📘 Chapter –The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom
The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom is a Japanese folk tale about kindness, honesty, and greed.
An old farmer and his wife lived happily with their pet dog. They were kind to everyone. One day, the dog led the farmer to a place where gold was buried. The couple became rich but remained generous.
Their greedy neighbours forced the dog to find treasure for them. When they found nothing, they killed the dog cruelly.
The farmer was heartbroken. The spirit of the dog appeared in his dream and guided him. First, a magic mortar and mill made gold for the farmer. When the greedy neighbours tried to use them, they got worms instead and burned the mill.
Later, the dog’s spirit told the farmer to sprinkle the ashes of the burnt mill on withered trees. The trees bloomed magically. The farmer impressed the daimio (lord) and was rewarded.
When the greedy neighbour tried the same trick, he failed and was punished.
Message:
👉 Kindness is rewarded.
👉 Greed leads to destruction.
📗 सारांश (सरल हिंदी में)
यह कहानी ईमानदारी, दया और लालच पर आधारित है।
एक बूढ़ा किसान और उसकी पत्नी अपने पालतू कुत्ते से बहुत प्यार करते थे। कुत्ते ने किसान को ज़मीन में दबे सोने तक पहुँचाया। वे अमीर हो गए लेकिन दयालु बने रहे।
उनके लालची पड़ोसियों ने कुत्ते को ज़बरदस्ती खजाना खोजने को कहा। जब कुछ नहीं मिला, तो उन्होंने कुत्ते को मार डाला।
कुत्ते की आत्मा सपने में किसान के पास आई और उसकी मदद की। जादुई ओखली और चक्की से सोना मिला। लालची पड़ोसियों को केवल कीड़े मिले।
बाद में, कुत्ते की आत्मा ने राख को सूखे पेड़ों पर डालने को कहा। पेड़ खिल उठे। राजा (दाइमियो) खुश हुआ और किसान को इनाम मिला।
लालची आदमी को सज़ा मिली।
शिक्षा:
👉 दया का फल मीठा होता है।
👉 लालच विनाश लाता है।
📝 Word Meanings (English → Hindi)
| Word | Meaning | Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Daimio | Japanese lord | जापानी राजा |
| Snug | Comfortable | आरामदायक |
| Gleamed | Shone brightly | चमका |
| Covetous | Greedy | लालची |
| Coaxed | Persuaded | बहलाया |
| Mortar | Bowl for grinding | ओखली |
| Pounding | Crushing | कूटना |
| Withered | Dry, dead | सूखा |
| Prostrate | Lying flat | झुका हुआ |
| Gleefully | Happily | खुशी से |
❓ Chapter Question–Answers (Easy English)
1. The old farmer is a kind person. Give examples.
He loved his dog like a child and was kind to birds and animals.
2. What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the gold?
The dog scratched the ground and guided the farmer to the buried treasure.
3. (i) How did the dog’s spirit help the farmer first?
It told him to make a mortar and mill that produced gold.
3. (ii) How did it help him next?
It told him to sprinkle ashes on trees to make them bloom.
4. Why did the neighbours kill the dog?
Because they were greedy and angry when they did not get treasure.
5. Why did the daimio reward the farmer but punish the neighbour?
The farmer was kind and humble, but the neighbour was greedy and disrespectful.