The University of Nalanda c11.56

c11.56

Son of a king in East India, as Watters explains Samatata,¹ and a Brāhmaṇ by caste, this Śīlabhadra renounced both the regal honour and comfort, as well as his caste. For, in his heart burned the fire which made him averse to all things but the quest of truth and pursuit of newer realms of knowledge. With such ideas, he embarked upon the tour of India. Fortunately, he had not to go very far, as Nālandā was comparatively much nearer from Samatata. Here, at Nālandā, he was initiated into the principles of Buddhism by Dharmapāla. At the very inception, he held out a promise of being a worthy disciple of his teacher. For the questions that he put to Dharmapāla touched the very core of all philosophies, namely, the aim and the end of all worldly things.²