Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c27.3

c27.3

After thus finishing his studies, Nāgasena is sent on an educational tour for preaching by his teacher, on a career of intellectual conquest, in the course of which he is brought into touch with some of the noted literary men and centres of learning Assagutta was such a noted man of letters dwelling at the Vattaniya hermitage. Another was Dhammarakkhita, who dwelt in the Asoka Park at Pāṭaliputta From his mouth he learnt by heart the whole of the three baskets¹ (Piṭakas) of the Buddha's word in three months and in three months more he mastered their meanings. Another was Āyupāla of the Saṅkheyya hermitage in the northern city of Sāgala where ruled the learned King Milinda with his 500 Yonakas. He was always "in the habit of harassing the brethren by knotty questions and by argumentations this way and that," and boasted thus: "All India is an empty thing, it is verily like chaff! There is no one, either Samaṇa or Brahman, capable of discussing things with me and dispelling my doubts." His boast was successfully challenged by Nāgasena who had by that time in due course of his wanderings arrived at Sāgala as the head of a numerous body of disciples attracted to him by his phenomenal learning, for he was master equally of the three Brahmanical Vedas and the Buddhist (the three Piṭakas).