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