Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.t2.67

c4.t2.67

How long did he stay abroad for education is nowhere stated in the *Jātakas*.⁶ The education of a prince was not yet complete when he left the University. It was now the time to have a practical training of what he had learnt in theory. It is with this intent that we find the princes, after completing their studies at Takkasilā, undertaking extensive travels through towns and villages and all the land to acquire all practical usages and understand country observances.⁷ And when, after such an extensive travel rich with experience, he returns to his country, the prince has to demonstrate his learning and various accomplishments and impress upon his father.¹ He is then fit to be appointed to the post of Uparāja or Viceroy.² It is not difficult to imagine that the return of the prince was something more than an ordinary occurrence, and was attended by festivities both in the palace and in the city. A king of Benares, thus, orders a general amnesty for all prisoners on the return of his son from Takkasilā.³