The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c10.38

c10.38

to bear heat and cold, and learn also the ways of the world.” Here a king gives his son only a pair of sandals with simple soles, a sunshade made of leaves and 1,000 kahāpaṇas and sends him to rough it out at Takkasilā (Cf. V, 457). The journey to Takkasilā itself lay through forests (I, 395). Some adventurous youths were not satisfied with the usual experiences. A prince and a Purohita’s son, after finishing their education at Takkasilā, wander about to observe various local usages (V, 247). It was generally at the age of sixteen that princes joined Takkasilā (I, 259, 262, 273; II, 2, 87, 277; III, 122, etc.). Probably they had already received some literary and military instruction at home. There are, however, cases of princes completing their education at sixteen and not resorting to Takkasilā at all (e.g., I, 261). The education of a prince was a comprehensive one. In I, 259, and III, 115, the three Vedas and eighteen branches of learning are mentioned as subjects of study. In II, 87, a Benares prince learns the three Vedas, archery and eighteen accomplishments at Takkasilā. Elsewhere, too, (III, 122, 158), we can see the princes and Brāhmaṇas studying together. In II, 100, the son of a wealthy Brāhmaṇa learns charms at Takkasilā and then teaches them to Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya youths. At Takkasilā every student studied under a teacher and had to attend on him. If he offended, he could be punished, even corporally. A Benares prince, so treated, vows vengeance and, on ascending the throne, contrives almost to kill his teacher, though, later, he makes ample amends for it (II, 278 et seq.).