Sarvadarshanasangraha 13.15

13.15

[Objection:] Surely, even so, the desired purpose is not attained, because of the absence of an expedient for it. If you should think that reciting word-for-word is the expedient, then that word-for-word recitation would indeed be a non-expedient for the understanding of words, since words are infinite because of the division into correct words and corrupt words. For thus it is recorded in scripture: Bṛhaspati spoke the comprehensive recitation of words given word-for-word to Indra for a thousand divine years, and he did not reach the end; and Bṛhaspati was the teacher, Indra the student, a thousand divine years the period of study, and yet reaching the other shore did not occur. How much less today, when he who lives long lives for a hundred years! For knowledge is made serviceable by four expedients: by study, understanding, practice, and dissemination; and of these, one's entire lifespan would be consumed by the period of study alone. Therefore, word-for-word recitation is a non-expedient for the understanding of words, so the purpose would not be achieved—if this is urged,