Shloka 9

लालने बहवो दोषास्ताडने बहवो गुणाः / तस्माच्छिष्यं च पुत्रं च ताडयेन्न तु लालयेत्

lālane bahavo doṣāstāḍane bahavo guṇāḥ / tasmācchiṣyaṃ ca putraṃ ca tāḍayenna tu lālayet

Indulgent pampering breeds many faults, while firm correction nurtures many virtues. Therefore one should discipline both the disciple and the son, and not merely coddle them.

लालनेin pampering/indulgence
लालने:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootलालन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of sphere)
बहवःmany
बहवः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण
दोषाःfaults
दोषाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदोष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण (predicative)
ताडनेin chastising/beating
ताडने:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootताडन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण
बहवःmany
बहवः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण
गुणाःvirtues/benefits
गुणाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण
तस्मात्therefore
तस्मात्:
Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (particle); हेतौ/तस्मात् = 'therefore/from that reason'
शिष्यंa student/disciple
शिष्यं:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootशिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म
and
:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
पुत्रंa son
पुत्रं:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म
and
:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
ताडयेत्should chastise/beat
ताडयेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootताड् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
not
:
Pratishedha (Negation/प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)
तुbut
तु:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय (adversative/emphatic particle)
लालयेत्should pamper/indulge
लालयेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootलल् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Concept: Proper correction (daṇḍa/śikṣā) prevents faults; disciplined upbringing forms character in son and student.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi through niyama and saṃskāra; mastery of senses as a basis for higher pursuit.

Application: Practice consistent, proportionate discipline; set boundaries, give corrective feedback, and avoid enabling habits in children/students.

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (nīti/dharma sections around 1.115) on sadācāra and self-control

FAQs

This verse frames discipline as a dharmic tool that builds guṇas (virtues), while unchecked pampering increases doṣas (faults), especially in students and children.

Indirectly, it links character-formation to dharma: cultivating virtues through correction supports right conduct, which in Purāṇic ethics shapes karma and future outcomes.

Prefer consistent, principled correction and accountability in education and parenting over indulgence—aimed at building self-control, responsibility, and good habits.