[129] Now at that time a physician of world-wide renown (disāpāmokkha) was residing at Takkasilā. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, without taking leave of Prince Abhaya, departed for Takkasilā. Traveling by stages, he arrived at Takkasilā, approached that physician, and having approached, said this to that physician: "Teacher, I wish to train in the craft."
"Well then, dear Jīvaka, train in it."
Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca learned much, learned quickly, understood well, and what he had learned he did not forget. Then, at the end of seven years, this occurred to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "I learn much, I learn quickly, I understand well, and what I have learned I do not forget; yet though I have been studying for seven years, no end of this craft is discerned. When will an end of this craft be discerned?"
Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca approached that physician, and having approached, said this to that physician: "Teacher, I learn much, I learn quickly, I understand well, and what I have learned I do not forget; yet though I have been studying for seven years, no end of this craft is discerned. When will an end of this craft be discerned?"
"Well then, dear Jīvaka, take a digging tool, wander for a yojana all around Takkasilā, and whatever you see that is not a medicine, bring that back."
"Yes, teacher," Jīvaka Komārabhacca assented to that physician; and taking a digging tool, wandering for a yojana all around Takkasilā, he did not see anything that was not a medicine. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca approached that physician, and having approached, said this to that physician: "Teacher, I have wandered for a yojana all around Takkasilā, and I did not see anything that was not a medicine."
"You are trained, dear Jīvaka. This much is enough for your livelihood." And he gave Jīvaka Komārabhacca a small provision for the journey.
Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, taking that small provision, departed for Rājagaha. Then, along the way, at Sāketa, that small provision of Jīvaka Komārabhacca was exhausted. Then this occurred to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "These roads are wilderness tracts, with little water and little food; it is not easy to travel them without provisions. Suppose I were to seek provisions."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.