Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Questions and Answers & Summary

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Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary, Questions and Answers

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Write a critical appreciation of Tagore’s Abhisara – the Tryst.
Answer:
Abhisara – the Tryst is the translated version of his Sanyasi Upagupta, which Tagore himself translated in English in 1916. The poem is about Upagupta a Buddhist monk and a courtesan named Vasavadatta who stand as a sharp contrast to each other all because of their contrasting nature.

While Vasavadatta stands as a potential symbol of youth, glamour and elegance, Upagupta is the symbol of simplicity and selflessness. Tagore intends to establish that youth and pomp are ephemeral and all that is valued in the world is love and care advocated by Upagupta.

Abhisara – the Tryst begins when monsoon hits Mathura. A Buddhist monk, Upagupta is found sleeping on the dusty pavements near the city wall of Mathura. The street lamps are out. The doors are locked as people inside are in profound sleep.

The stars in the sky are capped in the clouds of August and silence reigns everywhere. Vasavadatta a courtesan, breaks the silence with her tinkling anklets and wakes Upagupta as she bumps on his breast.

Lowering her lamps, she discovers the saintly face of Upagupta which overwhelms her. She begs forgiveness for her unintentional bump with the sage and Courteously invites Upagupta in her house. The dusty pavement is after all not “a fit bed” for him.

Upagupta denies coming with her but vows come to her only “when the time is ripe”. The sky is instantly – blazed with furious thunderstorms, terrorizing the courtesan with some unknown threat. She hurries back home while lightening continues growing violent in the sky.

Spring arrives meanwhile. The world around looks colourful with flowers on the branches of the roadside trees. Sweet melodies of flute are audible from a far distance. Upagupta the young hermit-strolls alone through deserted streets before stopping at the base of the city wall. A woman is found lying in the shade of the mango grove.

Upagupta recognizes her. She is Vasavadatta, banished by the city folk because of contracting a deadly plague. Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm.

Feeling better the woman asks who he is. Upagupta reminds her that the time has come at last to meet Vasavadatta and that he is here. The bounteous heart of Upagupta is established as he nurses Vasavadata when people banished her due to fear of contagion.

Question 2.
Abhisara – the Tryst is a poem which spreads the message of love and compassion. Discuss with close reference to the poem.
Answer:
Abhisara – the Tryst advocates the ‘idea that love and compassion are all that the world needs particularly when in trouble like Vasavadatta, the courtesan of Mathura. Vasavadatta however is the symbol of pomp and pride which are of ephemeral nature. The society which she entertains finally ostracizes her when plague hits her badly.

Upagupta, a Buddhist monk only stays beside her. His compassion shows the world that love and care have magical power to heal even a perilous disease like plague. While Upagupta stands as a symbol of humanity, the society of Vasavadatta is a potential symbol of inhumanity and selfishness. Here lies the difference between the world of an ascetic and the world driven by materialistic pleasure.

For the first time, Vasavadatta meets Upagupta on the dusty pavement where the hermit was sleeping. She wakes him up with her unintentional bump in his breast. Instead of being annoyed, Upagupta continues staring at her with compassion. The courtsan is at once moved by the polite gesture of the hermit and courteously invites him in her house.

She says that the dusty pavement is not a “fit bed” for Upagupta. But, Upagupta turns down her invitation saying that he will come to her when the time is ripe. Terror strikes in the heart of Vasavadatta who hurries back to home while lightening continues growing violent in the sky. The second meeting establishes the bounteous heart of Upagupta.

While wandering through the deserted streets, Upagupta discovers Vasavadatta lying in the shades of mango grove. Plague has almost ruined her youth. The townsfolk whom she once entertained with her dance have thrown her out due to fear of contagion. Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap, gives her water to wet her lips, cleans her sores and smears her body with sandal wood balm.

