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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 The Sermon At Benares

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The Sermon at Benares Question Answers FREE PDF Download

The Sermon at Benares Class 10 is an intellectual tale about lord Gautama Buddha and his preachings that inculcate selflessness, world values, and emotional wealth. Through the chapter, the author conveys the teachings of Buddha about mortality, life, and serenity. 

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Vedantu provides comprehensive NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8, The Sermon at Benares (Questions and Answers). These solutions are compiled by master teachers and subject matter experts with years of experience in dealing with the CBSE syllabus. They are regularly updated to comply with CBSE Class 10 English syllabus.


Glance on Chapter 8: The Sermon at Benares Class 10 English

  • Born as Prince Siddhārtha Gautama in North India, he led a protected royal life until he encountered the world's sufferings.

  • During a hunting trip, Siddhārtha saw an old man, a sick man, a funeral procession, and a monk, which deeply moved him and led him to renounce his royal life in search of enlightenment.

  • After seven years of seeking, Siddhārtha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree and became known as Buddha. He started preaching his newfound wisdom.

  • Buddha delivered his first sermon in Benares, where he shared his teachings on suffering and enlightenment.

  • In one of his sermons, Buddha narrated the story of Kisa Gotami, who, in her grief over her dead son, sought a cure from Buddha. 

  • He directed her to find mustard seeds from a family untouched by death, making her realise the universality of mortality.

  • Kisa Gotami's search made her understand that death is inevitable and common to all, teaching her the lesson of accepting the natural cycle of life and death.

  • Buddha emphasised that understanding and accepting the natural cycle of life and death can alleviate suffering and grief, promoting a happier and more content life.

Access NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8 Question Answers – The Sermon at Benares

1. When Her Son Dies, Kisa Gotami Goes From House to House. What Does She Ask For? Does She Get It? Why Not?

Ans: When Kisa Gotami's kid died, she travelled from house to house, asking for medicine to cure her child. No, she did not receive it since her child had died and no amount of medicine could have revived him.


2. Kisa Gotami Again Goes From House to House After She Speaks With the Buddha. What Does She Ask for, the Second Time Around? Does She Get It? Why Not?

Ans: When she first saw the Buddha, he told her to go find a home where no one had lost a child, husband, parent, or friend and pick a handful of mustard seeds. She went from house to house looking for mustard seeds, but she couldn't find any because no one in the family had died.


3. What Does Kisa Gotami Understand the Second Time That She Failed To Understand the First Time? Was This What the Buddha Wanted Her To Understand?

Ans: The second time around, Kisa Gotami realized that death is universal and that she was being selfish in her mourning. There was no home where a loved one had not passed away. Yes, the Buddha intended for her to comprehend this.


4. Why Do You Think Kisa Gotami Understood This Only the Second Time? In What Way Did the Buddha Change Her Understanding?

Ans: Kisa Gotami realized that death affects everyone and that her grieving was selfish. She only realized this the second time because she discovered that there was not a single home where someone she loved had not died. She was just thinking about her grief the first time around, so she asked for a treatment that would cure her son. 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. When she returned to all of the residences for the second time, she was disappointed that she had not been able to collect the mustard seeds. Then, as she sat and pondered the situation, she recognized that men's fate is such that they live and die. For everyone, death is an unavoidable reality. This was the message the Buddha wanted her to receive.


5. How Do You Usually Understand the Idea of ‘Selfishness? Do You Agree With Kisa Gotami That She Was Being ’Selfish in Her Grief’?

Ans: Selfishness is a concern with the words "I," "myself," and "mine." Kisa Gotami couldn't bear to think about other people's sorrows. It's natural to be saddened by the death of someone close to you. However, the majority of individuals continue to carry out their next duty, which is to perform proper last rituals for the deceased. People rarely carry a dead body in the belief that something miraculous will happen to it. In times of loss, family, and society always come to the aid of the bereaved. However, life carries on after that. Kisa Gotami, on the other hand, was so consumed by her grief that she forgot about the living members of her family and society.


