प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

[III] THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENT 55
Duties of the Teacher: The relationship between
the teacher and the pupil¹ was regarded as filial in character
both by Hindu and Buddhist thinkers; the teacher
therefore had to discharge several duties in addition to
imparting intellectual education and helping spiritual
progress. He was the spiritual father of the pupil and
was held as morally responsible for the drawbacks of his
pupils.² His extra-academic duties were varied and
numerous. He was always to keep a guard over the
conduct of his pupil. He must let him know what to
cultivate and what to avoid; about what he should be
earnest and what he may neglect. He must instruct him
as to sleep and as to keeping himself in health, and as to
what food he may take and what he may reject. He
should advise him as to the people whose company he
should keep and as to the villages (and localities) he may
frequent.³ If he was poor, he was to help him in getting
some financial help from people of influence and substance
in the locality. He was to arrange for his food and
clothing: the teachers of Sanskrit Pāṭhaśālās in eastern
India used to do this till quite recently. If the student
was ill, the teacher was to nurse and serve him as a father
would do his son.⁴
(Continued from the last page)
नाहमिदं वेद। यद्यवेदिषं कथं ते नावक्ष्यमिति।
समूलो वैष परिशुष्यति योऽनृतमभिवदति ॥
Pr. Up., VI. 1
1 Cf. पुत्रमिवैनमभिकांक्षन् Ap. Dh., S., 1. 2. 8. M. V. 1. 32
2 अतीत्य बंधूनवलंघ्य शिष्यानाचार्यमागच्छति शिष्यदोषः ॥
Pañcharatra 1. 21
3 Milinda-pañha, Vol. I, p. 142
4 The testimony of I-tsing shows that this was also done in
Buddhist monasteries; p. 120. The Buddha has left express
injunctions on the point; Mahāvagga, I. 26. 1-6