4 The Healer of Magadh “Come on Jeevaka, Hurry up and get on to your horse. We can’t wait for you all day!” cried Prince Darsaka, the eldest son of Ajatashatru, the Prince Regent of Magadh. Jeevaka was the son of Prince Abhay, one of thé younger sons of Bimbisara, the king of Magadh. “Don’t you remember that we had planned to go hunting today, Jeevaka?” said another of the princes, “Oh you can’t really expect Jeevaka to remember things like that!” remarked a third prince. “He [23) is so different from the rest of us! He doesn’t like hunting and he doesn’t like fencing and...” “And he actually enjoys poring over books and mooning around on his own! To think that he too is a prince of Magadh!” exclaimed the youngest of the princes with a shrug. “That’s enough” said Darsaka firmly, “Jeevaka, you need not come with us if you don’t want to. But we must set off at once,”“Td rather not, if you don’t really mind” < ie ij mavens, looking at Darsaka gratefully, «A. a any | al know, T don’t enjoy huntin A aa i : aed oy 8 And I certaj, ° nev i don’t feel like i¢ today.” an day. “pe if The young princes rode off in a cloud of dust is \ led by prince Darsaka, Jeevaka stood by the Ne | . bamboo grove, named Vend-vana by King B lI Bimbisara, his grandfather. Gazing at the u { faraway Baibhara hills which almost touched i the clouds, he thought about what the princes t had said. It was quite true that he did not have 1 a princely temperament and did not care about the usual royal pastimes, especially hunting. It Seemed so crucl and unnecessary! 24! Jeevaka also recalled the conversation he had had with his father that morning. One thing had led to another, and Prince Abhay found himself telling Jeevaka how he had found him many years ago as a new-born baby under a tree in the forest. where he had gone hunting. The sudden revelation had made Jcevaka turn pale. “But do not let it worry you,” Prince Abhay had said soothingly. “I have always looked upon you as my son. What difference does it make if you happen to be an adopted one? In femperdment: the emotional side fo your character, such as how “likely you are to be happy, cnary ete co | revelation: a surprising fact about someone or something wea! i previously secret and is now made knownany case, being Never be King. “Perha; blinking Nothing one of the younger princes, | ean Nor ean any of my sons.” Pps ao oe right, Father,” said Jeovaka ©ars, : ae mae are my father now. But th E : 0S8e few words had turned Joevalee’s w pla: Uu eee He knew, as he walked towards iKe Gee s ae that nothing would ever seem Tee aa ae 1. Of course he would continue to ae pect Prince Abhay as he always had. put ae Strongly felt that he hadno right to live like a prince any More. He had to stand on his own feet and make a life for himself away from the luxuries of the palace He stood before the palace for a moment, & and thought of his private terrace where the laburnums and the gulmohar flowers made a carpet of red and gold. Then he turned away and strode out into the garden and out of the palace, deep in thought. What was he to do? He was not trained for anything. And he was no good at princely sports and games either. What could he possibly make of his life? i i sort, the Verw vana, He headed for his favourite resort, - hed he heard the sound of ‘hoofs. Were the princes back after their hunting spree? Well, he did not want to face them just then! He os ae his route and walked towards the Vipulgta ie hing hot spring and prahmakunda, 1° place Became. a rule Leste arrived from distant lang, eee aie pool and drink its water, whic, was said to heal ail ilinesses- lutely quiet and empt: Ma ee oo the silent Se ney touched the bubbling water. Could it had a suffering heart as well? Just then, a new idea flashed across his mind. bs would learn ayurveda, the science of healing! And he would spend his life healing others and caring ‘for the sick. Perhaps that would make his life worthwhile after all. Jeevaka did not return to the palace again. That night, he left Magadh for Takshashila, the well-known centre of learning where several renowned scholars of ayurveda lived. He took nothing except the clothes he wore. It took him along, long time because Takshashila was miles away from Magadh and Jeevaka walked all the way. He ate wild fruit and nuts, drank from rivers and ponds and slept under the trees. He asked for no help except for asking people the way to Takshashila. Whenatlast he managed toreach hisdestination Jeevaka went out the most famous teacher of them all, and begged him to i i student. = 2 gee=But what about your guru dakshina, the money one paysin order tobe accepted asa student the teacher asked. “Have you any gold or money?” «{ am afraid I have nothing at all to offer s.i4 Jeevaka humbly, “Tran away from home withous, telling anyone and carried nothing with me. But I faithfully promise to serve you all my life if only you accept me as your student and teach me all you know.” The teacher was impressed by his sincerity and his determination to learn. So he agreed to teach him. Jeevaka’s teacher was not disappointed. Jeevaka proved to be an ideal student, learning things as fast as his teacher could teach them. In fact, he learnt in just seven years what other students took fourteen years to learn! One day, Jeevaka asked his teacher, “Guruji, how much longer will it take me to learn everything?” His teacher gave him a keen look. “1 can tell you only after I have taken a final test of your learning” he told Jeevaka. “Go round the entire city of Takshashila. Check every tree, every herb, every leaf, every flower and fruit which you find within a radius of five kosas, Bring me _all the things which you feel cannot, be used in any form of medicine.” koso: roughly three miles“How soon should I return?” asked eae “Take your time. But s out.” See that nothing is left “Well?” asked his t i a eacher in surprise, “Wh are the samples J asked you to sia = u couldn’t find any,” said Jeevaka sadly. 1 could find nothing which cannot be used for medication for some illness or the other. 1 am afraid my power of observation is at fault. Perhaps I should begin all over again.” (29 Jeevaka expected his teacher to be greatly annoyed at his inability to find anything. But the teacher warmly embraced him instead. “Your education is complete, my son,” he said. “I am very pleased with your single-minded concentration and dedication, which made it possible for you to learn so much in so short a time. You need not serve me any more. Go back to your own kingdom and make use of ali that you have learnt here.” _ embraced: hugged in a friendly way ee : Baier. M person who is single-minded hos ene clear aim ~~ and works vary hard 16 achieve it 5Jeevaka bent down and touched his teacher. feet gratefully. “T shail try to be a worthy stiident of yours as long as I live,” he said. On his way back, Jeevaka healed several peo ple. Many of them were wealthy and gave him money as well as lavish gifts. Jeevaka accepted them gratefully, bit used none of it himself. On Teaching Magadh, he went straight to Prince Abhay, who was overjoyed to see him. “Father,” said Jeevaka, “T cannot possibly repay you for all that you have dane for me. But Pd like you to accept these gifts.” And he gave everything to Abhay. Abhay was really touched. __ by Jeevaka’s gesture and begged him to stay in 30) the palace like before. But Jecvaks would nob agree. “I am a physician, a healer,” he said, “I want to help sick people. | cannot do it iff live in the palace. My place is with the people.” “Very well, if that is your wish” said Abhay, “but you must treat King Bimbisara, your grandfather, before anyone else. He is in great use.” “Of course I will,” said Ji eevaka, “T will go to him immediately.” back to health, Jeevaka was presented with royal robes and jewellery ag gifts but he chose not to pain. The royal physicians could not be of any He treated the old king and soon nursed him - acct whe the Jee hee far he heaccept anything. However, he could not refuse when King Bimbisara himself offered Jeevaka the post of the royal physician of Magadh, Jeovaka led a full and useful life, treating and healing not just his own people but people from faraway lands. According to the Jataka tales, he onee treated Lord Buddha himself when he Was in pain, And that is how Jeevaka lived his life just as he had wanted—for others! ail