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Vol. XXXIII, 2010
The Qualifications of a Student According to Niruktam
27
1.2.1 One who is capable of knowing the śāstra: -
If a person is not a vaiyākarana but he is competent to receive the knowledge, otherwise we can say whose mind is stable (sthirabuddhi) the teacher explains the derivatives and compounds. But one should come to the teacher with śraddhā and jinñāsā. If one will not come to the teacher even if he or she is diligent or intelligent or stable-minded how can a teacher will teach?"
In this context Yāska has explained with an legendary example which is also found in Samhitopanişad Brāhmaṇa, Vaśishtha Dharmasūtra (2/8-10) and in Manusmruti (2/114). In Bhagavadgītā (13/7-11) twenty characteristics of the qualifier of knowledge is described elaborately. In Samhitopanisad Brāhmana it is said that vidyā or knowledge approached to Brāhmana (teacher) and said 'Protect me, I am thy treasure. Do not expound me to the scornful nor to the nonstraightforward nor to one who has no self-control; thus shall I grow powerful". The same idea is also found in the Manusmrti. 14 Again it is said that one should honour the teacher (guru) as father and mother, and should never bear enmity towards him who pierces ears with truth without causing pain, and bestowing ambrosia."
Further it is said that who having received instruction do not honour their teacher with word, thought and deed, the knowledge does not feed them. And lastly it is said that in order to protect your treasure O Brāhman a expound me to him alone whom you know to be pure, diligent, intelligent observing the rules of a celibate life and who never bears enmity towards you.16
The important characteristics of a student here in the above stanzas are :
i) free from jealousness (anasūyaka) ii) straightforwardness (rjutā) iii) self-control (ayatatā) iv) pureness (sucitā) v) carefulness (apramattatā) vi) celibacy (brahmacharyam) vii) the capability to preserve knowledge (nidhipatvam) viii) reverence to the teacher (gurubhakti)
