DISCIPLE-SISHYAH ( शिष्यः)

SUBHASHITHAM: 119

काकचेष्टा बकध्यानं श्वाननिद्राल्पभोजनम् |

स्वाध्यायः संयमश्च छात्राणां लक्षणानि षट् ||

kaakacheShTaa bakadhyaanam shvaananidraalpabhojanam I

svaadhyaayah samyamashcha chhaatraaNaam lakShNaani ShaT II

1.  Alertness like a crow,2. Concentration like a stork, 3. Light Sleep like a dog, 4.Limited intake of food, 5.Reciting/Repeating/Rehearsing to one-self and 6. Self-control  are six qualities of a (good) Student.

एतदेव हि सच्छिष्यै: कर्तव्यं गुरुनिष्कृतम् ।
यद् वै विशुद्धभावेन सर्वार्थात्मार्पणं गुरौ ॥ ŚB 10.80.41

etad eva hi sac-chiṣyaiḥ kartavyaṁ guru-niṣkṛtam
yad vai viśuddha-bhāvena sarvārthātmārpaṇaṁ gurau

This indeed is the duty of all true disciples: to repay the debt to their spiritual master by offering him, with pure hearts, their wealth and even their very lives.

Sishya lakshaNam: A person who wishes to learn and be instructed by an AcArya should have a number of  qualifications .SvAmi deSikan has outlined 15 Sishya lakshaNa-s in 

Nyasa vimsati-Slokam 3.

सद्भुद्धिः साधु सेवी समुचितचरितस्तत्वबोधाभिलाषी

शुशृषुस्त्यक्तमानः प्रणिपतनपरः प्रश्नकालप्रतीषः ।

 शान्तो दान्तोऽनसूयुः शरणमुपगतः शास्त्रविश्वासशाली

 शिष्य प्राप्तः परीक्षां कृतविदभिमतं तत्त्वतः शिक्ष्णणीयः ॥ ३॥NYASA VIMSATI

1. Sad buddhih- Pure intellect without blemishes

2. Saadu sevee- Servility in respect of Bhagavataas

3. Samuchita charitah-Implicit observance of swava dharma

4. Tatva bodah abhilaashi- Enthusiasm for learning about Tatva,hita and purusharta

5. shushrushuh-Eagerness to serve the preceptor in his daily routine

6. Tyakta maanah-Totally free from self-conceit when serving the acharya

7.Prani patana parah-Enthusiasm to fall flat as a matter of implicit obedience and reverence to the acharya

8. Prasna kala prateekshah- Learning to benefit from acharya’s explanations

9. shaantah-Successful conquest of the five senses

10. Daantah-Complete over the mind

11. Anasooyuh-Absence of jealousy

12. Charanam upagatah-To reside close to acharya for acquiring spiritual knowledge

13. Shaastra visvaasa shaalee-Implicit faith in scriptures and their mandates

14. Pareekshaam praaptah-Readiness to be subject to various tests

15. Kruta vid-Gratitude for the enormous service rendered by the acharya
गुरुणा यो अभिमन्येत गुरुं वा अभिमन्येते I 
ता उभौ परमां सिद्धिं नियमाद् उपगच्छतः II Bharadwaja samhita

The one who is dear to the acharya and the Sishya who adores the acharya will both gain liberation ( paramam siddhim) undoubtedly.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH