Indian Dancer by Sarojani Naidu

 Sarojini Naidu's *Indian Dancers* is rich with imagery and symbolism. Here's a simplified line-by-line explanation:

1. **"Eyes ravished with rapture, celestially panting,"**  

   The dancers' eyes are filled with joy and excitement, giving them an almost heavenly appearance.

2. **"What passionate bosoms aflaming with fire!"**  

   Their emotions are intense and fiery, reflecting their passion for the art of dance.

3. **"Drink deep of the hush of the hyacinth heavens"**  

   The atmosphere is calm and serene, like the blue skies, adding to the magical feel of their performance.

4. **"That glimmer around them in fountains of light;"**  

   The dancers are surrounded by a glowing aura, making them seem radiant and divine.

5. **"O wild and entrancing the strain of keen music"**  

   The music accompanying their dance is captivating and powerful, adding to the overall enchantment.

6. **"That cleaveth the stars like a wail of desire,"**  

   The music is so intense that it feels like it reaches the stars, expressing deep longing.

7. **"And beautiful dancers with houri-like faces"**  

   The dancers are compared to houris, mythical beings known for their beauty, emphasizing their charm.

8. **"Bewitch the voluptuous watches of night."**  

   Their dance captivates the audience during the night, creating a magical and sensual experience.

9. **"The scents of red roses and sandalwood flutter"**  

   Fragrances like roses and sandalwood enhance the sensory experience of their performance.

10. **"And die in the maze of their gem-tangled hair,"**  

    Their hair, adorned with jewels, adds to their allure and beauty.

11. **"And smiles are entwining like magical serpents"**  

    Their smiles are enchanting, like serpents weaving spells.

12. **"The poppies of lips that are opiate-sweet;"**  

    Their lips are compared to poppies, symbolizing their intoxicating charm.

13. **"Their glittering garments of purple are burning"**  

    Their vibrant clothes shine brightly, resembling the colors of dawn.

14. **"Like tremulous dawns in the quivering air,"**  

    The dancers' movements and attire create a shimmering effect, like the morning light.

15. **"And exquisite, subtle and slow are the tinkle"**  

    The sound of their anklets is delicate and rhythmic, adding to the grace of their dance.

16. **"And tread of their rhythmical, slumber-soft feet."**  

    Their footsteps are gentle and rhythmic, creating a soothing effect.

This poem is a celebration of the dancers' beauty, grace, and the magical atmosphere they create. Let me know if you'd like to dive deeper into any specific lines or themes!

1. A Tale of Two Birds English to Hindi

• Ø   A mother bird and her two young ones lived in a forest. एक जंगल में एक मादा पक्षी और उसके दो बच्चे रहते थे।

  Ø  The mother was killed in a storm and the young birds were separated from each other. एक तूफ़ान में माँ पक्षी की मृत्यु हो गई और बच्चे पक्षी एक दूसरे से अलग हो गए।

  Ø  Each found a different home.  प्रत्येक को अलग-अलग घर मिला।

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  THERE once lived a bird and her two new-born babies in a forest. एक जंगल में एक चिड़िया और उसके दो नवजात बच्चे रहते थे। They had a nest in a tall, shady tree एक बार उनका एक ऊँचे, छायादार पेड़ पर घोंसला था and there the mother bird took care of her little ones day and night. और वहाँ माँ चिड़िया दिन-रात अपने बच्चों की देखभाल करती थी।

  One day, there was a big storm. एक दिन, बहुत बड़ा तूफ़ान आया। There was thunder, lightning and rain, गरज, बिजली और बारिश हुई, and the wind blew down many trees. और हवा ने कई पेड़ों को उड़ा दिया। The tall tree in which the birds lived also came down. वह ऊँचा पेड़ जिस पर पक्षी रहते थे, वह भी नीचे गिर गया। A big, heavy branch hit the nest and killed the bird. एक बड़ी, भारी शाखा घोंसले से टकराई और पक्षी मर गया। Fortunately for the baby birds, the strong wind blew them away to the other side of the forest. सौभाग्य से, बच्चे पक्षी, तेज़ हवा के कारण जंगल के दूसरी ओर उड़ गए। One of them came down near a cave where a gang of robbers lived. उनमें से एक एक गुफा के पास गिरा जहाँ लुटेरों का एक गिरोह रहता था। The other landed outside a rishi's ashram a little distance away. दूसरा थोड़ी दूर पर एक ऋषि के आश्रम के बाहर उतरा।

