46. The arithmetic competition
Then five hundred young Cakya's journeyed out of the city and came to another place where they exhibited their accomplishments. King Cuddhodana and the oldest (akya's with a great multitude of people came also to the place, desirous to see how the Bodhisattva and the other young Cakya's excelled in accomplishments .... And the Cakya's said: "Let the prince be the best in calligraphy, he must now shew his skill and knowledge of arithmetic". Now there was a cipherer among the Cakya's named Arjuna, a great arithmetician, a master of calculation; he was chosen as judge: "Examine which of the young men here excells in arithmetic." Then the Bodhisattva gave a problem, one of the young Cakya's calculated it, but he could not solve it, etc. Then spoke king (uddhodana thus to the 15Odhisattva: "Can'st thou, my son, compete with the great calculator Arjuna in skill of the calculations of arithmetic? " and theBodhisativa replied: "I can, o king". Then said the king: "Well then, begin" .... And when the Bodhisattva explained this chapter of arithmetic, Arjuna, the great reckoner, and the whole company of thetlakya's were satisfied, delighted, cheerful,fuu of joyandgreat admiration". (145: 15; 146: 8; 147: 14; 150: 19).
The extensive description the text gives of the arithmetic competition, allows only a fragmentary quotation from the passages referring to it, but the relief requires little explanation. On the extreme right sits the king on a high seat wearing a halo, with another nearly-vanished figure beside him, evidently holding a fly-whisk in the hand, therefore a female servant. Below the seat are a number of attendants; and near the king three more maid-servants. Then, more to the left, the unpretentious seat of the Bodhisattva, and under his chair a chest. The prince, of course with halo, by his gesture is explaining something, to which the Cakya's listen respectfully; they sit on a platform, some of them making a sembah. Their position is to be recognised by the lofty headdress of the mighty ones, worn by the whole group. The scene is closed on the left by some sitting and standing guards.