Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 357

332
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. Vi
or eight years, because the beginning of education at the age of sixteen would not produce good results as expected from the student.
"Nati-soḍaśa varṣamupanayīta prasṛṣṭavṛṣaṇo hyesa
vṛṣalībhūto bhavati"".
It is further said that the parents themselves are the enemies of their child who is not educated by them.
"Mātā satruḥ pitā vairī bālo yena na paṭhitaḥ3."
Education of Girls
As regards the female education the BhS throws some light upon the subject by refering to the cases of the princess, Jayanti', Utpala, the wife of Sankha Sresthi, Hālāhalā, the Ajivikopāsikā of Srāvastī, Āryā Chandana, the nun" and others
who were learned in the sacred lores.
It has already been mentioned in connection with the topic 'Stages of Life' in the second section of the fourth chapter that one group of students continued their studies upto the time of their marriage, the other one remained unmarried throughout the life and the princess, Jayanti belonged to the latter, while the other girls were given in marriage at their proper age.
It appears from the above evidences that some private arrangements were probably made by the parents at home to impart education to the girls, particularly those of the rich aristocratic and royal families.
1 J. A. S. B., 1935, p. 294. Vide Dr. Altekar's 'Education in Ancient India' Appendix (A & B), p. 266, f. n. 2; p. 274, f. n. 2 (aṣṭame-āyuškāmaṁ navame......soḍaśe sarvakāmaiBaudh. Gr. S. II, 5. 5.
* J, Gr. S.1. 12. Vide 'Education in Ancient India,' p. 26. f.n. 4. 3 Subhashita, Vide 'Education in Ancient India', p. 26. f.n. 2. • Ib, 15, 1, 539.
4 Bhs, 12, 1, 441.
5 Ib, 12, 1, 437-8.
7 Ib, 9, 33, 382.
8 Ib, 15, 1, 557.