Shloka 9

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

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

Translation

అతి లాలనతో అనేక దోషాలు పెరుగుతాయి; కఠినమైన శిక్షణ‑శాసనంతో అనేక గుణాలు వికసిస్తాయి. కనుక శిష్యుని, కుమారుని—ఇద్దరినీ ధర్మబద్ధంగా శిక్షించాలి; కేవలం లాలించకూడదు.

Word by Word

• लालने: in pampering/indulgence
• लालने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of sphere)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दोषाः: faults
• दोषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण (predicative)

• ताडने: in chastising/beating
• ताडने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताडन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• गुणाः: virtues/benefits
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle); हेतौ/तस्मात् = 'therefore/from that reason'

• शिष्यं: a student/disciple
• शिष्यं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुत्रं: a son
• पुत्रं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताडयेत्: should chastise/beat
• ताडयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय (adversative/emphatic particle)

• लालयेत्: should pamper/indulge
• लालयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

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.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

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

FAQs

What is the importance of discipline (tāḍana) in the Garuda Purana?

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

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

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

Practical application of this wisdom today?

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