Page:The Bengali Book of English Verse.djvu/120

Long he toiled, the learned Brahman,
Power Almighty to explain,
Quoted he from holy sastras,
Argued long, but argued vain!
To his reasons, to his learning,
Ever answered thus the king,
Mighty wondrous is all nature,
But it is created thing!"

Still he toiled, the learned Brahman,
To explain the God on high,
Spoke of fire and spoke of ether,
Spoke of water and of sky,
Spoke of shadow and reflection,
Spoke of echo and of sound,
Argued about dreams and slumber,
But solution none he found!

Silently the boastful Brahman
Bent his head in grief and shame,
Sad he was, the learned Brahman,
To a wiser king he came!
Thus far,"—said the monarch gently,
"Thus far doth thy wisdom go!"
Thus far! wise and learned monarch!
Teach me what you further know!"
 
With the fuel, meek and humble,
Balaki as student came,
Seeking knowledge from the monarch,
Great in learning as in fame.
He who made the sun and moon,
And the sky and earth so broad,
He who breathed all Nature forth,—
He is Brahman, He is God!"