Page 157 - 6th std Eng SL text 2019-20

suPPlEMEnTaRY REading

lEsson - 1

WaYs of lEaRning

Preparatory activity :

Have you read any story from The Ramayana or The
Mahabharatha? If so, narrate one such story.

This is a small story based on an event from the
Mahabharatha, the epic by Sage Vedavyasa.

Guru Dronacharya was the preceptor for the Kuru
princes – the Pandavas (sons of Pandu) and Kauravas
(sons of Dhritarashtra). He, along with another learned man
Kripacharya, was teaching various branches of knowledge to

the Kuru cousins, along with many others who had joined the
Gurukula at Hastinapura, the capital of the Kuru dynasty. One
important subject of learning for the princes was archery as a
part of military service that the princes of those days had to
learn.

let's read and enjoy the story :

One day Dronacharya ordered his disciples to assemble
in the large open ground in front of the Hastinapura palace.
All of them assembled there.

Drona said, “Boys, I have a test for you. Are you ready?”

“Sure, Sir,” said the boys enthusiastically.

“Get ready with your bows and arrows and come to this
spot, as I call you,” said the Guru indicating a mark on the
ground. “Later you have to shoot the target on top of the tree.”
The Guru had set up an artificial bird (made of wood and
grass) on top of a branch of the tree.

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