Qualities of Shishya

According to Vishnu Purana, a true Vaishnava or for that matter any shishya has to have following qualities.

1. A shishya should be like a crane (bagalaa). Just as a crane waits patiently for a fish to come near and then grabs it, similarly shishya should patiently hear and read good things and grasp them.
2. He should be like a hen or cock. A hen or a cock searches garbage or waste by moving the garbage around with its legs and picks up the food it wants, similarly shishya should analyze all things happening around him and grasp only those good things that are useful and beneficial to him.
3. He should be like salt. Just as salt mixes with water and becomes homogeneous with it, shishya also should mix and become homogeneous with one and all by forgetting his ego.
4. Finally he should be obedient and respectful. Even if the Guru or any servant insults or scolds him he should be obedient and respectful i.e. in short he should lose his ego at any cost. 

These are considered as qualities that make up shishya to reach goal set by his Guru.

(Source: Old tamil spiritual magazine)