December 17th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
लालयेत् पञ्चवर्षाणि दशवर्षाणि ताडयेत् ।
प्राप्‍ते तु षोडशे वर्षे पुत्रं मित्रवदाचरेत् ॥

- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
lālayet pañcavarṣāṇi daśavarṣāṇi tāḍayet ।
prāp‍te tu ṣoḍaśe varṣe putraṃ mitravadācaret ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Indulge a child for the first 5 years, (and) discipline him for the next 10.  Upon attaining the age of 16, treat him like a friend.

Commentary:
Pampering isn't the only way to shower children with affection.

When children are young, under the age of five, they are very innocent and divine. Indulging them and yielding to their desires and whims are acceptable at that age.

However, as they start growing up, they begin to see the world around them and start exploring their limits. Yielding to all their desires, right or wrong, will only bring them harm. If they do not have a parent or adult who guides and helps them to make the right choices, chances are, they will make the wrong ones!  That's human tendency. 

Children might find it uncalled for, but will soon realize the reasons behind the discipline as they mature into responsible adults. Discipline is essential, especially in setting moral grounds - telling lies, being hurtful to others, etc. should be nipped in the bud. When the right morals are instilled in a child at a young age, the parents can be assured that they have carried out their duties effectively.

Once children reach sixteen years of age, they are almost adults. That is the right time to start treating them as friends while having faith that all the indulgences and disciplining performed in the past years have taken part in sculpting a loving, caring, and responsible adult. 

Children brought up like this turn out to be wonderful contributions to society!

pada vigrahaH:
लालयेत् पञ्च वर्षाणि दश वर्षाणि ताडयेत् ।
lālayet pañca varṣāṇi daśa varṣāṇi tāḍayet ।

प्राप्‍ते तु षोडशे वर्षे पुत्रं मित्रवत् आचरेत् ॥
prāp‍te tu ṣoḍaśe varṣe putraṃ mitravat ācaret ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
laalayet pa~nchavarShaaNi dashavarShaaNi taaDayet ।
praapte tu ShoDashe varShe putraM mitravadaacharet ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

laalayet pa~ncha varShaaNi dasha varShaaNi taaDayet ।
praapte tu ShoDashe varShe putraM mitravat aacharet ॥

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