Rustum and Sohrab - Class 8th

 

The Bangle Sellers

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Questions

1. Why was Rustum not able to live with his wife for a long time?
Ans: Rustum could not stay with his wife because the king of Persia called (बुलाया) him back. The king felt unsafe unless (जब तक नहीं) Rustum was there to protect (सुरक्षा करना) the kingdom.

2. Why did Tanimeh send word (संदेश भेजना) to Rustum that their child was a daughter?
Ans: Tanimeh told Rustum that the baby was a girl because she was afraid (डरी हुई/भयभीत) he might take the boy away. She wanted to keep her child with her.

3. What secret (राज़/गुप्त बात) did Sohrab learn from his mother?
Ans: Sohrab learnt (पता चला) from his mother that he was the son of the great (महान) Rustum.

4. What did Tanimeh want Sohrab to do when he met (मिला) his father?
Ans: Tanimeh wanted Sohrab to show his father the precious (कीमती) stone tied (बँधा हुआ) on his arm, which Rustum had given her when they were separated (अलग हुए).

5. Why was Rustum at first not ready to fight Sohrab?
Ans: Rustum was growing old and had the responsibility (ज़िम्मेदारी) of caring (देखभाल करना) for his aged father. That is why he was at first unwilling (अनिच्छुक) to fight Sohrab.

6. Why did Rustum not tell Sohrab who he was?
Ans: Rustum kept his identity (पहचान) secret because he feared (डरता था) that Sohrab might refuse (इंकार करना) to fight if he came to know the truth.

7. How was Sohrab wounded (घायल)?
Ans: Rustum’s loud war-cry (युद्ध-घोष) frightened (डरा दिया) Sohrab, and his shield (ढाल) slipped from his hand. Rustum's sword (तलवार) went through his body. Thus Sohrab was wounded.

8. What were Sohrab's last words?
Ans: Sohrab’s final wish was to be buried (दफ़नाया जाना) in his father’s home and to be remembered (याद किया जाना) as the son of the great Rustum.

Words/Phrases

Word: A single unit of language that has meaning.
👉 Example: book (किताब)

Phrase:  A group of words that together give a meaning but don’t form a full sentence.
👉 Example: send word (संदेश भेजना)

Find words/phrases from the box for the following expressions:

a. A fight, especially in a war – combat (word) (लड़ाई/युद्ध)
b. To keep somebody / something safe from harm, injury, etc. – protect (word) (रक्षा करना)
c. Going away or separating from somebody – parting (word) (विछोह/जुदाई)
d. To send someone a message – send word (phrase) (संदेश भेजना)
e. Wanting to do something very much regardless (बिना परवाह किए) of difficulties – determined (word) (दृढ़ निश्चयी)
f. Determined to do something or get something – resolved (word) (दृढ़ प्रतिज्ञ/निश्चित)
g. Someone who enters a country by force in order to take control of it – invader (word) (आक्रमणकारी)
h. A long distance away or a long time in the past or future – distant (word) (दूरस्थ/दूर का)
i. To become very upset and start crying – break down (phrase) (टूट जाना/रो पड़ना)
j. Of great and special value – precious (word) (बहुमूल्य/कीमती)
k. An officer of very high rank in the army – chief (word) (प्रमुख/सर्वोच्च अधिकारी)
l. Put a dead body in a grave – bury (word) (दफनाना/गाड़ना)
m. Very powerful – mighty (word) (शक्तिशाली)

MCQs

Choose the correct option:

1. "Persia is safe as long as Rustum leads our soldiers," said __________

a. The King of Persia

2. "I do not fight in single combat with anyone who is of low birth (नीच कुल/जाति)." These words are spoken by:

d. The Challenger

3. "If you must go, I want to tell you something." said __________

c. Tanimeh

4. "Who is so rash (उतावला, जल्दबाज, लापरवाह) and thoughtless (बिना सोचे-समझे) that he thinks he can attack Persia?" asked ____________

c. Rustum

5. "Carry me to your home and bury me there." These words are spoken by:

a. Sohrab

Match the Column

Match the words in Column A with the explanations (व्याख्याएँ) given in Column B:

a. war cry (युद्धघोष) - a word or cry shouted in battle.

b. challenger (चुनौती देने वाला) - one who calls someone to fight.

c. arts of war - skills (कला, निपुणताएँ) in use of weapons and in fighting.

d. champion (विजेता) - one who fights for or defends (रक्षा, बचाव) some other person.

e. swordsmanship ( तलवार चलाने की कला) - skill in the use of sword.

f. spirit (आत्मा / उत्साह / जोश) - quality of courage and vigour (ऊर्जा, शक्ति, उत्साह).

g. terror (भय / आतंक / डर) - great fear.

h. clasp (कसकर पकड़ना) - hold tightly.

i. amazed (हैरान) - extremely surprised.

j. ambition (महत्वाकांक्षा / आकांक्षा / ऊँची चाहत) - a strong desire (इच्छा / चाह / कामना) for success, power or wealth.

Language Work

Unless
Hindi Meaning: अगर नहीं / जब तक नहीं

It is used to show a condition.

Rules for using "Unless"
"Unless" = "if not" / "otherwise"

👉 Don’t use not with unless (double negative becomes wrong).
Unless you do not study, you will fail - ❌
Unless you study, you will fail - ✔


Structure:
Unless + condition, main result


Tense:
The clause after unless is usually in present tense, but it can affect future.

Examples

Sentence A: You must study.
Sentence B: Otherwise, you will not pass.

Unless you study, you will not pass.
(अगर तुम नहीं पढ़ोगे, तो पास नहीं होगे।)

Sentence A: It must rain.
Sentence B: Otherwise, we will go out.

