The Boat Song

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The main character is Aditya, a young boatman who ferries people across the river. He dreams of becoming a shipbuilder and traveling to distant lands like the ancient Cholas.

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Aditya is a boatman. He ferries people across the river using a small wooden boat he built himself. This is how he earns his livelihood.

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Aditya dreamed of building strong ships that could carry horses and elephants. He wanted to sail to distant islands, trade goods like beryls, ivory, and pearls, and exchange stories and songs with peo…

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A beryl is a semi-precious stone that can be pale green, blue, or yellow. In the story, beryls were valuable goods that Aditya wanted to trade.

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'Exchange goods' means to trade items with others—giving something you have and receiving something they have in return. For example, trading pearls for spices.

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A legend is a traditional story from ancient times about people or events. It may or may not be true. In the story, Aditya wanted to share legends of his people with others.

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Even though Aditya loved his village, he was curious about the world beyond. His songs showed his dreams of adventure, learning new things, and sharing his culture with others.

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The passenger was the king, who was traveling in disguise. He tested people’s honesty and rewarded Aditya for his truthfulness.