# A Bottle of Dew

## Overview

The story "A Bottle of Dew" is a folktale that teaches the value of hard work through the journey of a man named Rama Natha, who seeks a magical potion to turn things into gold. Instead, he discovers the real magic lies in consistent effort and dedication. The tale is both humorous and wise, ending with a surprising and meaningful lesson.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Rama Natha's Belief in Magic

* Rama Natha, a wealthy landlord's son, wastes time and money looking for a magical potion that turns anything into gold.
* He ignores his vast land, chasing illusions.
* His wife, Madhumati, worries about their future.

### 2. The Sage and the Dew

* A sage named Mahipati claims to know how to make the magic potion.
* He instructs Rama Natha to plant banana trees, water them daily, and collect dew drops from their leaves during winter.
* Only dew collected by Rama Natha’s own hands would work, and five litres were required.

### 3. Years of Labour

* Rama Natha and Madhumati begin working hard on the barren land.
* They plant banana trees, collect dew every winter, and sell bananas in the market.
* After six years, Rama Natha finally collects five litres of dew.

### 4. The Truth Revealed

* Rama Natha gives the dew to the sage, who chants over it and returns it.
* When Rama Natha tests it, nothing happens.
* The sage reveals it was a trick to teach him that hard work, not magic, creates wealth.
* Madhumati shows the gold coins earned from selling bananas.

### 5. Realization and Transformation

* Rama Natha understands the lesson and starts valuing hard work.
* He continues farming, now with new wisdom and dedication.

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## New Words and Definitions (Simple English)

| Word | Meaning in Simple English |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Potion | A magical liquid |
| Dew | Water drops formed on leaves in the morning |
| Chant | To say or sing something repeatedly |
| Plantation | A large area where crops are grown |
| Sage | A wise old man |
| Muttered | Spoke in a quiet and unclear voice |
| Precious | Very valuable |
| Wisdom | Deep understanding and knowledge from experience |
| Tracts | Large areas of land |
| Tend/Tended | To care for or look after something |

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## Keywords (English and Hindi)

| English | Hindi (हिन्दी) |
| ------------ | ------------------- |
| hard work | कठिन परिश्रम |
| magic potion | जादुई औषधि |
| banana plant | केले का पौधा |
| dew | ओस |
| wealth | संपत्ति |
| sage | साधु |
| trick | चाल / तरकीब |
| realization | समझ / आत्मबोध |
| farming | खेती |
| wisdom | ज्ञान / बुद्धिमत्ता |

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## Practice Questions

### 🟢 Easy (3)

1. **Who was Rama Natha?**
→ He was the son of a rich landlord.

2. **What did Rama Natha believe in?**
→ He believed in a magic potion that could turn anything into gold.

3. **What did the sage ask Rama Natha to collect?**
→ The sage asked him to collect five litres of dew.

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### 🟡 Medium (2)

4. **Why was Madhumati worried?**
→ She was worried because Rama Natha was wasting all their money chasing the potion.

5. **How did the sage trick Rama Natha into working?**
→ The sage told him that collecting dew from banana leaves would make the potion, knowing it would take years and lead Rama Natha to work.

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### 🔵 Difficult (3)

6. **What transformation took place in Rama Natha's life?**
→ He changed from a lazy dreamer to a hardworking farmer who earned wealth through farming.

7. **Why didn’t the copper vessel turn into gold?**
→ Because there was no real magic potion; it was a lesson to show that hard work creates wealth, not magic.

8. **What role did Madhumati play in their success?**
→ She helped in the field, harvested bananas, and sold them in the market to earn money.

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### 🔴 Very Difficult (2)

9. **Do you think the sage was right in tricking Rama Natha? Why or why not?**
→ Yes, because it helped Rama Natha realize the value of effort and changed his life for the better.

10. **What lesson does this story teach about belief and effort?**
→ It teaches that while belief can give hope, only sincere and continuous effort leads to real success and wealth.

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