The Wit That Won Hearts Summary and Explanation
CBSE Class 8 English Unit 1 – Wit And Wisdom Chapter 1 – The Wit That Won Hearts Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from Poorvi Book
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CBSE Class 8 English Unit 1 Wit And Wisdom Chapter 1 – The Wit That Won Hearts
The lesson tells a story of a kingdom where the king was an accomplished ruler, known for his bravery and poetry. Once, when he gets annoyed with the queen for yawning while he was reciting a poem, his witty courtier Tenali Rama clears the misunderstanding with his sharp intelligence. Thus, Tenali’s wit won the hearts of the king and the queen.
- The Wit That Won Hearts Summary
- The Wit That Won Hearts Summary in Hindi
- The Wit That Won Hearts Theme
- The Wit That Won Hearts Explanation
Related:
- The Wit That Won Hearts Question Answers
- The Wit That Won Hearts Character Sketch
- Class 8 English Poorvi Book Lesson Notes
The Wit That Won Hearts Summary
King Krishnadeva Raya’s reign in Vijayanagar empire was known as the Golden empire because the king was not only wise and a powerful monarch, but also a patron of art and literature. The king was a warrior and a poet. His writings – such as the epic Amuktamalyada and the Sanskrit drama Jambavati Parinayam, are acclaimed even today. He had eight poets in his royal court called Ashtadiggajas who contributed to the royal poetry. Of them, Tenali Ramakrishna was a witty man who was famous for providing solutions to seemingly unsurmountable problems.
Once the king got annoyed with his wife Thirumalambal over a petty matter. The queen sought Tenali’s help and told him the matter. The king had composed a poetry and failed at narrating it to his courtiers. Thus he sought an audience with the queen. She had been tired due to the day’s work and yawned a few times. The king took it to be his disrespect and went off. He stopped talking to her over this petty matter.
Tenali devised a plan. The royal court was discussing ways to increase the yield of paddy. Tenali approached the king with a plate of paddy seeds. He claimed that these were revolutionary seeds which could increase the yield thrice. The courtiers sneered and mocked at him. The king commented that it was risky because if the yield did not increase the farmers would get destroyed. Tenali claimed that the trick was in the hands of the one who sowed the seeds who should not yawn lest he scatters the seeds unevenly. The mention made the king yawn and he realised that it was normal to yawn just like breathing. Thus the king realised his mistake and patched up with the queen. The corridors of ther palace once again ringed with cheer.
Summary of the Lesson The Wit That Won Hearts in Hindi
विजयनगर साम्राज्य में राजा कृष्णदेव राय का शासनकाल स्वर्णिम साम्राज्य के रूप में जाना जाता था क्योंकि राजा न केवल बुद्धिमान और शक्तिशाली सम्राट थे, बल्कि कला और साहित्य के संरक्षक भी थे। राजा एक योद्धा और कवि थे। उनकी रचनाएँ – जैसे महाकाव्य अमुक्तमाल्यद और संस्कृत नाटक जाम्बवती परिणयम्, आज भी प्रशंसित हैं। उनके राज दरबार में अष्टदिग्गज नामक आठ कवि थे जिन्होंने शाही काव्य में योगदान दिया। उनमें से, तेनाली रामकृष्ण एक बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति थे जो असाध्य समस्याओं का समाधान प्रदान करने के लिए प्रसिद्ध थे।
एक बार राजा अपनी पत्नी थिरुमालम्बल से एक छोटी सी बात पर नाराज़ हो गए। रानी ने तेनाली से मदद मांगी और उन्हें मामला बताया। राजा ने एक कविता की रचना की थी और उसे अपने दरबारियों को सुनाने में असफल रहे। इसलिए उन्होंने रानी से मुलाकात की। वह दिन भर के काम के कारण थकी हुई थीं और कई बार जम्हाई ले रही थीं। राजा ने इसे अपना अनादर समझा और चले गए। उन्होंने इस छोटी सी बात पर उनसे बात करना बंद कर दिया। तेनाली ने एक योजना बनाई। राजदरबार धान की पैदावार बढ़ाने के उपायों पर चर्चा कर रहा था। तेनाली धान के बीजों की एक थाली लेकर राजा के पास पहुँचा। उसने दावा किया कि ये क्रांतिकारी बीज हैं जो पैदावार को तीन गुना बढ़ा सकते हैं। दरबारियों ने उसका उपहास किया और उसका मज़ाक उड़ाया। राजा ने टिप्पणी की कि यह जोखिम भरा है क्योंकि अगर पैदावार नहीं बढ़ी तो किसान बर्बाद हो जाएँगे। तेनाली ने दावा किया कि चाल बीज बोने वाले के हाथ में है, उसे जम्हाई नहीं लेनी चाहिए, कहीं ऐसा न हो कि वह बीजों को असमान रूप से बिखेर दे। इस उल्लेख से राजा को जम्हाई आ गई और उन्हें एहसास हुआ कि साँस लेने की तरह जम्हाई लेना भी सामान्य है। इस प्रकार राजा को अपनी गलती का एहसास हुआ और उन्होंने रानी के साथ सुलह कर ली। महल के गलियारे एक बार फिर जयकारों से गूंज उठे।
Theme of the Lesson The Wit That Won Hearts
The main theme of The Wit That Won Hearts is that pride consumes one and one loses his judgement power. The king misjudged the queen’s act of yawning to be disrespect because he was proud of himself. Another theme is that sarcasm and mockery are short-lived. Genuine wit overthrows mockery. Also, humour helps in solving many problems. Tenali’s humorous nature helps him solve unsurmountable problems.
