Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s2.14

c12.s2.14

**Service to Teacher.** The life of the student was regulated on the principle that he must do what is pleasing and serviceable to his teacher [Gautama, ii, 30; Vishṇu, xxviii, 7]. One text sums up the position by stating that the pupil is to serve his teacher as a son, supplicant, or slave (Putravat dāsavat arthivat cha anucharatā tvayā). Charaka [Vimānasthāna, viii, 4] states that "the pupil should serve his teacher as he serves Agni, Deva, King, Father, and Master, with steady devotion" As Āpastamba puts it more definitely, the pupil shall "assist his teacher daily by acts tending to the acquisition of spiritual merit and of wealth" [i, 1, 4, 24]. The former class of acts will comprise collecting sacred fuel, kuśa grass, cow-dung, earth, and flowers for sacrifice, as also fetching a pot full of water, while the latter class implies gathering fuel for cooking, begging alms, etc. [Manu, ii, 182].