Greetings from Pāṭaliputra! Life here is vibrant and full of excitement. Just yesterday, I witnessed a grand procession in honour of our king, Chandragupta Vikramāditya, returning from a victorious campaign. Elephants decorated with gold and coloured cloth walked through the streets, musicians played drums and flutes, and people threw flowers from the balconies of their houses.
Our city is huge and busy. Merchants from distant lands come to our markets with horses, silk and spices, and our traders send out fine cotton cloth, ivory work and beautiful metal objects. I bought a few gold coins with the image of the king playing the veena — they are so finely made! The roads are safe, and there are rest houses and wells for travellers.
Learning is honoured everywhere. My cousin studies mathematics and astronomy with a teacher who says that the Earth turns on its axis, as the great Āryabhaṭa taught. In the evenings we watch plays in the theatre; last week we saw a drama by the poet Kālidāsa, and I could not stop thinking of its beautiful verses. Craftsmen are carving wonderful statues of the Buddha and of Viṣhṇu, and I hear that in the caves of Ajanta, artists are painting the walls with stories from the Jātaka tales.
People of many faiths live together peacefully here. Doctors at the free hospitals treat the poor, and the king's officers keep the city clean. Festivals like Dīpāvalī light up every house. I wish you could visit us soon and see all this for yourself!
With warm wishes, Your friend, Sudatta
Describe a royal procession, busy markets and trade, gold coins, safe roads, learning (Āryabhaṭa's astronomy, Kālidāsa's plays), art (statues, Ajanta paintings), religious harmony and festivals.