Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c4.44

c4.44

It would seem that at this period it was not the universal custom for a Brāhman youth to enter upon a life of studentship. Thus Śvetaketu’s father said to him,² ‘Śvetaketu, go to school, for there is none belonging to our race, darling, who, not having studied (the Veda), is, as it were, a Brāhman by birth only’. So also the entrance³ of Satyakāma, son of Jabālā, upon studentship seems to be his own voluntary choice. It was still often the custom for a son to receive instruction at the hands of his father, as in the case of Śvetaketu,⁴ but he often went to other teachers.⁵ When a student wished to become a pupil of any teacher, the recognized way of making application to him was to approach him with fuel in the hands as a sign that the pupil wished to serve him and help to maintain his sacred fire. ‘Let¹ him, in order to understand this, take fuel in his hand and approach a *guru* who is learned and dwells entirely in *Brahman*.’ It seems to have been usual for the teacher to make an inquiry into the birth and family of the applicant before receiving him as a pupil, as in the case of Satyakāma.² In this case the inquiry was made in a very indulgent manner, but it seems to show that it was still the rule only for Brāhmans to be received as students. One instance is given where instruction was granted without any formal reception.³