Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c4.122

c4.122

It was considered a duty for Brāhmans to teach, and all the time the pupil was under instruction the teacher was forbidden to accept a fee. When, however, the course was ended, it was the duty of the pupil to offer a present to his preceptor. Except possibly in the case of rich pupils it could never have been in any sense an adequate remuneration for services performed. Manu says,⁴ ‘He who knows the sacred law must not present any gift to his teacher before the *samāvartana* (rite performed by student on returning home); but when, with the permission of his teacher, he is about to take the (final) bath, let him procure a present for the venerable man according to his ability, viz. a field, a cow, a horse, a parasol and shoes, a seat, grain, even vegetables, and thus give pleasure to his teacher’.