✍ Avtar Narayan
Engaging Vocabulary Learning with Panchatantra
Using the “Monkey and the Crocodile” story from Panchatantra is a fun way to teach synonyms. By showing words like benevolent (उदार) and its synonyms—”kind, generous, compassionate”—in the story, students easily learn new words. This method makes vocabulary building enjoyable and helps students remember words through storytelling, making learning natural and engaging.
Monkey and the Crocodile
A majestic (भव्य) [grand, splendid, regal, noble] tree by the river was home to a benevolent (उदार) [kind, charitable, compassionate, generous] monkey. One day, a devious (धूर्त) [cunning, sly, crafty, scheming] crocodile politely asked for fruit with a gracious (दयालु) [kind, courteous, amiable, affable] smile. Though the monkey shared, the crocodile had malicious (दुष्ट) [malevolent, spiteful, wicked, cruel] plans. He invited the innocent (भोला) [naive, pure, unsuspecting, gullible] monkey to his home. Mid-river, the crocodile revealed his sinister (कुटिल) [evil, ominous, menacing, baleful] plan to eat the monkey’s heart. The wise (बुद्धिमान) [clever, astute, prudent, sagacious] monkey tricked him by saying he left his heart on the tree, making the crocodile swim back. The monkey then escaped.
Moral: Wisdom (बुद्धिमत्ता) [intelligence, cleverness, insight, prudence] is stronger than brute strength.
Fill in the blanks
1. The monkey lived in a ______ (भव्य) tree by the river.
Options: (a) majestic (b) ordinary
2. The monkey was very ______ (उदार) and shared his fruit.
Options: (a) benevolent (b) selfish
3. The crocodile was ______ (धूर्त) and had a hidden plan.
Options: (a) devious (b) honest
4. He asked for fruit with a ______ (दयालु) smile.
Options: (a) gracious (b) rude
5. The crocodile had ______ (दुष्ट) intentions to harm the monkey.
Options: (a) kind(b) malicious
6. The monkey was ______ (भोला) and trusted the crocodile’s words.
Options: (a) innocent (b) suspicious
7. The crocodile revealed his ______ (कुटिल) plan in the middle of the river.
Options: (a) sinister (b) friendly
8. The monkey was ______ (बुद्धिमान) and outsmarted the crocodile.
Options: (a) foolish (b) wise
Answer Key
1. (a) majestic
2. (a) benevolent
3. (a) devious
4. (a) gracious
5. (b) malicious
6. (a) innocent
7. (a) sinister
8. (b) wise
(Author is an English Acharya in Bhrahampuri Adarsh Vidya Mandir Jodhpur and Sah-Sanyojak of English Speaking of Vidya Bharati Jodhpur Prant.)