Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.26

c12.s6.26

**Obligations of Teacher to Pupil.** There are prescribed regulations governing the teacher's relations with, and duties towards, his pupil. The teacher is to adopt and love the pupil as his own son so that Baudhāyana [*Dha. Su.*, i, 2, 48] considers a teacher devoid of a natural issue as not issue-less if he has a pupil. He should teach him the sacred science with whole-hearted attention without withholding from him any part of the whole Law. He is described as leading the pupil from darkness of ignorance to the light of learning [*Āp. Dh. S.*, i, 10, 11] and uncovering that light hidden in a cover [Aparārka on *Yājña.*, i, 212]. A teacher who neglects the instruction of his pupil ceases to be his teacher [*Āp.*, i, 2, 8, 27]. Such neglect is described as giving the pupil work which interferes with his studies (Na cha enaṁ adhyayanavighnena ātmārtheshu uparundhyāt anāpatsu). Thus, though it is the duty of the pupil to render services to the teacher to please him, the teacher must be careful to see that the pupil is not exploited for his own purposes to the detriment of his studies. Such services are meant for the pupil's own moral improvement and not solely for the economic advantages of the teacher. In times of distress, however, the teacher was permitted to accept the assistance of his pupil [*Āp.*, ib., 24–5].