Just like Mahārāja . . . Nanda Mahārāja, the foster father of Kṛṣṇa, he was keeping 900,000 cows. And He was rich man. He was Mahārāja, king. But see the behavior. His beloved Son, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, He's entrusted to take care of the calves or cows: "Go in the forest". He is well dressed with ornament and nice dress, everything. All the cowherds boy, they are very rich. They have got enough grains and enough milk. Naturally they'll be rich. But not that the cows and the calves will be taken care of by some hired servant. No. They would take care himself.
That was children's sport, to go to the forest, take the calves and cows and carry some tiffin. Eat there, dance there, play there, and again come in the evening. Then they will take bath and change their dress and take their meals and immediately go to sleep. This was the boy's, children's, engagement. So how they would grow healthy, because they go outside and play and work, and very happily they enjoy the company. So there is no question of becoming contaminated. Yāmuna-tīra-vana-cārī (Jaya Rādhā Mādhava). Yāmuna-tīra, on the bank of the Yamunā . . . just like we go to the seaside, the beach, similarly, there is bank of Yamunā, very nice river, and there are trees. So these boys, Kṛṣṇa and His friends, with their cows they will go and loiter on the bank of the Yamunā and sport and frivolities, everything, so nicely.
So there was no question of education at that time. After the child is grown up, healthy, nice, then he goes to school. Otherwise, first of all eat sumptuously milk, butter and yogurt, and play sufficiently in open air with friends, take care of the cows. This is labor. But it is sporting, very nice. So these things were taught by Kṛṣṇa Himself, although He was the son of king. Then when He was grown-up, His real father took Him charge, Vasudeva. Then He was . . . as kṣatriya . . . He belonged to the kṣatriya family. All other education was given: how to fight, how to rule, everything.
So this kṣatriya, this Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, they also kṣatriyas. So when they were going to see Bhīṣmadeva, they were going there in royal style, with chariots, with horse, and decorated with golden ornaments, and the brahmins, Vyāsadeva and other. All the kṣatriyas, kings, would be always accompanied by hordes of brahmins. As soon as they required any instruction, immediately consult the brāhmaṇas, and they gave good advice: "Do like this." This is the business of the brāhmaṇa. And the kings, they would not do anything without consulting. Don't think that because there was monarchy, they were all autocrat. No. If the brāhmaṇas would not agree, then they won't do. The brāhmaṇas' community, all saintly persons and learned scholars, brāhmaṇas . . . there was a committee, and the king would take their advice how to manipulate the political affairs or administration, and they would consult standard books.