“What does he do?”
“He cures.”
“What does he earn?”
“When he cures a patient he receives his fee; but if the patient dies, he receives nothing, for nothing is given.”
Thereupon Jīvaka resolved to study the healing art. He went to his father and said, “O king, allow me to study the healing art.”
“O son, you are a king’s son. What do you want to do with the healing art?”
“O king, kings’ sons are in the habit of learning all arts.”
“In that case, O son, learn this art.”
So Jīvaka began to study the healing art. [[94]]
When he had studied it well, but had not as yet learnt how to open skulls, he had recourse to the king of physicians, Ātreya in Takshaśilā, of whom he had heard that he understood the art of skull-opening. Going to the king, he told him that he was about to journey to Takshaśilā.