A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s2.44

v2.c19.s2.44

Thus he returns to Rājagaha, where he hands over the money he has earned to Prince Abhaya, as a recompense for having brought him up. The latter does not accept it, but desires that Jīvaka shall take up his residence in Rājagaha. After he has cured the old King Bimbisāra of an unpleasant disease, he becomes the court physician and effects many remarkable cures. Once a great merchant in Rājagaha becomes very ill. All the doctors have already given him up. Then the king gives permission for his court physician to treat the merchant. Jīvaka first stipulates for an honorarium of a hundred thousand florins for himself and the same for the king, then he asks him whether he will be able to lie quietly first on one side, then on the other, and finally on his back, for seven months in each position. The invalid answers in the affirmative, whereupon the doctor ties him to the bed, cuts open his scalp, pulls out two worms, for it was they which had threatened the life of the merchant, and sews the wound up again. But the invalid is not able to lie for seven months on each side, but can always only endure it for seven days. After three times seven days, however, he is well. Jīvaka now explains that he only spoke of seven months, because otherwise the patient would not even have managed to lie still for seven days.