The Last Bargain

📝 Summary of “The Last Bargain”

Poet: Rabindranath Tagore

Summary (in English):
The poem “The Last Bargain” is about a man who is searching for work that will give him true happiness and freedom.

• First, a king offers him wealth and power in exchange for his labour. But the man refuses, because power can’t give happiness.
• Then, a rich old man offers him gold for his work, but the man rejects him too, as money cannot buy peace or satisfaction.
• Next, a beautiful lady offers him her smile and love, but he realizes beauty and emotions fade away. So he refuses again.
• Finally, a child playing with sand calls him to play and offers nothing in return. The man accepts this “bargain” — he is truly free and happy, because there is no greed or condition.

👉 The poet teaches that true happiness lies in freedom and simplicity, not in power, wealth, or beauty.

💬 Summary in Hindi (हिन्दी में सारांश)

कविता “The Last Bargain” में कवि रवीन्द्रनाथ टैगोर एक ऐसे व्यक्ति की कहानी बताते हैं जो काम (बर्गेन) की तलाश में है जो उसे सच्ची खुशी दे सके।

• पहले एक राजा उसे अपनी ताकत और अधिकार देता है, पर वह मना कर देता है क्योंकि शक्ति सच्ची खुशी नहीं दे सकती।
• फिर एक अमीर बूढ़ा आदमी उसे सोना देता है, पर वह सोचता है कि पैसा भी संतोष नहीं दे सकता।
• इसके बाद एक सुंदर स्त्री मुस्कराकर उसे बुलाती है, पर वह समझता है कि सौंदर्य क्षणिक है।
• अंत में एक छोटा बच्चा उसे खेलने के लिए बुलाता है और बदले में कुछ नहीं देता। वह इसे स्वीकार कर लेता है, क्योंकि यह स्वतंत्रता और सच्चे आनंद का प्रतीक है।

👉 कविता का संदेश यह है कि सच्ची खुशी स्वतंत्रता और निःस्वार्थ प्रेम में है, न कि धन, शक्ति या सौंदर्य में।

📘 Textbook Questions and Answers

Q1. Who is the speaker in the poem?

Answer:
The speaker is a man who is looking for work or a bargain that will bring him true happiness and freedom.

Q2. “The king, sword in hand” suggests —

(a) wealth
(b) power
(c) more power than wealth
(d) happiness

Answer:
✅ (b) power

Q3. What does the old man offer to hire the speaker with?

Answer:
The old man offers the speaker a lot of gold to hire him.

Q4. Why does the speaker turn down the offer of the king, the old man, and the fair lady?

Answer:
The speaker turns them down because he realizes that power, money, and beauty cannot give true happiness or freedom. They all bind a person in greed and desire.

Q5. What is the ‘last bargain’? Why is it the best?

Answer:
The last bargain is the one made with the child who offers nothing in return.
It is the best because it gives true freedom and joy, free from greed or conditions.

Q6. What message does the poem convey?

Answer:
The poem conveys that real happiness lies in freedom and simplicity, not in wealth, power, or beauty.

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