Lalayet Pancha Varshani (How to Raise a Child)
लालयेत् पञ्च वर्षाणि
Also known as: lalayet pancha varshani · lalayet pancha varshani dasha varshani tadayet · putram mitravadacharet · chanakya parenting shloka · how to raise a child chanakya
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✦ Meaning
This famous parenting verse from Chanakya Niti prescribes three stages in raising a child: five years of loving indulgence, ten years of firm discipline and training, and from the sixteenth year onward, the respect and openness due to a friend. It remains one of the most quoted maxims on child-rearing, balancing tenderness, guidance and trust as a child matures.
Origin & Story
Chanakya Niti · Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya) · Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)
Chanakya, who himself trained the young Chandragupta into an emperor, gave deep thought to the shaping of the young. This verse on child-rearing distils that experience into three stages — indulgence, discipline and friendship — and has become one of the most widely quoted guides to parenting in the Indian tradition.
✦ As told in scripture
Generations of parents have credited this single verse with rescuing their households from extremes, for the one who indulges only the small child, trains firmly through the growing years, and befriends the grown one raises a child who is both well-disciplined and devoted.
The Mantra
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लालयेत् पञ्च वर्षाणि दश वर्षाणि ताडयेत्। प्राप्ते तु षोडशे वर्षे पुत्रं मित्रवदाचरेत्॥
lālayet pañca varṣāṇi daśa varṣāṇi tāḍayet। prāpte tu ṣoḍaśe varṣe putraṁ mitravad ācaret॥
Meaning:For the first five years treat a child with loving indulgence; for the next ten years guide and discipline him firmly; but once he has reached his sixteenth year, treat him as a friend. Chanakya offers a timeless model of upbringing, matching affection, discipline and friendship to the changing stages of a child's growth.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Lalayet Pancha Varshani (How to Raise a Child)
Offers a balanced, time-tested framework for raising children
Matches affection, discipline and friendship to a child's age
Guides parents to adapt their role as the child matures
Encourages firm training in the formative years
Teaches respect and friendship toward grown children
A concise, memorable maxim cherished by parents and teachers
How to Chant Lalayet Pancha Varshani (How to Raise a Child)
Recite the verse slowly and reflect on its three stages — five years of loving care, ten years of firm guidance, and friendship from the sixteenth year. Consider how a parent's role must change as a child grows. It is traditionally studied among Chanakya's teachings on family and upbringing.