[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897) › c10.34 # The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c10.34 The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c10.34 - **Language:** English ### [c10.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c10.34) As the place where the young princes go for their studies, Takkasilâ is invariably mentioned. The town, in Sanskrit Takshaśilâ, lies in Gandhâra land, in north-west India, and thus, far from the centres of Buddhistic culture. It seems clear that at the time to which our source refers this Takkasilâ was the centre of the spiritual life of India, a high school of Brahmanism, greater in importance than even Benares, for it is repeatedly mentioned that the kings of Kâsî send their sons to the distant Takkasilâ for study. It sounds improbable when we read of such journeys of young princes mentioned at the foot of the page² (II. 277), and we are inclined to ascribe their origin to the imagination of the narrator who knew the town probably only by name. Still one should consider that even in other Pali texts, Takkasilâ is mentioned as a great seat of learning and the destination of youths with a thirst for knowledge. Thus, we have Mahavagga VIII. 1.6, where it is explained that in Takkasilâ a world-renowned physician lived, to whom the young Jîvaka went from Râjagaha in order to learn his art. It seems to me therefore that there is no reason to compel us to mistrust the words in which the narrator praises the pedagogic wisdom of the kings of ancient times: "They sent"—so it is said in Tilamutthi Jâtaka (II. 277)—"their sons, although in their own city there lived a world-renowned teacher, to a great distance over the borders of the kingdom for learning the sciences, and they thought, in this way, their pride and haughtiness will be broken, they will learn to bear heat and cold and learn also the ways of the world." - [Previous: c10.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c10.33) - [Next: c10.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c10.35) - [Up: c10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c10) ## Linked texts (2) - [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka.252) — Pāli - [Mahāvagga](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.vp.khandhaka.mahavagga.8.1.6) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c10.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c10.34) · Pramāṇa