Lalayet Pancha Varshani (How to Raise a Child) — Word-by-Word Meaning
लालयेत् पञ्च वर्षाणि
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
लालयेत्
lālayet
one should fondle, pamper, lovingly indulge
पञ्च वर्षाणि
pañca varṣāṇi
for five years
दश वर्षाणि
daśa varṣāṇi
for ten years (the next ten years)
ताडयेत्
tāḍayet
one should discipline, correct, chastise (guide firmly)
प्राप्ते
prāpte
when (the child) has reached / attained
तु
tu
but, and (a connective)
षोडशे वर्षे
ṣoḍaśe varṣe
in the sixteenth year
पुत्रम्
putram
the son (the child, offspring)
मित्रवत्
mitravat
like a friend, as one would a friend
आचरेत्
ācaret
one should behave, treat, conduct oneself
Complete Translation
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.
Origin & History
Source: Chanakya Niti
Author: Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya)
Period: 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does 'Lalayet Pancha Varshani' come from?▼
It is a famous verse from the Chanakya Niti (Niti Darpana), the body of aphorisms attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta), the ancient Indian teacher of ethics, statecraft and the conduct of life.
What are the three stages of upbringing in this verse?▼
For the first five years the child is treated with loving indulgence (lalayet); for the next ten years (up to about sixteen) the child is firmly disciplined and trained (tadayet); and from the sixteenth year onward the child is to be treated as a friend (mitravat).
Does 'tadayet' mean a child should be beaten?▼
In its traditional sense tadayet means to discipline, correct and train with firmness during the formative years, not to harm. The verse's spirit is about firm guidance and structure in the middle stage, balanced by tenderness before it and friendship after.
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