Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c6.60

c6.60

There thus seems to have been a long course of grammatical study of the Sanskrit language, beginning when a boy was six years of age and lasting till he was twenty, which was a preliminary to the study of higher subjects. With regard to this further study I-Tsing says¹: ‘After having studied this commentary, students begin to learn composition in prose and verse and devote themselves to logic (*hetuvidyā*) and metaphysic (*abhidharmakośa*). In learning the *Nyāya-dvāra-tarka-śāstra* (introduction to logic), they rightly draw inferences (*anumāna*); and by studying the *Jātakamālā* (stories of Buddha in previous births) their powers of comprehension increase. Thus instructed by their teachers, and instructing others, they pass two or three years, generally in the Nālanda monastery in Central India, or in the country of Valabha (Walā) in Western India. These two places are like Chinma, Shihch’u, Lungmen, and Ch’ueli in China, and there eminent and accomplished men assemble in crowds, discuss possible and impossible doctrines, and after having been assured of the excellence of their opinions by wise men, become far-famed for their wisdom. To try the sharpness of their wit they proceed to the king’s court to lay down before it the sharp weapon of their abilities; there they present their schemes and show their (political)