Here are Extra Question Answers of the Chapter The Sermon at Benares.  This question bank includes everything you need to master The Sermon at Benares.  This is updated as per 2024- 25 pattern. Go through to gain deep understanding and achieve a great score in exam of Class 10 English. 

Main theme  of “The Sermon at Benares” in Short

“The theme is understanding and accepting that death cannot be avoided.”

Theme Justification-

Let’s see how this theme is applicable to the Chapter“The Sermon at Benares”-

The theme is shown in Kisa Gotami’s story. She looks for medicine to bring her dead son back to life but learns from Buddha that death happens to everyone. She understands that loss and sadness are normal parts of life and accepts that death is a natural part of living.

List of More Themes – 

1. Accepting death: Kisa Gotami searches for medicine for her dead son. Buddha helps her realise that death is a natural part of life that everyone must accept.

2. Everyone suffers: Kisa Gotami learns that every family she visits has lost someone. This shows that suffering and loss are common to all people.

3. Letting go of grief: Buddha teaches Kisa Gotami that holding on to grief only brings more pain. She learns to let go and find peace.

Characters- of “The Sermon at Benares”

Character – 1 Kisa Gotami

1. Sad  Mother – Kisa Gotami is deeply sad because her only son has died.

2. Desperate for Help – She goes from house to house, asking people for medicine to bring her son back to life.

3. Heartbroken Woman – Her grief is very strong. She feels lost and helpless without her son.

Character – 2 Gautama Buddha

1. Wise Teacher – Gautama Buddha shares his wisdom with others to help them understand life and suffering.

2. Enlightened One – He achieved enlightenment by meditating and understanding the true nature of life.

3. Compassionate Guide – Buddha is kind and helps people find peace and happiness.

 Short Summary of ” The Sermon at Benares ” (Extra Questions)

Gautama Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama, a prince in northern India. He left his royal life to find answers about suffering and achieved enlightenment under a peepal tree. Buddha gave his first sermon in Benares.

Kisa Gotami, a sad mother whose only son had died, asked Buddha for medicine to bring her son back. Buddha told her to find mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died. She searched but found that every house had experienced death.

Kisa Gotami realised that death is a common part of life. Buddha taught her to let go of grief and accept the natural cycle of life and death. She found peace by understanding that everyone experiences loss.

Word Meanings of ” The Sermon at Benares -(Extra Questions)

Hard Words : The Sermon at Benares Page- 133

Gautama Buddha – Founder of Buddhism, Enlightened one (बुद्ध), Prince – Royal son, Monarch’s heir (राजकुमार), Siddhartha Gautama – Buddha’s birth name, Former prince (सिद्धार्थ गौतम), Hindu sacred scriptures – Hindu holy texts, Religious writings (हिंदू धार्मिक ग्रंथ), Princess – Royal daughter, Monarch’s offspring (राजकुमारी), Befitted – Suited for, Appropriate to (उपयुक्त),

Royalty – Royal family, Kingship (राजवंश), Heretofore – Up to this time, Until now (अब तक), Shielded – Protected, Defended (संरक्षित), Sufferings – Distress, Pain (पीड़ा), Monk – Religious ascetic, Cleric (भिक्षु), Alms – Charity, Donation (भिक्षा),

Enlightenment – Spiritual awakening, Profound insight (समझाना), Peepal tree – Sacred fig, Bodhi tree (पीपल का पेड़), Vowed – Swore, Pledged (प्रतिज्ञा की), Chanced upon – Stumbled on, Encountered (अचानक मिलना), Sorrows – Grief, Heartaches (दुःख)

Extract Based Questions of ” The Sermon at Benares -(Extra Questions)

The Sermon at Benares Extract Based MCQ questions – 1

GAUTAMA Buddha (563 B.C. – 483 B.C.) began life as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, in northern India. At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four years later he returned home to marry a princess.

1. Question: How did Siddhartha Gautama’s early education influence his quest for enlightenment? (40 words)

Answer: His education in Hindu sacred scriptures exposed him to spiritual ideas and the concept of suffering, which likely prompted him to seek a deeper understanding and solutions to human suffering, leading to his quest for enlightenment.

2. Question: State True or False.  

None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement — Siddhartha Gautama’s early education did not influence his later quest for enlightenment.

(a) An assertion – a strong statement

(b) A contradiction – an opposite statement

(c) An inference – a conclusion based on evidence

(d) An observation – a comment based on what is seen or noticed

Answer: False

Justification: The statement is an assertion since it is a strong belief. It could also be a contradiction to the idea that his early education did influence his quest.

