CBSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

Detailed explanation-1: -Gautama Buddha asks Kisa Gotami to procure a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death has never knocked at the door.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Buddha wanted the grieving woman to learn a lesson. So, he asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a family. The mustard-seed must be taken from a house where no one had lost a child, a husband or a friend.

Detailed explanation-3: -She was ordered to fetch a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had died when she met the Buddha. He did this on purpose to show her that there isn’t a single house without a deceased loved one and that death is a natural part of life.

Detailed explanation-4: -She reached Buddha, he asked her to get a handful of mustard seeds. She was glad that these would save her son. He added a condition that the seeds should be from such a house that has not lost a child, husband, parent or friend.

Detailed explanation-5: -Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustardseed; take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, “Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many.