8. Explanation of paragraphs

 

The landlord had arranged a maid to supply a tumbler full of milk everyday morning, to the Pundit. The milkmaid's name was Moti. Moti was very sincere in her work. Every day she crossed the river with the help of a small ferry boat and returned home in the same boat, after supplying milk to the Pundit.

 

  

The Pundit himself got the milk from her, on most of the days. Whenever she met the Pundit, she fell flat on the ground, with her head facing down, as a mark of respect. She did her duties faithfully even on days when it rained heavily. When some people felt sorry for her that she struggled hard every day to cross the river to supply milk, she explained that it was an honour for her to do service to a great Pundit.

 

 

The Pundit was a great speaker - he was fluent and expressive. He had hundreds of people to listen to him whenever he was in discussion or conversation. Moti also wanted to listen to his speech. So she stood behind the other listeners. She did not understand much of his learned talk, but she believed he preached about God, Truth and other such complicated topics. She thought it could not be done without a high level of knowledge.  She was astonished that he had so much proficiency  that he could hold the attention of so many people, for such a long time. She thought the only person who could do such things was the person who was close to God; she felt others could not attain that much wisdom.

 

She was happy that she could do something towards the physical health of the Pundit by supplying his milk regularly.

 

She thought she must serve him even if he did not pay for the milk and her labour. She decided firmly that she will not miss her duty at any circumstances.

 

One day, the Pundit asked Moti if she could bring milk before sunrise, for the next one month. He added that he had undertaken a ceremony, a promise to God - for which he needed the milk very early in the morning.

 

  

Moti agreed eagerly and told him that she would do as he said. But Moti was not able to fulfil what she had accepted - she came to the Pundit's house after the sunrise only.

 

She begged forgiveness from the Pundit and explained that she arrived early to the banks of the river, but the boatman had not come in time, even though she had informed him. The boatman had said that it would not be possible for him to drive the boat in the dark, especially since it was flooding period in the river.

 

 

The Pundit decided to joke with the whole incident. He asked Moti why she could not cross the river without the boatman. He added that people like mystics, who attempt to communicate to God themselves, claim that they could even cross the huge ocean called life, by just saying the name of God Vishnu. He was not serious; he was only trying to humour Moti. He knew that the poor lady would not understand what he said.

 

Moti innocently said in a small voice, that nobody had told her about this. Again the Pundit joked saying it was a secret. Moti believed him and said only dedicated, and great sages like him would know such secrets. She thanked him for passing on the secret to her! The Pundit could not control himself, and he let out a hearty laugh, thinking about her innocence.

 

The ceremony of promise, which the Pundit had undertaken ended after some days. He told Moti that she had fulfilled her duties well. He appreciated her for the pain she had taken to wake up in the early hours of the morning, milking the cow, crossing the river and supplying it to him. He blessed her.

 

Moti bowed to him, as a mark of respect. She asked if she could go back to the old routine of delivering milk after sunrise. The Pundit agreed. He suddenly remembered the boatman. He realized that the boatman had also helped his cause, by driving the boat for Moti, so that she delivered the milk on time. So the Pundit wanted to bless the boatman too. He told Moti to inform the boatman that he was happy about his service to him.

 

Moti replied that she had not disturbed the boatman at all, because she knew he could not come at early hours in the morning. The surprised Pundit asked her who drove the boat, for which she replied that she did not need it. The Pundit asked how she managed to cross the river without the boat.

 

Moti told him in a low voice that he, the Pundit who remembered hundreds of pages of  sacred books had forgotten the secret that he had passed to her earlier! The Pundit's curiosity aroused. He asked Moti what she meant. Moti replied that she uttered the name of God Vishnu and she just walked on the river! She said the water level was only till her ankle, so that she could walk easily.

 

  

The Pundit asked how the river could be just ankle-deep, especially during the flooding season. He added that even during the hottest summers, there was enough water in the river for boats to sail. Moti innocently said that she had applied the secret and it had worked for her. She was surprised that the Pundit had forgotten his secret formula. The Pundit could not reply anything but "I see". Moti was happy that he remembered his secret at last. She said she would take the boat from the next day and that she wanted to apply the secret one last time today, for her return journey.

 

It was a misty sunrise that day. The Pundit was almost sure that Moti was also teasing him playfully. He decided to follow her and see how she crossed the bridge. He followed her quietly without making any sound.

 

 

When Moti reached the banks, she put her milk pot down, folded hands and worshipped the river. Then she took her pot and stepped into the river. The Pundit was shocked that he could not even utter a word when he saw that she was crossing the river easily. He became nearly unconscious.

 

This story is a practical explanation of the miracles based on trust and belief in God. It also brings out the sharp differences between the highest level of academic learning and innocence. Knowledge remains like a theory when not applied in life; it works only if we have complete belief and when we surrender to the Lord.