The Wit That Won Hearts Lesson Explanation
Passage: The Vijayanagara Empire was renowned for its glory, wealth, and cultural achievements. Among its many illustrious rulers, King Krishnadeva Raya (ruled 1509–29 CE) stood out as a wise and powerful monarch. His reign is often referred to as the Golden Era of the Vijayanagara Empire, a time when art, literature, and architecture flourished. A great patron of learning, Krishnadeva Raya was not only an eminent warrior but also a gifted poet. His works, such as the epic Amuktamalyada and the Sanskrit drama Jambavati Parinayam, are acclaimed even today.
Word meanings:
Empire: kingdom
renowned: well known
illustrious: respected and famous
patron: supporter
eminent: famous
Explanation of the Passage – Once upon a time, there was a prosperous kingdom – Vijayanagara which was famous. The rule of king Krishnadeva Raya from 1509 to 1529 CE was especially good because he was a powerful ruler. His rule is called the Golden era of the Vijayanagara kingdom because during his rule, there was a lot of progress in the fields of art, literature and architecture. This means that the king promoted writers, artists and builders. Also, the king was a great poet and his works – a long poem called Amultamalyada and a drama in Sanskrit language – Jambavati Parinayam are famous many years later too.
Passage: Krishnadeva Raya’s court was home to eight celebrated poets, collectively known as the Ashtadiggajas. These poets, including Allasani Peddana and Tenali Ramakrishna, enriched the literary tradition with their masterpieces. Tenali Ramakrishna, in particular, was known for his quick wit and humour, earning him a special place in the king’s court as both a poet and a witty advisor. His clever solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems made him a beloved figure in the empire’s history.
Word meanings:
Celebrated: here, famous
insurmountable: undefeatable
Beloved: dear, loved
Explanation of the Passage – The king had eight famous poets in his royal court. They were collectively called Ashtdiggajs. One of them was Allasani Peddana while another was Tenali Ramakrishna whose poetry enriched the royal literature. Tenali was famous for his intelligence and humorous nature which made him desirable and gave him a special position in the royal court.
Passage: Even the wisest rulers face moments of disharmony, and at one such time, the king had a quarrel with his queen, Thirumalambal, over a seemingly trivial matter. For weeks, he did not utter a single word to her, and in his frustration, stopped visiting her altogether. His absence cast a shadow over the palace, and the once cheerful corridors seemed quiet and forlorn.
Word meanings:
Disharmony: unpleasantness
trivial: unimportant
Frustration: a feeling of anger because you cannot get something
forlorn: lonely
Explanation of the Passage – The king was a wise ruler but at times, he also experienced unpleasantness. Once, he entered into a quarrel with queen Thirumalambal over an unimportant matter. He did not talk to her for several weeks and even stopped meeting her. The royal palace became gloomy and the corridors of the palace which used to be full of happiness, became quiet and lonely.
Passage: Thirumalambal, distraught and upset, tried her best to resolve the issue but failed. With no other alternative, she decided to seek the help of Tenali Rama, the court’s brilliant and witty poet. Rama listened patiently as the queen recounted the incident in detail.
Word meanings:
distraught: upset
Resolve: solve
Alternative: option
Seek: ask for
Explanation of the Passage – The queen felt helpless and finally, sought the help of Tenali to solve the matter. He listened to the queen’s story patiently.
