Long Answer Questions

The title of the poem “The Empty Heart” is self-explanatory. The poem relates to the description of a rich but greedy man. he is not contented with his wealth. He wants to add more money and gold to his wealth. He prayed to the “Kalpaka” tree to give him a pot filled up with gold coins. The tree provides him seven silver pots full of gold coins. He was given one extra pot half-filled with gold coins. As he was a greedy man he works day and night to fill up the half-filled pot. But he does not succeed in his efforts and dies.

The whole affair shows that he had no human sentiments. His heart was empty. He had no feelings for noble acts.
Therefore the title of the poem is quite appropriate. It signifies the importance of contentment. There is a strong appeal in the poem related to; (i) not to be.greedy (ii) to lead a noble and virtuous life, (ii) to earn money by hard labour and legitimate means and (iv) desires are endless, but life is limited.

As such, if the purse containing money is even half filled it is not the matter of sorrow. But if the heart is empty then it becomes a curse.

“Kalpaka” is the name of a tree which fulfills our needs if we pray for something to it. In our religious books, this tree is called “Kalpatru”.

As such in the poem, a rich but greedy person goes to “Kalpaka” tree and prays for giving him a pot filled up with gold coins. His prayer was granted and he was given not only one but seven silver pots full of gold coins as gift. He is also given one more pot half-filled with gold, in addition to those seven pots. Moreover, it has given many times more than he demanded.

Therefore the name ‘Kalpaka’ is justified in the poem because it not only solves the problems of the man who goes to it but also gives him many times more than what he demanded…’

Contentment is the real style of life. It is necessary to lead a happy life. Discontented man always remains unhappy. Money alone cannot provide us the real pleasure of life. It is evident from the poem, “The Empty Heart”.

A rich and greedy person always runs after earning more and more wealth. He spends his whole life in order to expand his assets. He works day and night to fulfill his desire. He loses his peace of mind. There has no pleasure in his life. One day he dies leaving all his wealth.

Thus we learn that contentment is the real style of life, as mentioned in the poem.

There is an underlying message in this statement. It very well makes us aware about the importance of contentment.

Discontentment is a vice whereas to live peacefully with the limited hard-earned money is a virtue.

The rich man was not contented with seven pitchers full of gold coins. He lost his life to fill the eighth pitcher, as his heart was empty.

he rich man was very greedy. Having so much of wealth he still desired to have more and more wealth. The ‘Kalpaka’ tree was very unkind. Out of unkindness, he gave him so much and extra seven silver pitchers to increase his greediness.

Therefore the term silver pitcher symbolizes the Kalpaka’s adding fuel of silver to the unlimited greed of the rich man.