  Days passed and the baby birds became big birds. दिन बीतते गए और बच्चे पक्षी बड़े पक्षी बन गए। One day, the king of the country came to the forest to hunt. एक दिन, देश का राजा शिकार करने के लिए जंगल में आया। He saw a deer and rode after it. उसने एक हिरण देखा और उसके पीछे दौड़ा। It ran deep into the forest followed by the king. वह राजा के पीछे-पीछे जंगल में भाग गया। Soon the king lost his way जल्द ही राजा अपना रास्ता भूल गया and didn't know where he was. और उसे पता नहीं चला कि वह कहाँ है।

  He rode on for a long time till he came to the other side of the forest. वह बहुत देर तक घोड़े पर सवार रहा और जंगल के दूसरी ओर पहुँच गया। Very tired by now, he got off his horse and sat down under a tree that stood near a cave. अब तक बहुत थक चुका था, वह अपने घोड़े से उतर गया और एक पेड़ के नीचे बैठ गया जो एक गुफा के पास खड़ा था। Suddenly he heard a voice cry out, "Quick! Hurry up! There's someone under the tree. अचानक उसने एक आवाज़ सुनी जो चिल्ला रही थी, "जल्दी करो! जल्दी करो! पेड़ के नीचे कोई है। Come and take his jewels and his horse. आओ और उसके गहने और उसका घोड़ा ले लो। Hurry, or else he'll slip away." जल्दी करो, नहीं तो वह भाग जाएगा।" The king was amazed. राजा हैरान रह गया। He looked up and saw a big, brown bird on the tree under which he was sitting. उसने ऊपर देखा और उस पेड़ पर एक बड़ा, भूरा पक्षी देखा जिसके नीचे वह बैठा था। He also heard faint noises issuing from the cave. उसने गुफा से आती हुई हल्की आवाज़ें भी सुनीं। He quickly got on to his horse and rode away as fast as he could.वह जल्दी से अपने घोड़े पर सवार हुआ और जितनी जल्दी हो सके भाग गया।

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Ø The king was amazed to hear a similar voice again. राजा पुनः वैसी ही आवाज सुनकर आश्चर्यचकित हुआ।

  Ø He came to know the birds' true story. उसे पक्षियों की सच्ची कहानी पता चली।

  Ø He met the rishi who explained the behaviour of each bird. वह ऋषि से मिले जिन्होंने उन्हें प्रत्येक पक्षी के व्यवहार के बारे में बताया।

   

  Soon, he came to a clearing which looked like an ashram. जल्द ही, वह एक खुले मैदान में पहुँच गया जो एक आश्रम जैसा लग रहा था। It was the rishi's ashram. यह ऋषि का आश्रम था। The king tied his horse to a tree and sat down in its shade. राजा ने अपना घोड़ा एक पेड़ से बाँधा और उसकी छाया में बैठ गया। Suddenly he heard a gentle voice announce, "Welcome to the ashram, Sir. अचानक उसने एक कोमल आवाज़ सुनी, "आश्रम में आपका स्वागत है, महोदय। Please go inside and rest. कृपया अंदर जाएँ और आराम करें। The rishi will be back soon. ऋषि जल्द ही वापस आ जाएँगे। There's some cold water in the pot. बर्तन में थोड़ा ठंडा पानी है। Please make yourself comfortable." कृपया आराम करें।"The king looked up and saw a big, brown bird in the tree. राजा ने ऊपर देखा और पेड़ पर एक बड़ा, भूरा पक्षी देखा। He was amazed. वह चकित था। This one looks like the other bird outside the cave,' he said to himself loudly. यह गुफा के बाहर दूसरे पक्षी जैसा दिखता है, 'उसने खुद से ज़ोर से कहा।

