The University of Nalanda c11.37

c11.37

We tread on surer and firmer ground when we come to the time when Dharmapāla was the abbot of the University. Dharmapāla, though born in Kāñcīpura, far away in the South, and though a son of a high official of the city, embraced the life of a Buddhist *Bhikṣu*, at a very early age¹ and became one of the greatest luminaries of Nālandā. His help to Buddhism is inestimable value. For, even when he was in his teens, he accepted the challenge of a heretical *paṇḍit* thrown to an assembly of Buddhist *paṇḍits* who were dumb-founded and tore his arguments to pieces. By doing so, he converted to Buddhism not only the *paṇḍit* but even the king who was partial to the heretic.² Thus "he acquired renown for penetration and wisdom and the reputation of his noble character was far spread." On another occasion he held discussions, for seven long days, with 100 Hīnayāna *śāstra* masters and utterly defeated them.³