Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c15.9

c15.9

The meaning of these regulations is very well explained by Vijñāneśvara. According to one regulation cited above, *all* litigation between teacher and pupil is illegal. The fact of the matter is "that a suit preferred before the king is irregular, and, preferred by the teacher against his pupil, is forbidden. But if the pupil violate his duty, and the teacher being weak is not able to correct him, it is consistent with common sense that he should then apply to the king; for, by violating his duty, the pupil absolutely becomes *pāshaṇḍa* or irreligious". "The litigation of teachers and the rest is not laudable, either in a moral or civil law; therefore pupils and others should, in the first instance, be discouraged by the king or the court. But in very important cases, the suits of pupils may be entertained in the form mentioned." Thus, in regard to punishment, "if a teacher, from an impulse of wrath, strike his pupil with a great staff on a noble part (of his body), then should the pupil, hurt in a mode contrary to law, complain to the king, there exists a subject of litigation."