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

64 EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA [Ch.
may have undertaken in the town or city. It will be thus
seen that the educational system tried to reproduce in
the student life the atmosphere and the conditions exist-
ing outside in actual life both in the case of religious and
industrial students.)
The Student Life and the Duty to beg : The
begging of the daily food has been enjoined on the stu-
dent as a religious duty. This injunction occurs in sacred
texts from the Vedic age downwards;¹ nay, some texts
lay it down that the student must beg his food both
morning and evening.² It has been declared that no food
is so holy for the student as the food he obtains by
begging at midday.³
Why begging food was prescribed : The rule
of begging was laid down for the student in order to
teach him humility and make him realise that it was due
to the sympathy and help of society that he was learning
the heritage of the race, and being enabled to follow a
profession that would secure him a living. This rule
further removed the distinction between the rich and the
poor and brought education within the reach of the
poorest. It was also useful in reminding society of its
duty and responsibility about the education of the rising
generation. Civilisation will not progress if each gene-
ration does not take proper steps to transmit its heritage
to the next. Hindu thinkers therefore made it an incum-
bent duty for all householders to offer cooked food to
the begging student; a householder refusing his request
1 A. V., XI. 5. 9.; Go. Gr. S., II; 10; Dr. Gr. S. II. 5. 16 Manu II. 65
2 Jai. Gr. S., I. 18; Ap. Dh. S. I. 1. 3. 24-5
3 शाकभक्षाः पयोभक्षा ये चान्ये यावशाकिनः।
सर्वे ते भैक्षभैक्ष्यस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् ॥ Atri in SCS P. 111.