The princes were not pampered. When they were a little older, Dasharatha sent them to the ashrama of Sage Vasishtha, where he lived with his wife, Arundhati, and his disciples. Even princes had to serve the teacher as ordinary students. The four princes were intelligent and soon mastered the scriptures and state-craft. Vasishtha was an ideal teacher and a great human being. He was very pure-hearted and held no anger even against anyone who harmed him. Sage Vishwamitra had once killed all his sons in a fit of anger, but Vasishtha had only good things to say about him. When Vishwamitra heard what he said, he became a devoted friend of Sage Vasishtha. It was Vasishtha who taught right conduct to the princes and made them understand what was expected of a king in dealing with his subjects. He taught them the value of being disciplined and righteous.
Vasishtha: the Ideal Teacher