6. This Text Is Written in an Old-Fashioned Style, for It Reports an Incident More Than Two Millennia Old. Look for the Following Words and Phrases in the Text, and Try to Rephrase Them in the More Current Language, Based on How You Understand Them.

(i) Give thee medicine for thy child
Ans: Give you medicine for your child

(ii) Pray tell me
Please tell me

(iii) Kisa repaired to the Buddha
Kisa went to the Buddha

(iv) There was no house but someone had died in it
There was no house where no one had died

(v) Kinsmen
Relatives

(vi) Mark!
Listen


7. You Know That We Can Combine Sentences Using Words Like and, or, But, Yet, and Then. But Sometimes No Such Word Seems Appropriate. In Such a Case ‘Was’ Can Use a Semicolon (;) or a Dash (−) To Combine Two Clauses.

She Has No Interest in Music; I Doubt She Will Become a Singer Like Her Mother.

The Second Clause Here Gives the Speaker’s Opinion on the First Clause.

Here is a Sentence From the Text That Uses Semicolons To Combine Clauses. Break Up the Sentence Into Three Simple Sentences. Can You Then Say Which Has a Better Rhythm When You Read It, the Single Sentence Using Semicolons, or the Three Simple Sentence?

For There is Not Any Means by Which Those Who Have Been Born Can Avoid Dying; After Reaching Old Age There Is Death; of Such a Nature Are Living Beings.

Ans: The cadence of the single phrase with semicolons is superior. This is because the meanings of the three components of the statement are intertwined. The first clause is expanded upon in the second clause. The third clause is inextricably linked to the first and second clauses. When semicolons are used to connect them, their meanings are better expressed.


Benefits of Class 10 English Chapter 8 The Sermon at Benares Questions and Answers

  • NCERT Solutions to The Sermon at Benares Questions and Answers are prepared and compiled by master teachers with years of experience in the CBSE syllabus. This ensures the accuracy and authenticity of the solutions.

  • Solutions to The Sermon at Benares Question Answers are provided in simple and easy-to-understand language while retaining the tone and values highlighted in the chapter. This helps students easily grasp the chapter.

  • The Class 10 English Chapter 8 Question Answers are all in one place and are sure to appear in the examinations. Students, therefore, need not look through different sources for an assured array of solutions.

  • The Sermon at Benares Class 10 solutions are available to download for FREE in PDF Format for students to access and study anywhere, anytime, on the go.


Conclusion

The Sermon at Benaras Class 10 is an eye-opening chapter about the teachings of Lord Siddharata Gautam or ‘Buddha’. The chapter highlights the focus extract points from his Sermon or lecture at the holy city of Benaras. This sermon is his first one, where he tells the story of a woman who loses a loved one and moves heaven and earth in search of an ailment to bring him back. Gautam Buddha, through his wisdom and wit, teaches a lesson to the woman, Kisa Gotami, that humans are mortal, and death is a part of life. Vedantu offers complete, comprehensive NCERT Solutions for The Sermon at Benares Question Answer compiled by top master teachers. These solutions are updated for the latest syllabus and are guaranteed to take you a leap closer to achieving your examinations.


Related Study Materials for NCERT Class 10 English Chapter 8

Students can also download additional study materials provided by Vedantu for Class 10 English, Chapter 8–

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Study Material Links for NCERT Class 10 English Chapter 8

1.

Chapter 8 - The Sermon At Benares Notes

2.

Chapter 8 - The Sermon At Benares Important Questions


NCERT Solutions for First Flight Class 10 English

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FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 The Sermon At Benares

1. What are NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8 The Sermon at Benares?

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8 provide stepwise, CBSE-compliant answers to all textbook questions from "The Sermon at Benares." These solutions help students grasp the story's events and Lord Buddha's teachings, ensuring clear understanding and exam readiness as per the 2025–26 CBSE syllabus.

