Kathmandu & A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

The two temples the author visited in Kathmandu are:
1. Pashupatinath Temple
2. Baudhnath Shrine (Stupa)

'All this' refers to the food items the author eats at a small shop near the Baudhnath Stupa — a corn-on-the-cob roasted on a charcoal fire, and a couple of bananas.

Vikram Seth compares the flutes sticking out of the flute seller's bamboo pole to the quills of a porcupine.

The five kinds of flutes mentioned in the chapter are:
1. Bansuri (the classical North Indian flute)
2. Murali
3. Venu
4. Algoza
5. Shehnai (though a reed instrument, it is grouped with flutes in the context)

*(Note: The author mentions the flute in various forms across cultures — the bansuri, the reed flute, the Japanese shakuhachi, the Chinese xiao, and the South American quena are the five kinds referred to in the text.)*

Given: The author observes various hawkers and vendors in Kathmandu's busy streets.

Answer: The author notes that unlike the other hawkers who cry out loudly to attract customers, the flute seller is silent. He does not shout or advertise his wares. Instead, he occasionally plays his flute, and the music itself draws people towards him. While all the other vendors create noise and confusion, the flute seller stands apart in quiet dignity, letting the beauty of his music speak for him. This silence amid the surrounding chaos makes him stand out as a unique and almost spiritual figure.

Given: The author visits the Pashupatinath temple and observes the religious atmosphere there.

Answer: At Pashupatinath, there is a belief connected to a metal pipe sticking out of the stone platform on the riverbank. It is believed that this pipe is slowly rising out of the earth, and when it rises completely and falls over, it will mark the end of Kaliyug — the present age of darkness and moral decline according to Hindu mythology. After this, a new and better age (Satyug) will begin. This belief reflects the deep religious and mythological significance attached to the temple.

Given: The author describes the scene at Pashupatinath temple vividly.

(i) Atmosphere of 'febrile confusion':
1. Some people trying to get the priest's attention are elbowed aside by others.
2. A fight breaks out between two monkeys; one chases the other.
3. Devotees jostle and push to get closer to the shrine.

(ii) Things he sees:
1. A corpse being cremated on the stone platform by the river.
2. Sadhus with painted faces and ash-smeared bodies sitting near the temple.
3. A small shrine half protruding from the stone platform on the riverbank.

(iii) Sounds he hears:
1. The blaring of film songs from radios in the shops.
2. The noise and chatter of the crowd of pilgrims and tourists.
3. The occasional notes of the flute seller's flute rising above the general din.

Given: The author visits both Pashupatinath temple and Baudhnath shrine during his stay in Kathmandu.

Answer:

The two sacred places present a striking contrast in atmosphere.

The Pashupatinath temple is characterised by noise, activity, and febrile confusion. Outside the temple, there is a constant jostle of pilgrims, priests, and tourists. Monkeys fight on the rooftops, sadhus with ash-smeared bodies sit in meditation, a corpse is being cremated on the riverbank, and people elbow each other to get the priest's attention. Film songs blare from nearby shops. The overall atmosphere is chaotic, crowded, and intensely alive.

In contrast, the Baudhnath shrine has a calm, serene, and meditative atmosphere. The great white dome of the stupa rises peacefully. Small shops line its outer edge, and Buddhist pilgrims walk quietly around the stupa in a clockwise direction, spinning prayer wheels. The mood is one of quiet devotion and tranquillity.

Thus, while Pashupatinath is vibrant and chaotic, Baudhnath is peaceful and contemplative.

Given: The author walks through the busiest streets of Kathmandu after visiting the two shrines.

Answer:

The author describes Kathmandu's busiest streets as a place of overwhelming sensory stimulation — a chaotic yet fascinating mix of sights, sounds, and smells.

The streets are crammed with a variety of shops selling postcards, Tibetan artefacts, Western cosmetics, film rolls, and electronic goods. There are fruit sellers, flute sellers, and vendors of all kinds. The air is filled with the smell of incense, spices, and exhaust fumes. Film songs blare loudly from radios and cassette players.

The crowd is a colourful mix of locals, pilgrims, tourists, and sadhus. Sacred cows wander freely, adding to the congestion. The streets are narrow and packed, yet full of energy and life.

Despite the chaos, the author finds the streets deeply interesting and alive. He eats corn-on-the-cob and bananas from a small stall, absorbing the vibrant, bustling character of the city.

Given: The author watches the flute seller play his flute in the busy streets of Kathmandu.

Answer:

The author makes this profound statement because the flute is a universal instrument, found in virtually every culture across the world. Whether it is the Indian bansuri, the Japanese shakuhachi, the Chinese xiao, or the South American quena, the flute appears in all civilisations and all ages of human history.

When one hears the flute, one is connected not just to the musician in front of them, but to all of humanity across time and geography. The music of the flute transcends barriers of language, religion, nationality, and culture. It speaks directly to the human soul in a language that everyone understands.

The author, standing in the busy streets of Kathmandu, feels this deeply when he hears the flute seller play. The simple, pure notes of the flute remind him that beneath all differences, human beings share a common emotional and spiritual core. This is why he says that hearing the flute draws one into the commonality of all mankind.

