Summary
"Crossing the River" is a short story by Manoj Das from the 8th Standard English supplementary reader. It tells the tale of a celebrated Pundit (scholar) who had many disciples and admirers, including a local landlord. The landlord commissioned a poor milkmaid named Moti to deliver a tumbler of milk to the Pundit every morning. Moti faithfully crossed the river by ferry boat each day to fulfil this duty, considering it a great privilege to serve such a learned man.
When the Pundit undertook a special religious vow (ritual), he asked Moti to deliver the milk an hour before sunrise for a month. On the first day, Moti arrived late because the boatman refused to ply the ferry in the dark while the river was in spate. The Pundit, half in jest, remarked sarcastically: "I wonder how then the mystics say that one could cross even the ocean of life by uttering the name of Vishnu!"
The innocent and deeply faithful Moti took the Pundit's casual remark literally. She thanked him profusely for sharing this "secret." The Pundit laughed at her naivety. However, from that day onward, Moti delivered the milk before dawn every single day without fail for the entire month -- without using the ferry boat at all.