CBSE Class 6 English A Pact With The Sun Chapter 3 The Shepherd's Treasure NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by · Updated on

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 6 PDF

CBSE Class 6 English 'A Pact With The Sun' Chapter 3, 'The Shepherd's Treasure,' narrates the inspiring journey of a wise and honest shepherd. The story unfolds as the King of Iran, impressed by the shepherd's intelligence, appoints him as a governor. This elevation, however, sparks envy among the other governors, who plot against him. The chapter beautifully illustrates how the shepherd, despite his newfound position, remains humble and resourceful. His true character is tested and ultimately revealed through a seemingly ordinary iron chest, which holds a profound secret. The NCERT Solutions for this chapter guide students through the plot, character development, and the underlying moral lessons. They emphasize the significance of integrity, wisdom, and humility, offering valuable insights for comprehension and exam preparation.

Home

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 6
SubjectA Pact With The Sun
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter3. The Shepherd's Treasure

Chapter summary

Chapter 3, 'The Shepherd's Treasure,' focuses on a story of a wise and humble shepherd who gains recognition from the King of Iran. The NCERT Solutions cover his background, his interactions with the king, his appointment as a governor, and the jealousy he faced. The solutions explain the significance of the iron chest and the shepherd's true intentions, reinforcing themes of wisdom, humility, and integrity. This chapter's exercises help students analyze character, understand plot, and appreciate the story's moral lessons.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the story of the humble shepherd and his rise to governorship.
  • Analyze the reasons behind the other governors' jealousy.
  • Explain the significance of the iron chest and its contents.
  • Identify the qualities of wisdom and humility demonstrated by the shepherd.
  • Appreciate the importance of honesty and integrity in achieving success.
  • Comprehend the king's decision to reward the shepherd.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • The Shepherd's background and poverty
  • The King of Iran's visit
  • The shepherd's wisdom and common sense
  • Appointment as governor
  • Jealousy of other governors
  • False accusations of dishonesty
  • The iron chest and its contents
  • The shepherd's humility
  • The shepherd's wisdom
  • The king's reward and promotion
  • Themes of honesty and integrity
  • Moral of the story

Important topics

  • The shepherd's wisdom despite lack of education
  • The significance of the iron chest and the blanket
  • The contrast between the shepherd's humility and the other governors' jealousy
  • The king's judgment and reward
  • The moral of the story: honesty and wisdom are valuable assets

PDF preview

Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.

Loading document …
Page of
Loading page …

Questions and Solutions

Question 1

The shepherd hadn't been to school because:
  1. he was very poor.
  2. there were very few schools in those days.
  3. he wasn't interested in studies.

Choose the right answer.

Solution: The correct option is (ii) because there were very few schools in those days. The story implies that the lack of educational facilities was the primary reason the shepherd could not attend school, rather than poverty or lack of interest.

Question 2

Who visited the shepherd one day, and why?
Solution: One day, the King of Iran visited the shepherd. The king had heard about the shepherd's great wisdom and how he helped people solve their problems with courage and common sense, even though he was poor and uneducated. Intrigued by these stories, the king decided to visit the shepherd himself, disguised as a common shepherd riding on a mule, to see if the tales were true.

Question 3

Why did the other governors grow jealous of the shepherd?
Solution: The other governors grew jealous of the shepherd when he was appointed the governor of a small province. Despite his new position and dignity, the shepherd remained humble and kind. His fairness, wisdom, and compassionate nature earned him the love and respect of the people, and his fame spread throughout the country. This popularity and recognition, which they felt they deserved, made the other governors envious.

Question 4

Why was the new governor called to the palace?
Solution: The jealous governors spread false rumors about the new shepherd-governor, accusing him of dishonesty. They told the king that the governor secretly stored the tax money he collected in an iron chest that he always carried with him. The king, tired of these persistent accusations, decided to investigate the matter himself and summoned the governor to the palace to uncover the truth behind these claims.

Question 5

Why was everyone delighted to see the iron chest on the camel's back?
  1. (i) What did the iron chest contain?
  2. Why did the shepherd always carry it?
  3. Is it an example of the shepherd's humility or wisdom or both?
Solution:

(i) The iron chest contained an old blanket. The jealous governors had falsely assumed it held gold, silver, or jewels.

(ii) The shepherd always carried the blanket with him because it was his oldest and most trusted friend. He knew it would provide him with warmth and comfort if, at any point, the king decided to dismiss him from his post and take away his power and authority.

(iii) This is an example of both the shepherd's humility and his wisdom. His humility is shown by his continued attachment to his simple, old blanket, even after becoming a governor. His wisdom is evident in his foresight and preparedness for any eventuality, ensuring he would not be left without basic necessities.

Question 6

How did the king reward the new governor?
Solution: The king was highly impressed and pleased with the governor's profound humility and practical wisdom, as demonstrated by the contents of the iron chest. Recognizing his true character and integrity, the king rewarded him with a significant promotion, appointing him as the governor of a much larger province on that very day.

Common mistakes

  • Misinterpreting the contents of the iron chest.
  • Underestimating the shepherd's wisdom due to his lack of formal education.
  • Failing to recognize the dual nature of the shepherd's humility and wisdom.
  • Confusing the reasons for the king summoning the governor.

Revision tips

  • Reread the story focusing on the shepherd's actions and the king's reactions.
  • Pay close attention to the description and purpose of the iron chest.
  • Discuss the shepherd's character traits with a study partner.
  • Summarize the story in your own words to check comprehension.
  • Consider the moral of the story and how it applies to real life.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why did the shepherd not attend school?

Q2. Who visited the shepherd disguised as a fellow shepherd?

Q3. What quality of the shepherd impressed the king?

Q4. Why did the other governors become jealous of the shepherd?

Q5. What did the jealous governors accuse the new governor of?

Q6. What was actually inside the iron chest?

Q7. Why did the shepherd carry the iron chest with him?

Q8. How did the king reward the shepherd governor?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main story of 'The Shepherd's Treasure'?

The story is about a poor but wise shepherd who is appointed governor by the King of Iran. Despite facing jealousy and false accusations from other governors, his honesty and wisdom, symbolized by an old blanket in an iron chest, are revealed, leading to his promotion.

Why is the shepherd's wisdom important in this chapter?

The shepherd's wisdom is crucial as it is his primary quality that attracts the king's attention and leads to his rise in position. It shows that true wisdom comes from understanding and common sense, not just formal education.

What does the iron chest represent?

The iron chest represents the shepherd's humility and his practical wisdom. It contains an old blanket, symbolizing his simple origins and serving as a reminder of his past and a safeguard against potential future hardship.

How do the NCERT Solutions for this chapter help students?

These solutions provide clear, step-by-step answers to the chapter's questions, helping students understand the plot, analyze characters like the shepherd and the king, and grasp the moral lessons about honesty, humility, and wisdom.

What is the moral lesson of 'The Shepherd's Treasure'?

The story teaches that true worth lies in one's character, wisdom, and integrity, rather than in wealth or status. It emphasizes that honesty and humility are rewarded, and true friends (like the blanket) are valuable.

Why were the other governors jealous of the shepherd?

The other governors were jealous because the humble, uneducated shepherd was appointed governor and gained fame for his fairness and wisdom, which they felt they deserved more.

Important links

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.