Matching:

| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) break out | (d) to start suddenly (usually a fight, a war or a disease) |
| (ii) break off | (a) to come apart due to force |
| (iii) break down | (f) stop working |
| (iv) break away (from someone) | (e) to escape from someone's grip |
| (v) break up | (b) end a relationship |
| (vi) break into | (c) break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing |

Justification from sentences:
1. *A communal war broke out* — started suddenly → (d)
2. *The cockpit broke off* — came apart due to force → (a)
3. *The car broke down* — stopped working → (f)
4. *The dacoit broke away from the police* — escaped from grip → (e)
5. *The brothers broke up* — ended their relationship → (b)
6. *The thief broke into our house* — entered illegally → (c)

Noun forms:

| Verb | Noun |
|---|---|
| cremate | cremation |
| act | action |
| exhaust | exhaustion |
| invent | invention |
| tempt | temptation |
| immigrate | immigration |
| direct | direction |
| meditate | meditation |
| imagine | imagination |
| dislocate | dislocation |
| associate | association |
| dedicate | dedication |

(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the invention of the printing machine.

(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks imagination.

(iii) I could not resist the temptation to open the letter.

(iv) Hardwork and dedication are the main keys to success.

(v) The children were almost fainting with exhaustion after being made to stand in the sun.

Corrected paragraph:

An arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle one day. He asked the tiger, "Who is stronger than you?"
"You, O lion," replied the tiger.
"Who is more fierce than a leopard?" asked the lion.
"You, sir," replied the leopard.
He marched up to an elephant and asked the same question. The elephant picked him up in his trunk, swung him in the air, and threw him down.
"Look," said the lion, "there is no need to get mad just because you don't know the answer."

Changes made:
- Capital letters at the beginning of each sentence and for proper nouns.
- Full stops at the end of statements.
- Question marks at the end of questions.
- Commas used in addresses and lists.
- Inverted commas around all direct speech.

(i) The heart is a pump that sends (send) the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action takes place (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart contracts (contract). This forces (force) the blood out into the arteries, which expand (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.

Concept used: Simple present tense is used for universal/scientific truths and facts.

---

(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it digs (dig) a pit and encloses (enclose) itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule dries (dry) and hardens (harden), but when rain comes (come), the mud dissolves (dissolve) and the lungfish swims (swim) away.

Concept used: Simple present tense is used for habitual/natural actions and facts.

---

(iii)
MAHESH: We have to organise a class party for our teacher. Does (Do) anyone play an instrument?

VIPUL: Rohit plays (play) the flute.

MAHESH: Does (Do) he also act?

VIPUL: No, he composes (compose) music.

MAHESH: That's wonderful!

Concept used: Simple present tense is used in conversation to describe present habits and abilities. 'Does' is used as the auxiliary for third person singular in questions.

Given: The poem is by William Wordsworth and deals with the death of a loved one.

Answer:

The poet's reaction to his loved one's death is complex and difficult to define simply as either bitter grief or great peace.

In the first stanza, the poet describes a state of blissful unawareness — a 'slumber' or deep sleep of the spirit — in which he had no human fears. He was so enchanted by her that she seemed beyond the reach of time and death. This suggests a kind of innocent, dream-like peace before the loss.

In the second stanza, however, the reality of death is stated starkly: *"No motion has she now, no force — / She neither hears nor sees."* These lines convey a sense of numb, quiet grief rather than loud lamentation. The poet does not weep or rage; instead, he contemplates her stillness.

The final image — of her being *"Rolled round in earth's diurnal course / With rocks and stones and trees"* — suggests that she has become part of nature. This could be read as a resigned acceptance or even a quiet, philosophical peace, rather than bitter grief. The tone is one of solemn, subdued sorrow.

Given: The poem 'A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal' by William Wordsworth.

Answer:

The lines that say the passing of time will no longer affect her are from the second stanza:

$$\text{"No motion has she now, no force—}$$
$$\text{She neither hears nor sees."}$$

These lines clearly state that she is now beyond all earthly sensation and movement. She can no longer feel, hear, or see anything. Time, which changes and ages all living things, can no longer touch her.

Additionally, the lines from the first stanza also hint at this:

$$\text{"She seemed a thing that could not feel}$$
$$\text{The touch of earthly years."}$$

Here, the poet recalls how, when she was alive, she seemed so full of life and beauty that she appeared untouched by the passage of time. Now, in death, this has literally come true — time no longer affects her at all.

Given: The poem 'A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal' by William Wordsworth.

Answer:

The poet does not imagine her as living in a happy state in heaven. Instead, he sees her as having become a part of nature — merged with the physical world around us.

This is clearly expressed in the last two lines of the poem:

$$\text{"Rolled round in earth's diurnal course}$$
$$\text{With rocks and stones and trees."}$$

These lines paint a picture of her body being carried along with the daily rotation of the earth, alongside rocks, stones, and trees. She is no longer a conscious, feeling person; she has become one with the inanimate natural world.

This image is characteristic of Wordsworth's Romantic philosophy, in which nature is all-encompassing and the dead return to the earth from which they came. There is no mention of a soul, heaven, or afterlife. Instead, the poet finds a kind of solemn comfort in the idea that she is now eternally part of the natural world — silent, still, and timeless, like the earth itself.