and cruelty.
OBJECTIVE
2. Dev Datta came in the court for justice. [T]
3. Sidhartha saved the life of the swan. [T]
4. Dev Datta and Sidhartha were cousins. [T]
5. Dev Datta put the swan on a stool. [F]
6. King Suddodhana was partial. [T]
7. King Suddodhana was confused to hear both the Princes.[T]
8. The swan flew in Sidhartha's arms. [T]
9. The swan decided the case at last. [T]
10. Swan actually belonged to Dev Datta. [F]