Feeling better, Vasavadatta demands to know that who is the “merciful one” that nurses her when the world has ostracized her. Upagupta replies that the time has come at last to meet her again and that he is here. Tagore intends to show that the unkind human world badly needs the lesson of humanity which Upagupta tutors through his care for the sick and infirm Vasavadatta.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
With close reference to the text describe the character of Upagupta.
Answer:
Upagupta is a Buddhist monk, revered even by Emperor Ashoka. He is found sleeping on the dusty pavement near the city wall of Mathura. Upagupta’s benevolence is established towards the end of the poem when he rescues the courtesan named Vasavadatta.

Infected with deadly plague, Vasavadatta is found lying in the shade of the mango grove as she is banished by the townsfolk because of the fear of contagion. Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm. Feeling better the woman asks who he is. Upagupta reminds her that the time has come at last to meet Vasavadatta again and that he is here.

The first meeting occurred in the month of August when Vasavadatta courteously invites the morrk to come to her house finding him resting on the dusty pavement. Upagupta is thus, endowed with divine power which aids him to foresee the danger in Vasavadatta’s life. He keeps his words and establishes his bounteous heart once he nurses Vasavadata with love and care.

Question 2.
With close reference to the poem describe the character of Vasavadatta.
Answer:
Vasavadatta is a beautiful young “dancing girl” who experiences a reversal of fortune towards the end of the poem. Dressed in blue shawl she looks elegant with jewels studded all over her body. Her courteous nature is established once she bumps on Upagupta’s breast and instantly begs forgiveness.

Even she invites Upagupta in her house as the dusty pavement is not “a fit bed” for him. Upagupta’s avowal that he will meet her only when the “time is ripe” strikes terror in her heart and she instantly disappears while lightening continues growing violent in the sky.

In the spring Vasavadatta is again found. She is now banished by the cityfolk whom she once entertained. Infected with deadly plague, Vasavadatta is left alone in the shade of the mango grove where Upagupta shows up before her. He puts her forehead on his lap, gives her water to wet her lipsy cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm.

Feeling better, Vasavadatta demands to know that who is the “merciful one” that nurses her when the world has ostracized her. Upagupta replies that the time has come at last to meet Vasavadatta again and that he is here. Vasavadatta’s story counsels us that youth and pomp are ephemeral and all that is valued in the world is love and care, advocated by Upagupta.

Question 3.
Describe the first meeting between Upagupta and the young dancing girl, Vasavadatta.
Answer:
The first meeting between Upagupta and Vasavadatta occurs when the city of Mathura was hit by monsoon. It was a dark night. The stars in the sky were capped in the clouds of August. The street lights were off and the people were locked in their room. Upagupta was sleeping on the dusty pavements near the city wall of Mathura.

While heading towards home, a city dancer named Vasavadatta bumps on with the breast of Upagupta. Lowering her lamps, she discovers the saintly face of Upagupta which overwhelms her. She begs forgiveness for her unintentional bump with the sage and courteously invites Upagupta in her house. The dusty pavement is after all not “a fit bed” for him. Upagupta denies coming with her but vows come to her only “when the time is ripe”. The sky blazed with furious thunderstorm, and Vasavadatta hurries back home terrified with sage’s prophesy.

Question 4.
Describe the sencond meeting between Upagupta and the young dancing girl, Vasavadatta.
Answer:
The second meeting between Upagupta and Vasavadatta occurs when the city of Mathura was hit by the boisterous spring. Colourful flowers bloomed on the branches of the roadside trees and the melody of flute came floating by in the evening from a far distance. The moon overhead illumed the lonely streets where Upagupta was seen waking alone amidst the love-sick tunes of koels.

Suddenly he discovered Vasavadatta lying in the shade of the mango grove. Because of contracting a dangerous plague, the townsfolk had banished her due to fear of contagion. But Upagupta however keeps his words.