3. Question: The information suggests Siddhartha Gautama’s early education might have sparked his quest for _____.

Answer- enlightenment/ wisdom/ truth/ spirituality or any other similar response. 

4. Question: How did Siddhartha Gautama’s royal life influence his spiritual journey?

Answer: As a prince, Siddhartha Gautama had everything he wanted. However, seeing suffering made him realise that wealth and luxury couldn’t bring true happiness, prompting him to seek deeper meaning and spiritual enlightenment.

Extract from The Sermon at Benares- 2

At about the age of twenty-five, the Prince, heretofore shielded from the sufferings of the world, while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms.

1. Question: How did meeting a sick man, aged man, funeral, and monk change the Prince? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer: Meeting these people made the Prince realise that suffering, ageing, and death are unavoidable. This led him to question his sheltered life and seek deeper understanding and answers to life’s suffering.

2. Question: State True or False.  

None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement — The Prince’s encounters with the sick man, old man, funeral, and monk did not influence his life.

(a) A revelation – a surprising and previously unknown fact

(b) An insight – a deep understanding of a person or thing

(c) An illusion – a deceptive appearance or impression

(d) An epiphany – a sudden realisation or understanding

Answer: False

Justification: The encounters can be seen as a revelation or an insight, as they provided the Prince with deep understanding and new realisations about life.

3. Question: The information in the extract suggests that the Prince was deeply affected by seeing _____.

Answer: suffering / pain / death / ageing / illness or any other similar response. 

Question: Why did the Prince begin to question his sheltered life?

Answer: He saw suffering and death for the first time.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)- of  ” The Sermon at Benares”

1. If Kisa Gotami had found a house without death, what might she have thought?

a) She was dreaming
b) The house was magical
c) Death could be avoided
d) Buddha was wrong

Answer: c) Death could be avoided
Reason: Finding such a house would contradict her later realisation about the universality of death.

2. If Siddhartha had never seen suffering, what might his life have been like?

a) He would have become a great king
b) He would have travelled the world
c) He would have remained in ignorance
d) He would have started a different religion

Answer: c) He would have remained in ignorance
Reason: Seeing suffering was the catalyst for his journey to enlightenment.

3. What if Kisa Gotami had found the mustard seeds immediately?

a) Cured son
b) Gained wealth
c) Missed lesson
d) Followed Buddha

Answer: c) Missed lesson
Reason: The search for the mustard seeds taught her the universality of death, which was crucial for her understanding.

4. What might Kisa Gotami have done if she realised the truth about death before meeting Buddha?

a) Avoided Buddha
b) Become teacher
c) Helped others
d) Sought another method

Answer: c) Helped others
Reason: Her understanding would likely inspire her to share this wisdom with others.

5. How might the story change if Buddha had told Kisa Gotami directly about the nature of death instead of sending her on a quest?

a) Believed immediately
b) Doubted words
c) Found another guru
d) Ignored teachings

Answer: b) Doubted words
Reason: Experiencing the quest herself made the lesson more impactful and believable.

Short Answer Type Important Questions

1. How might Kisa Gotami’s view  on life change after her experience with Buddha? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer: Kisa Gotami’s view on life might change after her experience with Buddha. She learns that death is a normal part of life and that everyone loses loved ones. This helps her accept her son’s death and feel more understanding and caring towards others who are also sad.

2. How might Siddhartha’s life be different if he had never seen suffering? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer: If Siddhartha had never seen suffering, he might have continued living as a prince in luxury and comfort. He would not have started his journey to seek enlightenment and understand the nature of life and death, and he would not have become Buddha.

3. If Kisa Gotami had not met Buddha, how might her journey of grief have continued? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer: If Kisa Gotami had not met Buddha, her journey of grief might have continued with her feeling of loss and hopelessness. She might have kept searching for a way to bring her son back, never finding peace or understanding that death is a natural part of life, and staying stuck in her sorrow.

4. How does Kisa Gotami’s story show the importance of empathy? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer: Kisa Gotami’s story shows the importance of empathy by helping her understand and feel the sadness of others. As she talks to people, she learns that everyone loses loved ones. This helps her feel connected to others and not alone in her own sadness.

5. How would Kisa Gotami’s understanding of death be different if she found peace through another method? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer: If Kisa Gotami found peace through another method, her understanding of death might be very ordinary. She might not realise that everyone experiences loss and suffering. Her peace would come from personal healing rather than the broader understanding.

6. How can Kisa Gotami’s understanding of death help someone who is sad because of a loss? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer: Kisa Gotami’s understanding can help by showing that everyone faces loss. Knowing that others have felt the same way can make someone feel less alone and help them find comfort and peace in their own sadness.

