प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

194 EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA [Ch.
distant centres of education like Taxila to receive
education there more or less like commoners. But
from about the 3rd century B. C. it became the usual
practice to establish special schools for the education
of the scions of the royal family.¹ Sons and wards of
ministers and high officers of the state were also
permitted to join these schools, as it was realised that
suitable companions and mutual competition were neces-
sary to ensure satisfactory results. The Royal School
was usually located in the vicinity of the capital. It
consisted of several spacious halls, each suitable for
its special purpose. Gymnasium, swimming pools and
extensive grounds for military exercises were provided.
Experts were recruited from all over the country
to teach different subjects. The curriculum included
a study of the Vedas and philosophy, but naturally only
such knowledge of these subjects was imparted as was
necessary for general culture. Special attention was
paid to the study of history, economics, politics,
administration, and civil and criminal law. Lectures
on these subjects were delivered usually in the afternoon,
the morning time being devoted to the athletic and
military exercises. Princes were expected to be experts
in the use of different arms like the sword, the lance
and the bow and arrow. Tournaments and hunting
parties were often organised to test their skill. Fine
arts like music and painting were also taught. Students
in these royal schools used to stay in the boarding
houses ; their parents used to go there occasionally to
see them and find out how they were progressing.
The school course terminated usually at the end of
the 16th year, when princes were allowed to marry.
Though after this time, they would usually leave the
boarding and begin to stay in the palace with their

1. Arthas'âstra, I, Kâdambarī, p. 149,