Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c8.45

c8.45

‘At that time there was in Rājagaha a company of seventeen boys, friends of each other; young Upāli was first among them. Now Upāli’s father and mother thought: “How will Upāli after our death live a life of ease and without pain? If Upāli could learn writing (*lekhā*), he would after our death live a life of ease and without pain.” But then Upāli’s father and mother thought again: “If Upāli learns writing his fingers will become sore. But if Upāli could learn arithmetic (*gaṇanā*), he would after our death live a life of ease and without pain.” But then Upāli’s father and mother thought again: “If Upāli learns arithmetic, his breast will become diseased. But if Upāli could learn money-changing (*rūpa*), he would after our death live a life of ease and comfort and without pain.” But then Upāli’s father and mother said to themselves: “If Upāli learns money-changing, his eyes will suffer.” The result was that it was decided that Upāli should