Passage: “The king wrote a poem,” she began, her voice trembling. “It was filled with vague expressions—sun, moon, stars, beautiful sky—but it made no sense. When he tried reciting it to his ministers, they all avoided him, making excuses. It was late evening when he came to me, seeking an audience. He began reciting it to me, but I was so exhausted after a tiring day that I yawned— not once, but several times. The king thought I was disrespecting his poem and stormed off. Since then, he has not spoken to me. If I had known this would happen I would have chosen another day. Help me, please, Rama. Only you can help the king understand.”
Word meanings:
Voice Trembling: unstable voice, shaky
vague: unclear
Exhausted: tired
Stormed off: went away
Explanation of the Passage – Queen said in a shaky voice that the king had written a poem but it had unclear expressions referring to the sun, moon, stars and sky which made no sense. All his ministers avoided listening to him on one pretext or another. When he recited it to the queen, she who had been tired from the day’s work yawned several times. This offended the king as he felt that the queen disrespected him. He walked out of the room and stopped talking to her. The queen was sad about the incident and grieved for not opting for another day to listen the king’s poem, in case she was tired that day.Now she sought Rama’s help to make the king understand her innocence.
Passage: Rama nodded thoughtfully. “If you like, I will try my best to resolve this matter, Your Highness. But this needs a well-planned approach, and I may need time to find the right strategy.” The queen, who had placed her last hope in Rama, agreed and thanked him profusely.
Word meanings:
Approach: way to solve a problem
strategy: plan
profusely: in large amounts
Explanation of the Passage – Rama went in deep thought, thinking of a way to solve the matter. He said that he needed a well-planned way for which the queen thanked him.
Passage: The next morning, the royal court was bustling with activity. Ministers, scholars, and courtiers filled the courtroom, its intricately carved pillars towering towards the high ceiling. Rays of sunlight streamed through the open windows, illuminating the floor adorned with exquisite rugs. Despite the lively chatter, a tension hung in the air. The king sat on his ornate throne, his expression stern, his sharp eyes scanning the room. It was evident that the unresolved quarrel still gnawed at him.
Word meanings:
bustling: busy
Courtier: a person who attends the royal court as the king’s adviser or companion
intricately: in a detailed manner
exquisite: fine and attractive
Chatter: noise of men talking
tension hung in the air: there was a tense atmosphere
ornate: decorative
Stern: strict
Evident: clear
gnawed: (here) bothered
Explanation of the Passage – The next morning, the king’s court was busy with activity. There were learned men, officers and advisors. The pillars had detailed carved patterns and went up till the roof of the court. Sunlight entered through the windows and the floor which had fine carpets on it, shone in the sunlight. The noise of men talking could be heard but there was tension in the atmosphere. The king sat on his decorative throne, he had a strict expression as his sharp eyes went around the room. It was clear that the quarrel with the queen was not solved and it bothered him.
Passage: The court discussion was centred on improving paddy cultivation in the empire. One by one, the ministers rose to present their ideas. Some suggested expanding irrigation networks, while others advocated for better manure. Amid these suggestions, Tenali Rama stood quietly at the edge of the court, observing everyone with an amused smile.
Word meanings:
Paddy: rice
Rose: stood up
Edge: side
Explanation of the Passage – The topic of the day’s discussion was to improve paddy crop production. The ministers stood up and presented their suggestions of improving the irrigation facility and manure. Tenali stood at the side and observed everyone with a smile.
Passage: Finally, the king called upon Rama. The chatter in the court died down as all eyes turned to him. Rama approached the throne, carrying a plateful of paddy seeds. Bowing low, he began, “Your Majesty, I bring you a revolutionary type of paddy seeds. If these are sown, the yield will be three times greater than the current results.”
Word meanings:
Yield: production
Explanation of the Passage – The king called Rama for his suggestion, and the men stopped talking. Everyone looked at Tenali. He walked up to the king with a plate full of paddy seeds, which he claimed were a new type of seeds. He claimed that they could increase production by three times.
Passage: A murmur swept through the room. One of the courtiers, known for his sarcasm, whispered just loud enough to be heard, “I wonder if these are magic seeds! Next, he’ll claim they grow without water.” Another muttered, “Perhaps he found them on the moon!” Snickers rippled through the court.