  "You are right, Sir," answered the bird. "आप सही कह रहे हैं, सर," पक्षी ने उत्तर दिया। "He is my brother but he has made friends with robbers.”वह मेरा भाई है, लेकिन उसने लुटेरों से दोस्ती कर ली है। He now talks as they do. अब वह उनकी तरह ही बात करता है। He doesn't talk to me anymore." अब वह मुझसे बात नहीं करता।" Just then the rishi entered the ashram. तभी ऋषि आश्रम में दाखिल हुए।

  "Welcome, Sir," he said to the king. "आपका स्वागत है, श्रीमान," उसने राजा से कहा। "Please come inside and make yourself at home.”कृपया अंदर आएँ और अपने आप को घर जैसा महसूस करें। You look tired. आप थके हुए लग रहे हैं। Rest for a while. थोड़ी देर आराम करें। Then you can share my food." फिर आप मेरा खाना खा सकते हैं।"

  The king told the rishi the story of the two birds राजा ने ऋषि को दो पक्षियों की कहानी सुनाई and how each had behaved so differently और बताया कि कैसे दोनों पक्षियों का व्यवहार अलग-अलग था, though they looked so alike. जबकि वे एक जैसे दिखते थे। "The forest is full of surprises", he said. उन्होंने कहा, "यह जंगल आश्चर्यों से भरा हुआ है।"

   

  The holy man smiled and said, "After all, one is known by the company one keeps. साधु ने मुस्कुराते हुए कहा, "आखिरकार, कोई व्यक्ति अपनी संगति से ही जाना जाता है। That bird has always heard the talk of robbers. उस पक्षी ने हमेशा लुटेरों की बातें सुनी हैं। He imitates them and talks about robbing people. वह उनकी नकल करता है और लोगों को लूटने की बातें करता है। This one has repeated what he has always heard. इसने वही दोहराया है जो उसने हमेशा सुना है। He welcomes people to the ashram. वह आश्रम में लोगों का स्वागत करता है। Now, come inside and rest. अब, अंदर आओ और आराम करो। I'll tell you more about this place and these birds." मैं तुम्हें इस जगह और इन पक्षियों के बारे में और बताऊंगा।"

  1: How did the two baby birds get separated?

  Ans: The two baby birds lived with their mother in a nest in a tall and shady tree. One day, there was a big storm with thunder, lightning and rain. A big, heavy branch hit the nest and killed the mother bird. The strong wind blew the two baby birds away to the other side of the forest and separated them from each other.

  2: Where did each of them find a home?

  Ans: One of the baby birds came down near a cave where a gang of robbers lived. The other baby bird landed outside a rishi’s ashram a little distance away. Thus, they found two different homes.

  3: What did the first bird say to the stranger?

  Ans: The first bird saw the stranger, i.e., the King. He called the robbers to come quickly and rob the King of his jewels and his horse. The bird had indirectly warned the stranger of the consequences of sitting near the cave.

  4: What did the second bird say to him?

  Ans: The second bird welcomed the King to the ashram. He requested the stranger to go inside the ashram, take some rest and make himself comfortable. He further added that the first bird was his brother, who had made friends with robbers, so he talked like them.

  5: How did the rishi explain the different ways in which the birds behaved?

  Ans: The king was surprised about the difference in behaviour between the two birds. The rishi explained that the first bird imitated the same words that he heard from the robbers, whereas the second bird repeated the words that he had always heard at the ashram. This implies that the difference in ways of behaviour between the two birds was the result of the company in which they lived.

  6: Which one of the following sums up the story best?

  (i) A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

  (ii) One is known by the company one keeps.

  (iii) A friend in need is a friend indeed.

  Ans: (ii) One is known by the company one keeps.