Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.52

c12.s6.52

**A Teacher’s obligation to conserve and spread Knowledge as its Custodian.** Thirdly, this particular system of transmitting knowledge had the natural effect of producing a keen sense of responsibility in those who came to be the custodians and guardians of that knowledge. Every teacher felt that his primary and paramount duty was to discharge himself of the sacred obligation he owed to the *Ṛishis*, to the cause of culture and learning, by finding proper pupils to whom he might communicate the knowledge borne by him. That knowledge he could not permit by any means to die with him. Thus a serious and solemn responsibility attached to the position of a teacher as the trustee of the nation’s culture, and the violation or non-fulfilment of that sacred trust was one of the gravest of sins. Indeed, every teacher took to his profession as a supreme religious duty and as he used to take a number of pupils he would have the satisfaction of finding that he has been able to create in them several centres and sources of knowledge where there was only one such centre and source, and that he has, by his personal contribution, amply repaid the debt he owes to the cause of the culture of his country.