"In sooth, Gotama," said the two Brahmans, "it would be foolish talk!"14
The Blessed One continued: "Then the Brahmans should say, 'We show you the way unto a union of what we know not and what we have not seen.' This being the substance of Brahman lore, does it not follow that their task is vain?"15
"It does follow," replied Bharadvaja.16
Said the Blessed One: "Thus it is impossible that Brahmans versed in the three Vedas should be able to show the way to a state of union with that which they neither know nor have seen. Just as when a string of blind men are clinging one to the other. Neither can the foremost see, nor can those in the middle see, nor can the hindmost see. Even so, methinks, the talk of the Brahmans versed in the three Vedas is but blind talk; it is ridiculous, consists of mere words, and is a vain and empty thing."17
"Now suppose," added the Blessed One, "that a man should come hither to the bank of the river, and, having some business on the other -side, should want to cross. Do you suppose that if he were to invoke the other bank of the river to come over to him on this side, the bank would come on account of his praying?"18
"Certainly not, Gotama."19
"Yet this is the way of the Brahmans. They omit the practice of those qualities which really make a man a Brahman, and say, 'Indra, we call upon thee 5 Soma, we call upon thee; Varuna, we call upon thee; Brahma, we call upon thee. 1 Verily, it is not possible that these Brahmahns, on account of their invocations, prayers, and praises, should after death be united with Brahmā."20
"Now tell me," continued the Buddha, *<what do the Brahmans say of Brahmā? Is his mind full of lust?"21
And when the Brahmans denied this, the Buddha asked; "Is Brahmā's mind full of malice, sloth, or pride?"22
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