2.A Sand Bridge

2.A Sand Bridge

1. In a   town   (in the city of पॆठण), there was   a   certain Brahmin    named   तपोदत्त.  Even though   being    insisted (tormented)    by   his father,   he did   not   study   in his childhood.

2.  Thereafter, being criticized by all, he who was repentant (sorrowful),    went   to   the   bank of the   river   to गङ्गा to practice penance for acquiring knowledge.

3. There, having seen him, resorted to the severe penance

Lord इन्द्र   who  was  surprised,  came  near  him  in  the disguise of  a  Brahmin  who was going  to  prevent  him (from doing penance).                                           .

4. And coming there, picking up the sand again and again, he (इन्द्र) threw it from the bank of (the river) गङ्गा into the water full of waves while he (तपोदत्त)   was watching.

5. Having seen it, that (तपोदत्त) who had given up his silence asked him with curiosity, ‘‘O Brahmin, what are you doing this tirelessly (continuously)?"

6. And being persistently asked, that इन्द्र in the disguise of a

Brahmin said to him,”Iam building a bridge over the river गङ्गा for the living beings to cross (the river)."

7. Then तपोदत्त said, “O fool is a bridge ever built over the (river) गङ्गा      with the sand that gets carried away by the stream?"

(8 and 9).

Then, having heard it, इन्द्र  who was in the of disguise of a Brahmin thus said to him, “If you know this, why have you become ready to acquire   knowledge without reading or listening (to teachers) with vows, fasting, etc.? This (attempt of yours) is like desiring to get  horns of a  rabbit or imagining

of drawing a  picture in the sky."

 10. Acquiring knowledge without studying is (like) writing a script without letters.  If it happens so, no one will indeed ever  study."

11. That तपोदत्त who was thus addressed by इन्द्र disguised as a Brahmin, having thought (about it), giving up penance went home to acquire knowledge.