कन्यानां सम्प्रदानञ्च कुमाराणाञ्च रक्षणम्। राष्ट्रस्य सङ्ग्रहे नित्यं विधानमिदमाचरेत्॥
kanyānāṃ sampradānañca kumārāṇāñca rakṣaṇam । rāṣṭrasya saṅgrahe nityaṃ vidhānam idam ācaret ॥
PM's MessageWhen all-round development ensures positive change in the life of every citizen, the nation's progress also gains new momentum. With this inspiring spirit, we are continuously working to strengthen India's capabilities.
Meaning of Kanyānāṃ Sampradānañca Kumārāṇāñca
Ensuring the welfare of women, protecting and nurturing the younger generation, and continually making the necessary arrangements for the unity, security, prosperity, and orderly governance of the nation are the constant duties of every representative of the people.
Word by word
- कन्यानाम्kanyānām
of girls
कन्या
- सम्प्रदानम्sampradānam
proper bestowal in marriage
सम् + प्र + √दा
- चca
and
- कुमाराणाम्kumārāṇām
of boys
कुमार
- रक्षणम्rakṣaṇam
protection
√रक्ष्
- राष्ट्रस्यrāṣṭrasya
of the realm
√राज्
- सङ्ग्रहेsaṅgrahe
in the holding together
सम् + √ग्रह्
- नित्यम्nityam
always
नित्य
- विधानम् इदम्vidhānam idam
this ordinance
वि + √धा
- आचरेत्ācaret
one should observe
आ + √चर्
Commentary
This entry joins two Manusmriti half-verses into a single civic teaching. Literally, kanyānāṃ sampradānam refers to giving girls in marriage, while kumārāṇāṃ rakṣaṇam refers to the protection of boys. The supplied meaning broadens these historically specific duties into the welfare of women and the protection and development of the younger generation. The second half turns to rāṣṭrasya saṅgraha, the continual holding together, securing, and orderly maintenance of the realm. Read as a modern application, the post connects family responsibilities with public welfare and national administration. That application is broader than the Sanskrit wording, but it draws from the verse’s insistence that these duties and the maintenance of the realm require continuing attention.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Manusmriti
View source pageयथा खात्वा खनित्रेण भूतले वारि विन्दति। तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति॥
yathā khātvā khanitreṇa bhūtale vāri vindati । tathā gurugatāṃ vidyāṃ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati ॥
Just as water is found only by digging deep into the earth, true knowledge can only be drawn from the Guru through Shushrusha — devoted service and wholehearted attentiveness.
सर्वं परवशं दुःखं सर्वमात्मवशं सुखम्। एतद् विद्यात् समासेन लक्षणं सुखदुःखयोः॥
sarvaṁ paravaśaṁ duḥkhaṁ sarvam ātmavaśaṁ sukham । etad vidyāt samāsena lakṣaṇaṁ sukha-duḥkhayoḥ ॥
Dependence leaves happiness in another’s hands, while self-command creates the freedom and inner steadiness from which well-being grows.
More subhashitams on Governance
View topic pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
उपदिशति लोकवृत्तं वितरति वित्तं विनोदयति चित्तम्। उत्तम्भयति महत्त्वं विद्या हृद्या सुराजसेवेव॥
upadiśati lokavṛttaṁ vitarati vittaṁ vinodayati cittam । uttambhayati mahattvaṁ vidyā hṛdyā surājaseveva ॥
Harihara presents learning as a guide to social conduct, prosperity, joy and distinction.