Sitting beside the ailing dancer, he puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm. Finally he reminds Vasavadatta that the time at last has come to meet her and that he is here.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Question 1.
Upagupta is the disciple of ………….
a. Lord Shiva
b. Lord Vishnu
c. Lord Buddha
d. Lord Brahma
Answer:
c. Lord Buddha

Question 2.
In which city was Upagupta found sleeping?
a. Lucknow
b. Varanasi
c. Gaya
d. Mathura
Answer:
d. Mathura

Question 3.
It was the month of when Upagupta was found sleeping
a. September
b. August
c. April
d. Mayz
Answer:
b. August

Question 4.
Whose feet touched the breast of Upagupta?
a. A young man
b. A young boy
c. A girl named Vasavadatta
d. An old lady
Answer:
c. A girl named Vasavadatta

Question 5.
Who was Vasavadatta?
a. A priest
b. A singer
c. A dancer
d. A painter
Answer:
c. A dancer

Question 6.
How did Vasavadatta see the face of Upagupta?
a. In faint moonlight
b. In broad daylight
c. By thelight of stars
d. By lowering her lamp
Answer:
d. By lowering her lamp

Question 7.
What did Vasavadatta offer to Upagupta?
a. Food
b. Cloth
c. To come to her house and rest
d. Water
Answer:
c. To come to her house and rest.

Question 8.
When does Upagupta promise to come to Vasavadatta?
a. In autumn
b. The next year
c. When the time will ripe
d. In summer
Answer:
c. When the time will ripe

Question 9.
Why did Vasavadatta tremble hearing Upagupta’s promise?
a. Because it started raining suddenly
b. Because of sudden thunder and lightening
c. Because she anticipated some dreadful event in her life
d. Because she was in doubt whether Upagupta would keep his words
Answer:
c. Because she anticipated some dreadful event in her life

Question 10.
Name the two months mentioned in the poem
a. April and June
b. March and April
c. April and May
d. April and August
Answer:
d. April and August

Question 11.
What happens to Vasavadatta towards the end of the poem?
a. She dies
b. She was caught with plague
c. She was in debt
d. She disappeared from the town
Answer:
b. She was caught with plague

Question 12.
What does Upagupta do finding Vasavadatta lying.
a. He ran away
b. He nursed her
c. He called people around
d. He cried
Answer:
b. He nursed her

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Introduction

Tagore’s Abhisara – the Tryst is the translated version of his Sanyasi Upagupta, which first appeared in a collection of verses named Fruit Gathering. The poem was translated in English by Tagore himself In 1916. Upagupta a Buddhist monk, revered even by Emperor Ashoka, accidentally meets a dancer named Vasavadatta and vows that he will meet her again when actually she needs him.

The monk reappears at the time of perilous plague and nurses the dancer with compassion, when she is ostracized from the society. Upagupta’s righteousness, his simplicity and selflessness is a sheer contrast to the pomp and elegance of Vasavadatta, the beautiful dancer.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Summary

Amidst pitch-black darkness Upagupta, a Buddhist monk is found sleeping on the dusty pavements near the city wall of Mathura. The street lamps are out. The doors are locked with people inside, enjoying profound sleep. The stars in the sky are capped in clouds of August and silence reigns all around. The tinkling of the anklets breaks the silence of the night as a courtesan tiptoes on the street. She is Vasavadatta a beautiful young girl who bumps on the breast of Upagupta and wakes him up.

Upagupta is at once shocked but, remains calm with his merciful eyes fixed on Vasavadatta. The young courtesan is dressed in blue shawl and studded with jewels. It seems as if she is drenched in youth as she looks remarkably beautiful.

Vasavadatta lowers her lamp and discovers the saintly face of Upagupta. She is overwhelmed and begs forgiveness for her unintentional bump with the sage. Courteously she invites the monk in her house as the dusty pavement is not worth for him to sleep. Upagupta turns down the offer but, vows to come to her only when the time comes. The sky is suddenly blazed with furious thunderstorm, terrorizing the courtesan with some unknown threat. She hurries back home while lightening continues growing violent in the sky.

