Education in Ancient India c7.s1.13

c7.s1.13

The Fame of Taxila: As a centre of learning the fame of the city was unrivalled in the 6th century B. C. In those days communications were so difficult and dangerous that when their sons used to return home, parents used to congratulate themselves on having seen them returning during their own life time.¹ And yet we find students flocking to Taxila from far off cities like Benares,² Rājagṛiha,³ Mithilā⁴ and Ujjayinī.⁵ Kuru and Kośala countries sent their own quota of students. One of the archery schools at Taxilā had on its muster roll, as we have seen already, 103 princes from different parts of India. Heir-apparents of Benares are usually seen being educated at the same place in the Jātakas. King Prasenajit of Kośala, a contemporary of the Buddha, was educated in the Gandhara capital.⁶ Prince Jīvaka, an illegitimate son of Bimbisāra, spent seven years at Taxila in learning medicine and surgery.⁷ As Paṇini hailed from Śalātura near Attok, he also must have been an alumni of Taxila university. The same was the case with Kauṭilya, the author of the *Arthaśāstra*.