Lalayet Pancha Varshani (How to Raise a Child) — Complete Lyrics
लालयेत् पञ्च वर्षाणि
Sanskrit text with English transliteration and translation
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॥
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.
Want to understand every word?
Read Word-by-Word Meaning →