2. How do the NCERT Solutions for The Sermon at Benares help students in exams?

  • They offer clear, step-by-step answers aligned with CBSE marking schemes.
  • Clarify difficult concepts and themes, especially Buddha’s perspective on suffering and mortality.
  • Prepare students for typical CBSE question types – factual, inferential, and conceptual.

3. How should students approach answer writing for Chapter 8 The Sermon at Benares in CBSE exams?

Students should follow the CBSE answer structure: introduce the main idea, support with specific textual examples (such as Kisa Gotami’s journey), and conclude by connecting with the values Buddha taught. Always address ‘why’ and ‘how’ parts for extra credibility.

4. What is the significance of Kisa Gotami’s story in The Sermon at Benares according to NCERT Solutions?

Kisa Gotami’s story is central to illustrating Buddha’s core teaching that death is inevitable. Her search for mustard seeds from a household untouched by death helps her – and the reader – understand that suffering is universal, which is a key CBSE exam point.

5. How are CBSE pattern long answer questions on The Sermon at Benares usually structured?

CBSE long answer questions expect students to:

  • Explain Buddha’s philosophy using Kisa Gotami’s example
  • Discuss the universality of death and the way to overcome grief
  • Use relevant quotations or key phrases from the text for higher marks

6. According to NCERT Solutions, what values does Buddha highlight in his sermon at Benares?

Buddha emphasises serenity, compassion, detachment, and acceptance of life’s natural cycle. The NCERT Solutions guide students to explain these values with examples from Kisa Gotami’s transformation.

7. What is a common CBSE exam misconception about the lesson The Sermon at Benares?

Many students think the lesson is only about the story of Kisa Gotami, but exam answers must link her experience to Buddha’s larger message on suffering. Focus on universal themes, not just the narrative events.

8. How does The Sermon at Benares Chapter 8 connect with real-life situations, as per NCERT Solutions?

NCERT Solutions encourage students to apply Buddha's lesson of accepting loss and mortality to their own experiences of grief, promoting empathy and emotional resilience. This connection is valued in CBSE HOTS questions.

9. What answer structure is recommended for ‘value-based’ questions from The Sermon at Benares, Class 10?

Begin by defining the value (e.g., empathy), use examples from Buddha's sermon or Kisa Gotami's actions, and describe its importance in modern life. Always reflect on how the text teaches the value, following CBSE’s value-based answer pattern.

10. What does the Buddha’s instruction to Kisa Gotami mean as per the NCERT Solutions for Chapter 8?

Buddha’s instruction—that Kisa Gotami should find mustard seeds from a house untouched by death—symbolises that grief is universal and no one is immune to loss. The lesson is to accept mortality and ease suffering through understanding.

11. How did meeting the Buddha change Kisa Gotami’s understanding of sorrow, in light of NCERT Solutions?

Kisa Gotami realised that sorrow is a shared human experience after failing to find a household without death. Buddha’s teachings shifted her perspective from personal grief to universal acceptance, which is central for CBSE analytical questions.

12. What is the relevance of the chapter’s language style as highlighted in NCERT Solutions?

The old-fashioned language reflects the story’s ancient origins. NCERT Solutions often rephrase archaic expressions into modern English (e.g., ‘Give thee medicine’ becomes ‘Give you medicine’) so students can comprehend and use appropriate language in their exam answers.

13. Can you list key terms from The Sermon at Benares and their meaning for CBSE exams?

  • Serenity: calmness of mind
  • Detachment: not clinging to worldly things or sorrows
  • Enlightenment: understanding the truth about life and death
  • Mortality: the inevitability of death

14. What should students avoid while answering CBSE questions on The Sermon at Benares, Class 10?

Students should avoid summarising the story only without mentioning Buddha’s message or the universal lesson. No marks are awarded for vague or incomplete answers; always relate Kisa Gotami’s experience to the broader themes required by the CBSE syllabus.

15. How can NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8 be used for last-minute revision?

  • Review key solutions and sample answers given for all textual and value-based questions
  • Revisit the main themes: suffering, universality of death, and acceptance
  • Practise how to frame concise, CBSE-ready answers using points provided in official NCERT Solutions