The Shepherd’s Treasure
IN a village in Iran there once lived a shepherd. He was very poor. He did not even have a small cottage of his own. He had never been to school or learnt to read and write, for there were very few schools in those days.Though poor and uneducated, this shepherd was very wise. He understood people’s sorrows and troubles, and helped them face their problems with courage and common sense. Many people came to him for advice. Soon he became famous for his wisdom and friendly nature. The king of that country heard about him, and thought of meeting him.Disguised as a shepherd and riding on a mule, one day the king came to the cave where the wise shepherd lived. As soon as the shepherd saw the traveler coming towards the cave, he rose to welcome him. He took the tired traveller inside the cave, gave him water to drink and a of his own meager meal. The king rested for the night in the cave and was greatly impressed by the shepherd’s hospitality and wise conversation.Though still tired, the king decided to depart the next morning. He said, “Many thanks for your kindness to a poor traveller. I have a long way to go. Permit me to leave.” Looking straight into the eyes of his guest, the shepherd replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for paying me the compliment of a visit.”The king was astonished as well as pleased. ‘He is indeed very wise.’ he thought to himself. ‘I need people like him to work for me.’ And the king appointed this humble shepherd the governor of a small district.Although he rose to power and dignity, the shepherd remained as humble as ever. People loved and honoured him for his wisdom, sympathy and goodness. He was kind and just to one and all. His fame as a fair and wise governor soon spread throughout the country.Now the governors of other provinces grew terribly jealous of him and began to talk to the king against him. They said, “He is very dishonest, and keeps for himself part of the money that he collects as tax from the people.” Why did he always carry with him, they added, an iron chest? Perhaps he carried in it the treasure that he had secretly collected. After all, they said mockingly, he was an ordinary shepherd and could behave no better.At first the king did not pay attention to these reports, but how long could he ignore these governors and their endless stories about the shepherd? One thing was certain, the king discovered. The new governor did carry an iron chest with him all the time.So, one day, the new governor was summoned to the palace. He came riding on his camel, and to everyone’s delight, the famous iron chest was there fastened securely behind him on the camel’s back. Now the king was angry. He thundered, “Why do you always carry that iron chest with you? What does it contain?”The governor smiled. He asked his servant to bring in the chest. How eagerly the people standing around waited for the shepherd to be found out! But how great was their astonishment, and even of the king himself, when the chest was opened! No gold or silver or jewels but an old blanket was all that came out. Holding it up proudly, the shepherd said, “This, my dear master, is my only treasure. I always carry it with me.”“But why do you carry such an ordinary blanket with you? Surely, you are the governor of a district?” the king asked. To which the shepherd replied with quiet dignity, “This blanket is my oldest friend. It will still protect me if, at any time, Your Majesty should wish to take away my new cloaks.”How pleased the king was, and how embarrassed the jealous governors became to hear the wise man’s reply! Now they knew that the shepherd was indeed the humblest and the wisest man in the land. The king made him the governor of a much bigger district that very day.
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Perhaps (adverb) – maybe, for all I know, for all you know
शायद
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Invariably (adverb) – always, every time, each time, on every occasion हमेशा
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Indeed (adverb) – yes, certainly, assuredly, emphatically, absolutely,
वास्तव में
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Wise (adjective) – intelligent, sage, clever, learned, knowledgeable, enlightened
बुद्धिमान
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Wisdom (noun) – intelligence, sagacity, sageness, understanding, insight, perception
बुद्धिमानी
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Throughout (adverb) – all over, all round, in every part of हर जगह/ सर्वत्र
Pleased (adjective) – happy, glad, delighted, gratified, grateful
प्रसन्न
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Kindness (noun) – kind act, good deed, act of kindness, good turn, favour,
दयालुता, मेहरबानी
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Dignity (noun) – self-esteem, self-worth, self-respect, pride, morale
गरिमा, गौरव
-Cave (noun) – a large hole in the side of a hill, cliff, or mountain, or one that is underground
गुफ़ा
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Shepherd (noun) – someone who keeps the sheep together in a flock चरवाहा, गड़ेरिया
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Cottage (noun) – a small house with a single floor कुटिया
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Treasure (noun) – any possession that is highly valued by its owner खजाना
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Though (adverb) – however हलांकि
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Sorrow (noun) – Grief, Mourning, Sadness, Distress, Sorrowfulness, Unhappiness दुःख
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Courage (noun) – Bravery, Nerve, Pluck, Valor, Daring, Audacity साहस
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Disguised (adjective) – having changed one's appearance in order to conceal one's identity. प्रच्छन्न
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Mule (noun) – hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse खच्चर
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Meager (adjective) – Scanty, Insufficient, Paltry, Skimpy, Small, Insubstantial अल्प-
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Hospitality (noun) – Welcome, Friendliness, Warmth, Kindness, Generosity, Openness आतिथ्य
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Depart (verb) – Leave, Proceed, Go forward रवाना होना
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Permit (verb) – Authorize, Allow, Let, Approve, Sanction, Pass अनुमति देना
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Your Majesty (noun) – used for talking to king or queen महाराज
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Pay someone a compliment (noun) – to say something nice about someone. किसी की तारीफ करना
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Visit (noun) – the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time भेंट, मुलाक़ात
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Astonished (adjective) – Surprised, Amazed, Astounded, Dumbfounded, Flabbergasted, Incredulous, Overwhelmed आश्चर्यचकित
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Although (adverb) – Though, While, Even though, Even if यद्यपि
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Rise to power (phrase) – the act of attaining or gaining access to a new office or right or position (especially the throne)
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Honour (verb) – Esteem, Respect, Admire, Revere, Reverence, Venerate, Exalt आदर करना
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Fame (noun) – Celebrity, Renown, Reputation, Distinction, Recognition, Eminence, Prominence प्रसिद्धि
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Province (noun) – Area, Sphere, Field, Jurisdiction, Domain, Authority प्रदेश
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Terribly (adverb) – Awfully, Dreadfully, Appallingly, Horribly, Offensively, Intolerably बहुत
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Chest (noun) – Box, Trunk, Container, Coffer, Strongbox संदूक
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Mockingly (adverb) – Scornfully, Contemptuously, Sarcastically, Derisively, Sardonically, Insultingly, Disdainfully मजाक उड़ाते हुए
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Certain (adjective) – Sure, Convinced, Positive, Confident, Firm, Definite निश्चित
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Summon (verb) – ask to come बुलवाना
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To everyone’s delight (phrase) – causing someone to be very happy किसी की खुशी के लिए
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Fasten (verb) – Attach, Clip, Affix, Join, Chain, Tie, Hook, Hitch, Pin जकड़ना, बांधना
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Thunder (verb) – Shout, Bellow, Boom, Roar, Yell, Bark गरजना
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Eagerly (adverb) – Keenly, Enthusiastically, Excitedly, Readily, Willingly, Impatiently, Fervently बेसब्री से
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Find out (phrasal verb) – Expose, Uncover, Reveal, Unmask, Catch खुलासा होना
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Astonishment (noun) – Surprise, Amazement, Wonder, Bewilderment, Shock आश्चर्य
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Cloak (noun) – a loose outer garment चोग़ा
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Embarrass (verb) – Humiliate, Mortify, Shame, Discomfit, Disconcert शर्मिंदा होना
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Find out (phrasal verb) – Expose, Uncover, Reveal, Unmask, Catch खुलासा होना