Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in the family of a brahmin. When he grew up, he studied under a famed teacher of Takkasila, where he learnt all magic charms. After returning to Benares he taught these charms to a large number of Brahmin and kshatriya youths.

Amongst these youths was one young Brahmin who had learnt the Three Vedas by heart; he became a master of ritual, and could repeat the whole of the sacred texts without stumbling in a single line. By and bye he married and settled down. Then household cares clouded his mind, and no longer could he repeat the sacred verses.

One day his the Bodhisatta paid him a visit. He enquired, “Well! young Son! do you know all your verses off by heart?” Young man replied, “Since I have been the head of a household, my mind has been clouded, and I cannot repeat them.”

The Bodhisatta said, “My son! when the mind is clouded, no matter how perfectly the scriptures have been learnt, they will not stand out clear. But when the mind is serene there is no forgetting them.” And thereupon he repeated:-

“Thick, muddy water will not show

Fish or shell or sand or gravel that may lie below

So with a clouded wit

Nor your nor other’s good is seen in it.

Clear, quiet waters ever show

All, be it fish or shell, that lies below;

So with unclouded wit

Both your and other’s good shows clear in it.”