Unless it rains, we will go out.
(अगर बारिश नहीं हुई, तो हम बाहर जाएंगे।)

Sentence A: You must practice.
Sentence B: Otherwise, you can’t improve.

You can’t improve unless you practice.
(तुम सुधार नहीं सकते जब तक अभ्यास नहीं करते।)

✅ Do’s (Correct Uses)
Use plain verb after unless
Unless you study, you will not pass.
Unless it rains, we will go out.

Remember: Unless = If not / Except if
Unless you practice, you can’t improve.
(= If you don’t practice, you can’t improve.)

Use Present Tense for future results
Unless she works hard, she will fail.
Unless they come early, we will miss the bus.

🚫 Don’ts (Wrong Uses)
Don’t use “not” with unless
Unless you do not study, you will fail - ❌
Unless you study, you will fail - ✔

Don’t put “must/should/will” immediately after unless
Unless you must study, you will not pass - ❌
Unless you study, you will not pass - ✔

Don’t treat unless like while/because
Unless he was tired, he went to bed - ❌
Because he was tired, he went to bed - ✔
(Unless is only for condition, not reason/time.)

Now combine the following pairs of sentences with unless, as shown in the examples:

Ans: 

1. Unless you run fast, you can't catch the train.

2. Unless you work hard, you can't get a first class.

3. Unless you hurry, you won't catch the bus.

4. Unless you do as I tell you, you will regret it.

5. Unless you tell me about your problem, I can't give you any solution.

Now match each clause from Column A with a clause from Column B and make meaningful sentences like those above.

✍️ Define CLAUSE - Click Here →
Ans:

1. If I had worked harder, I would have got more marks.
2. If the driver in front had not stopped so suddenly, the accident would not have happened.

3. If the weather had not been so bad, we could have gone out.

4. If you had arrived earlier, you could have seen her.

5. If you had moved the injured to hospital immediately, you might have saved his life.

6. If you had not lent me the money, I would not have been able to buy the car.

Role of “had” in these sentences
1. All sentences are third conditional (imaginary or unreal situations in the past) sentences.

2. Here, “had” is used as an auxiliary (helping) verb to form the Past Perfect Tense.

Example: 

I had worked harder → मैं पहले ज्यादा मेहनत कर चुका था / करता

 
Example Analysis
If I had worked harder, I would have got more marks.
had worked → मैंने पहले ज्यादा मेहनत की होती (Past Perfect)
would have got → मुझे ज्यादा अंक मिलते (result in Past Conditional)

✅ Shortcut:
In third conditional: “had + Past Participle” = Past Perfect → shows action that could have happened but didn’t.

But the usual signs of Past Perfect Tense are ‘चुका था’, ‘चुकी थी’, ‘चुके थे’. Why is it ‘ता’, ‘ती’, ‘ते’ here instead?

1. Past Perfect Tense in Hindi
Normal Past Perfect Tense in Hindi uses:
चुका था / चुकी थी / चुके थे (depending on gender and number)

Example:
I had eaten the food. → मैंने खाना खा चुका / लिया था।

2. Third Conditional Sentences
Example: If I had worked harder, I would have got more marks.
had worked → मैंने ज्यादा मेहनत की होती (hypothetical (काल्पनिक) / unreal past)

Important:
In third conditional, the action is imaginary, it did not really happen.
Because of this, in Hindi translation, we often use: “करता / करती / करते” instead of “चुका था” to show hypothetical/unreal action in past.

✅ Key Point
“Chuka tha / chuki thi / chuke the” → used when action really happened in the past.
“Karta / karti / karte” in conditional → used when talking about imaginary or unreal past (hypothetical).

Other Examples:
If I were rich, I would buy a big house.
यह काल्पनिक स्थिति है क्योंकि मैं अमीर नहीं हूँ।
Hindi: अगर मैं अमीर होता, तो बड़ा घर खरीदता।

He would have passed the exam if he had studied.
यह भी काल्पनिक क्योंकि उसने पढ़ाई नहीं की।
Hindi: अगर उसने पढ़ाई की होती, तो वह परीक्षा पास कर जाता।

Grammar Work

Report the following statements in the indirect:
Ans:

1. She said that her father would return from Jammu the next day.

2. They said that they would die for the sake of their country.

3. The teacher said that Babar won the first battle of Panipat.

4. I told him that he had made a false statement.

5. They told us that they would play a match next day.

6. I told him that I am an early riser.

7. He said that his father died the previous year.

8. She told me that the climate of that place did not suit her.

9. I told the peon that all his faults would be pardoned if he confessed them.

10. I said that I would finish my work as early as I could.

Change the following sentences into direct speech:

1. The employer said to him, "You will be dismissed if you do not attend the office."

2. Sanjay said, "My brother met with an accident yesterday."

3. I said to him, "I may not come tomorrow."

4. The principal said, "Tomorrow will be a holiday."

5. The teacher said to us, "You are intelligent and hard-working."

Glossary

Shield – ढाल
Dare – साहस करना / हिम्मत करना
In the family way – गर्भवती / माँ बनने वाली
Send word – संदेश भेजना / खबर देना
Feat – कारनामा / उपलब्धि
Warrior – योद्धा / सैनिक
Combat – युद्ध / लड़ाई
Opponent – विरोधी
Saviour – रक्षक
Armour – कवच
Longing – तड़प / लालसा
Fate – भाग्य / नियति
Clash – टकराव / भिड़ंत
Unnerve – हिम्मत तोड़ना / भयभीत करना
Pierce – छेदना / भेदना