Mean while, spring arrives and the world around becomes colourful with flowers grown on the branches of the roadside trees. The April nights are glorified by the sweet melodies of distant flutes. People are all gathered in the nearby forest to enjoy the flower festival. The moon overhead showers its rays upon the empty – streets where Upagupta, the young hermit walks alone amidst the love-sick tunes of koels from the mango grove. -Upagupta stops at the foot of the city wall.

He finds a woman lying in the shade of the mango grove. The woman contracted a dangerous plague that leaves scars all over her body. She is banished from the city for fear of contagion. Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm. Feeling better the woman asks who he is. Upagupta reminds her that the time has come at last to meet her and that he is here.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Paraphrase

Lines 1 to 4:

Lines 5 to 10:

The tinkling of the anklets breaks the silence of the night as a courtesan tiptoes on the street. She is Vasavadatta a beautiful young girl who bumps on the breast of Upagupta and wakes him up. Upagupta is shocked at once but, remains calm with his merciful eyes fixed on Vasavadatta. The young courtesan is dressed in blue shawl and studded with jewels. It seems as if she is drenched in youth as she looks remarkably beautiful.

Lines 11 to 16:

Vasavadatta lowers her lamp and discovers the saintly face of Upagupta. She is s overwhelmed and begs forgiveness for her unintentional. bump with the sage. Courteously she invites the monk in her house as the dusty pavement is not worth for him to sleep.

Upagupta at once turns down the offer but, vows to come to her only when the time comes. The sky is suddenly blazed with a furious thunder storm terrorizing the courtesan with some unknown threat. She hurries back home while lightening continues growing violent in the sky.

Lines 17 to 21:

Spring arrives and the world around ‘ becomes colourful with flowers, grown on the branches of the roadside trees. The April nights are glorified by the sweet melody of the flute, audible from a far distance. People are all gathered in the nearby forest to enjoy the flower festival. The moon overhead showers its rays upon the empty streets where Upagupta, the young hermit walks alone amidst the love-sick tunes of koels; from the mango grove.

Lines 22 to 32:

Upagupta stops at the foot of the city wall. He finds a woman lying in the shade of the mango grove. The woman contracted a dangerous plague that leaves scars all over her body. She is banished from the, city for fear of contagion.

Upagupta sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap and gives her water to wet her lips. He then cleans her sores and smears her body with „ sandalwood balm. Feeling better the woman asks who he is. Upagupta reminds her that the time has come at last to meet Vasavadatta and that he is here.

Abhisara-The Tryst Poem Annotations with Comments

Lines 1 to 8

disciple : follower
murky : gloomy
tinkling : soft sound made by tiny bells
anklets : Ghungroos, an ornament worn round an ankle
startles: surprised
forgiving: tender and loving

Lines 9 to 16

starred : decorated
clouded covered
mantle : shawl
wine of her youth : refers to her youthful beauty. This is an example of metaphoro
austerely : severely simple
ascetic : monk
graciously : kindly
dusty earth : the dusty pavement
time is ripe : time will come
showed its teeth : broke into lightning

Lines 17 to 35:

growled : to snarl (as if the terrible sound of storm validates the monk’s prediction
aching : bending over by the weight of fruits and flowers
gay : happy
afar : far
gazed : looked down
plaint : complain
rampart : structure
pestilence : plague
driven away : thrown away, ostracized
moistened : wetted
smeared : applied
merciful : kind at heart

Comment:

The time, at last, has come to visit you: The prediction of the ascetic finally comes true. As the time is ripe now, Upagupta shows up before Vasavadatta to save her from dying a horrible death. Patiently he sits beside her, puts her forehead on his lap, gives her water to wet her lips, cleans her sores and smears her body with sandalwood balm. Upagupta’s benevolence is established as he nurses a woman whom all have abandoned due to fear of contagion.