QUALITIES OF A GOOD STUDENT

SUBHASHITHAM- 022

“काक चेष्टा, बको ध्यानं, श्वान निद्रा तेथैव्चा

अल्पहारी, गृहत्यागी विद्यार्थी पञ्च लक्षणं”

This sloka prescribes the following five important qualities of a good student:

1. Perseverance of a crow   2.  concentration of a crane  3.   light/alert sleeper like a dog

4.  frugal eater  5.  readiness to staying  away from home for learning pursuits

Basically, this shloka tells us the 5 essential qualities desired out of an ideal student. A student should be very agile, alert and  energetic like a crow. At the same time, he should have concentration like a crane. A crane can sit still for hours together waiting & concentrating on his prey. Sleep should be a like a dog. A dog wakes up at the slightest of sounds and is ever alert.  Also very important is the quality of alpaahaari... i.e. light eater. Students should not be stuffing their stomachs to the brim, since it affects their agility and  concentration.

We have from Vidura niti,a sloka on the qualities  of a successful individual ( students included ):

  बुद्धि: प्रभाव: तेजश्च सत्वमुत्थानमेवच |

व्यवसायश्र्च यस्यास्ति तस्य वॄत्तिभयं कुत: ||      विदुरनीति

One who has intelligence , chivalry, poise, power, enthusiasm and willingness to work; why he/she has to worry about progress in life ? ( Implication is success is definite )  

We have from Bhagavad Gita :

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |     उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिन: || 34||

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśhnena sevayā     upadekṣhyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśhinaḥ 

Learn thou this by discipleship, by investigation, and by service. The wise teachers will  instruct thee in wisdom.

 Now, we will also see , what are the qualities a good student should avoid :

आलस्यं मदमोहञ्च चपलं गुष्टि रेवच I    स्तभ्दता चाभिमानित्वं तथा अत्यागित्वं एव च  I ll

एते वै सप्त दोष: स्यू: सदा विध्यार्थिनां मत:II

Aalasyam mada mohancha chapalam gushtirevacha I     Sthabdatha cha abhimaanitvam thatha athyagitvam eva cha I     Ete vai sapta dosha: syu : sada vidhyaartinam matha: II

Laziness, pride, ignorance, fickle mindedness, gossiping , idleness, possessiveness are the seven drawbacks found in students.    

Sri Krishnaya thubhyam nama: