“What for?”
“The king of physicians, Ātreya, lives there, who understands the art of opening the skull. It is in order to learn that art that I wish to go there.”
“Do you desire, O son, to make a living thereby?”
“O king, a man must either not study the art of healing at all, or he must study it thoroughly.”
“In that case, O son, go thither.”
The king wrote a letter to King Pushkarasārin, saying, “My son is going to Ātreya in order to study the healing art. Provide him with all things which he may require.”
In the course of time Jīvaka arrived at Takshaśilā, and Pushkarasārin, after reading the letter, handed him over to Ātreya, to whom he gave orders to instruct in the healing art the prince who had come there on his account. When Ātreya began to teach him, Jīvaka mastered everything excellently at the slightest intimation. Now Ātreya was wont, when he visited a patient, to take a young Brahman along with him. One day he took Jīvaka also, gave him directions to administer such and such remedies, and then went away. Jīvaka thought, “In the present case the master has made a mistake. If the patient takes this medicine, he will die this very day. As the remedy which the master has prescribed is not good, I will contrive an expedient.” So he left the house along with Ātreya, and said when he came back again, “The doctor has told me not to give the medicine which he has prescribed, but such and such a remedy.” When the patient had been treated in this way, he became better. The next time Ātreya visited the patient, after asking how he was getting on, he gave directions that the same medicine should be given to him [[95]]on the following day. Being asked whether he meant the medicine which he had prescribed first or that which he had afterwards ordered, he said, “What did I prescribe first, and what afterwards?” He was told, “You prescribed the one when you were present here; about the other you gave orders to Jīvaka.” He said to himself, “I made a mistake. Jīvaka is endowed with great insight.” Then he said that the medicine which Jīvaka had prescribed was to be given.
Ātreya became well pleased with Jīvaka, and took him along with him wherever he went. The Brahmans’ sons said, “O teacher, you are well pleased with him because he is a king’s son, and you bestow instruction upon him, but none upon us.” He replied, “That is not the case. Jīvaka possesses great intelligence, and he is able to comprehend intuitively whatever I indicate to him.” They said, “O teacher, how do you know this?” He said to the Brahmans’ sons, “Go and ask the price of various commodities, you of such a one, you of such another.” And having so spoken he sent them off to the market. He also gave orders to Jīvaka to ask the price of a certain article. The Brahmans’ sons did as they were bid. Jīvaka did likewise. But then he said to himself, “Suppose the master asks the prices of other wares, what shall I be able to reply? I will make myself acquainted with the prices of other commodities as well.” When they had all returned to their teacher, they rendered an account of those things which they had been ordered to do. Then Ātreya began to ask the price of articles which he had not mentioned, saying, “O Brahman’s son, what does this or that commodity cost?” He whom he questioned replied that he did not know. In like manner did the others make reply when he questioned them. But Jīvaka, when he was asked, told him the price of every kind of goods.
“O Brahmans’ sons,” said Ātreya, “have ye heard?”
“We have heard.” [[96]]