7. Why did Gautam Buddha assign Kisa Gotami the task of asking for mustard seeds from homes where no one had died? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer: Kisa Gotami asked for mustard seeds from homes where no one had died because the Buddha wanted her to understand that death is a common experience for everyone, and no one can escape it.

8. What might Kisa Gotami have felt when she realised every house had experienced death? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer: When Kisa Gotami realised every house had experienced death, she might have felt a mix of sadness and relief, understanding that her grief was not unique and that everyone faces loss.

9. How might the Buddha’s lesson have changed Kisa Gotami’s view of life?Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer- The Buddha’s lesson changed Kisa Gotami’s view of life by helping her see that suffering is a part of the human experience and that accepting this can lead to peace and wisdom.

10. What could be the significance of Kisa Gotami sitting by the wayside and watching the lights flicker and go out? Answer in around 40 to 50 words (Sermon at Benaras). 

Answer – Sitting by the roadside and watching the lights flicker out might show Kisa Gotami’s understanding that life is temporary and everyone faces an end.

Long Answer Type Important Questions

1. Question: How did the Buddha use Kisa Gotami’s situation to teach a lesson about life and death? Explain how this lesson can help people today. Answer in about 120 words. Chapter Sermon at Benaras. 

Answer- The Buddha used Kisa Gotami’s situation to teach about the reality of life and death. When Kisa Gotami’s son died, she was deeply sad and sought a way to bring him back to life. The Buddha asked her to find a mustard seed from a house where no one had died. As she searched, she discovered that every home had lost someone. This helped her understand that death is a universal experience.

This lesson helps people today by showing that grief and loss are common to everyone. Knowing others share this pain can bring comfort and help us accept death as a natural part of life.

2. Through the story of Kisa Gotami, what did the Buddha try to preach to the common man? Answer in about 120 words. Chapter Sermon at Benaras. 

Answer. The Buddha used Kisa Gotami’s story to teach about the inevitability of death. Kisa Gotami was a grieving mother who couldn’t accept her son’s death. She asked for medicine from everyone but was told to seek the Buddha.

He told her to find mustard seeds from a house where no one had died. When she couldn’t find such a house, she realised that death is a universal experience. The flickering city lights she watched symbolised how human lives also flicker and end. The Buddha’s lesson was that death is a natural and unavoidable part of life. Understanding this can help people accept their own grief and see they are not alone in their suffering.

Also Read:

• Hard Words : The Sermon at Benares
• Who delivered the Sermon at Benares? What did he preach?
• The Sermon at Benares NCERT Solutions
• Why did the Budha choose Benares to preach his first Sermon?
• Where did Gautam Buddha preach his first sermon? What was it all about?
• The Sermon at Benares Extract Based MCQ questions

3. Question: Imagine you are a person living in a house Kisa Gotami visits. Describe your interaction with her and how it made you feel. Answer in about 120 words. Chapter Sermon at Benaras. 

Answer: If I were a person living in a house Kisa Gotami visited, I would feel deeply moved. When she came asking for a mustard seed from a house where no one had died, I would notice her grief and try to comfort her. I would explain that, like me, she would not find such a house because everyone faces loss.

Sharing my own experiences with her would make me feel a strong connection, as we both know the pain of losing loved ones. This interaction would remind me that grief is a common experience, and seeing her struggle would make me feel less alone in my own sorrow. It would highlight our shared humanity and the universal nature of suffering.

4. “The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain.” With this statement of the Buddha, find out the moral value that Kisa Gotami learned after she was unable to get the mustard seeds. 

Answer: Kisa Gotami lost her only son and was desperate to find a cure. A man told her to visit the Buddha, who asked her to bring mustard seeds from a house where no one had died. Kisa Gotami visited many houses but couldn’t find any such house, realising that every family had experienced loss.

Through this experience, she learned that life is filled with suffering and death is a universal reality. She understood that grief is part of the human condition and accepted that death affects everyone. This realisation helped her come to terms with her own loss and find peace.

5. Question: What did Kisa Gotami learn about suffering and death from her experience, and how might this change her view of life? Answer in about 120 words.

Answer: Kisa Gotami learned that suffering and death cannot be avoided and affect everyone. As she looked for a house without death, she found that every family had lost someone. This showed her that death is something everyone experiences, not just her.

This realisation likely changed her view on life. Instead of feeling alone in her sadness, she saw that others also suffer and deal with loss. This understanding might have comforted her, knowing her pain was shared. It could also have made her more caring towards others, understanding that everyone has their own struggles. Accepting this would help her handle her own grief better and approach life with more empathy.