Word meanings:
Murmur: talk in a low voice
sarcasm: mockery
Muttered: speak so slow that no one can understand it
snickers: suppressed laughter
Rippled: spread outwards like waves in water
Explanation of the Passage – The room was full of low voices as men talked in low voices. One man who was famous for his habit of making mockery of others spoke in a low voice he wondered if Rama had gotten some magic seeds. He added that next Rama would claim that they could grow without water. Another man spoke that perhaps he had found the seeds on the moon. The court was filled with suppressed laughter at Rama’s suggestion.
Passage: The king frowned, unimpressed. “That sounds absurd,” he muttered. “Such cultivation would need special soil, manure, and pest and insect repellents. If, by chance, something were to go wrong, our farmers would suffer.”
Rama smiled, unfazed. “That may be true, Your Majesty, but the real issue lies not with the seeds themselves but with the person who sows them.”
A hush fell over the court as Rama’s words hung in the air. The king’s eyebrows furrowed. “What is wrong with the person who sows the seeds? Speak clearly, Rama!” he roared.
Rama glanced around the court, his sharp gaze meeting the sceptical eyes of the courtiers. “If one were to sow seeds without proper care, no one would reap a good harvest,” he said, pausing for effect. “And what if the person had a habit of yawning while sowing? Wouldn’t the seeds scatter unevenly?”
Word meanings:
Frowned: make lines appear on the forehead to show unhappiness or anger
absurd: illogical
Repellant: a chemical substance that is used to keep insects, etc. away
unfazed: not worried
furrowed: wrinkled
sceptical: doubtful
Explanation of the Passage – The king was not impressed by Rama’s suggestion which seemed senseless. He reasoned that for such a cultivation, they required special soil, manure and repellants. In case the seeds did not give result, the poor farmers would suffer. Rama was not worried and smiled when he said that the king was right and the main concern was not with the seeds but with the person who sowed them. The king demanded clarity and Rama explained that care was required while sowing the seeds because in case the person yawned, the seeds would scatter unevenly. That would deter a good production.
Passage: The court erupted into laughter, the earlier sarcasm replaced by genuine amusement. Even the king, caught off guard, sighed and instinctively yawned. Rama watched him keenly, then continued, “Your Majesty, is there anyone in this world who does not yawn? It is as natural as breathing.”
The king’s expression shifted as realisation dawned. His mind raced back to the quarrel with the queen. He remembered scolding her harshly for yawning while he recited his poem. He realised how unfair he had been. “If I had known that yawning was not a sign of disrespect, I wouldn’t have taken her gesture so personally,” he thought, regret filling his heart.
Word meanings:
Erupted: came out
Sarcasm: the use of words or expressions to mean the opposite of what they actually say.
Genuine: true
Instinctively: something done without thinking about it
keenly: intensely
Raced back: thought of the past incident
gesture: a movement of a hand or the head, to express an idea or a meaning
Explanation of the Passage – Tenali’s words aroused great laughter in the room. The mockery was replaced by laughter at Tenali’s humour. The king had not thought of such a reasoning and so, unaware, he yawned. Tenali asked the king if there was anyone who did not yawned because it was a natural activity just like breathing. The king thought of the quarrel with the queen and felt that his anger was unreasonable because the queen’s yawning was not an indication of disrespect. He had reacted harshly and now he was sorry for it.
Passage: That evening, the king approached the queen with a softened expression. “Thirumalambal,” he began, his voice gentle, “I have been foolish. I see now that I overreacted. I let my pride blind me. I’m so sorry.”
The queen, who had longed for this moment, smiled and replied, “If you like, we can leave this quarrel behind us. I would very much like to listen to your poem.”
Rama, who had orchestrated this settlement, felt victorious. The king and the queen later presented him with valuable gifts for his service. The royal couple’s bond was restored, and the palace brimmed once again with joy and laughter.
Word meanings:
Approached: went to
orchestrated: arranged
brimmed: overflowed
Explanation of the Passage – In the evening, the king went to queen and spoke gently. He said that he had been foolish to have reacted so severely. He had been blinded by pride and was sorry for it. The queen had been waiting to meet the king. She smiled and said that they could stop discussing the incident and she wanted to listen to his poem. Rama had planned this meeting and was happy. He was successful and was presented gifts by the king and queen. The king and queen came closer and once again, the palace was full of happiness.
Conclusion
The post has the lesson explanation, word meanings and summary of the lesson ‘The Wit that won Hearts’ from the Poorvi book for students of class 8. Students can avail a quick understanding of the story with the help of this post.