शासन (shaasan)
noun
A formal, Sanskritic word for governing or rule -- covers both the abstract act of governance and the concrete apparatus (a government/administration/regime) that does it.
Sense
1
:
governance, rule, administration (abstract)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: शासन-व्यवस्था (shaasan-vyavasthaa, compound form), राज (raaj, everyday/informal), हुकूमत (hukoomat)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll see शासन (shaasan) constantly in newspapers and civics textbooks -- लोकतांत्रिक शासन (loktaantrik shaasan, 'democratic governance') is a stock phrase. It sits a notch above राज (raaj) in formality, the way 'governance' sits above 'rule' in English.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for राज (raaj) in casual speech and शासन (shaasan) in writing/news, but the two overlap heavily -- शासन (shaasan) is not 'more correct,' just more formal-register. 2) Don't confuse with शासन करना (shaasan karnaa, 'to rule/govern'), which needs the light verb करना (karnaa) -- शासन (shaasan) alone is the noun, not a verb.
Sample Sentences:
लोकतांत्रिक शासन में जनता की भागीदारी ज़रूरी होती है।
Public participation is essential in democratic governance.
(loktaantrik shaasan men jantaa kii bhaagiidaarii zaroorii hotii hai।)
अच्छे शासन के लिए पारदर्शिता होनी चाहिए।
For good governance, there should be transparency.
(achchhe shaasan ke lie paardarshitaa honii chaahie।)
मुग़लों के समय शासन की व्यवस्था अलग थी।
In the Mughal era, the system of governance was different.
(mughlon ke samay shaasan kii vyavasthaa alag thii।)
यदि शासन कुशल होता, तो देश इतना पीछे न होता।
If the governance were efficient, the country would not be so far behind.
(yadi shaasan kushal hotaa, to desh itnaa piichhe n hotaa।)
शासन को सुधारने के लिए ठोस कदम उठाए जाने चाहिए।
Solid steps should be taken to improve governance.
(shaasan ko sudhaarne ke lie thos kadam uthaae jaane chaahie।)
इस किताब में भारत के शासन-तंत्र की पूरी जानकारी दी गई है।
Complete information about India's system of governance is given in this book.
(is kitaab men bhaarat ke shaasan-tantr kii poorii jaankaarii dii gaii hai।)
आने वाले वर्षों में शासन में और पारदर्शिता आएगी।
In the coming years, there will be more transparency in governance.
(aane vaale varshon men shaasan men aur paardarshitaa aaegii।)
प्राचीन भारत में शासन के सिद्धांत कौटिल्य के अर्थशास्त्र में मिलते हैं।
The principles of governance in ancient India are found in Kautilya's Arthashastra.
(praachiin bhaarat men shaasan ke siddhaant kautily ke arthshaastr men milte hain।)
क्या शासन में भ्रष्टाचार कभी पूरी तरह ख़त्म हो सकता है?
Can corruption in governance ever be completely eliminated?
(kyaa shaasan men bhrashtaachaar kabhii poorii tarah khatm ho saktaa hai?)
नागरिक शास्त्र की किताब में शासन के तीन अंगों के बारे में पढ़ाया जाता है।
The civics textbook teaches about the three branches of governance.
(naagrik shaastr kii kitaab men shaasan ke tiin angon ke baare men padhaayaa jaataa hai।)
सुशासन का अर्थ है कि शासन जनता के प्रति जवाबदेह हो।
Good governance means that governance is accountable to the people.
(sushaasan kaa arth hai ki shaasan jantaa ke prati javaabdeh ho।)
Sense
2
:
a government, regime, or administration (as an entity/period)
noun, masculine Often marked with a possessor or time-frame, e.g. मुगल शासन (mughal shaasan, 'Mughal rule/regime') or किसी के शासन में (kisii ke shaasan men, 'under someone's regime').
Synonyms: सरकार (sarkaar), शासनकाल (shaasankaal, specifically 'reign/period of rule')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This sense shows up heavily in history lessons -- मुगल शासन (mughal shaasan) and ब्रिटिश शासन (british shaasan) are practically fixed phrases every Indian schoolchild learns, referring to entire eras of rule rather than a single sitting government.
Common Mistakes: 1) सरकार (sarkaar) is the everyday word for 'the government' (as in, who's currently in power); शासन (shaasan) leans toward the broader regime or era of rule -- e.g. historians say ब्रिटिश शासन (british shaasan, 'British rule') rather than ब्रिटिश सरकार (british sarkaar) when talking about the colonial period as a whole.
Sample Sentences:
मुग़ल शासन तीन सौ साल से भी ज़्यादा चला।
The Mughal regime lasted for more than three hundred years.
(mughal shaasan tiin sau saal se bhii zyaadaa chalaa।)
ब्रिटिश शासन में लोगों को बहुत तकलीफ़ें झेलनी पड़ीं।
Under British rule, people had to endure a lot of hardships.
(british shaasan men logon ko bahut takliifen jhelnii padiin।)
इतिहास की किताब में मुग़ल शासन का पूरा एक अध्याय है।
There is a whole chapter on the Mughal regime in the history book.
(itihaas kii kitaab men mughal shaasan kaa pooraa ek adhyaay hai।)
अगर अंग्रेज़ी शासन न होता तो देश की तस्वीर कुछ और होती।
If British rule had not happened, the picture of the country would have been different.
(agar angrezii shaasan n hotaa to desh kii tasviir kuchh aur hotii।)
उस राजा का शासन बहुत क्रूर माना जाता है।
That king's regime is considered very cruel.
(us raajaa kaa shaasan bahut kroor maanaa jaataa hai।)
क्या तुम्हें पता है कि किस शासन के दौरान यह किला बना था?
Do you know during which regime this fort was built?
(kyaa tumhen pataa hai ki kis shaasan ke dauraan yah kilaa banaa thaa?)
अगले शासन में शायद हालात बदल जाएँ।
Under the next regime, conditions might perhaps change.
(agle shaasan men shaayad haalaat badal jaaen।)
उस शासन के गिरने के बाद नया संविधान बनाया गया।
After that regime fell, a new constitution was drafted.
(us shaasan ke girne ke baad nayaa sanvidhaan banaayaa gayaa।)
इस शासन के आते ही टैक्स की दरें बढ़ने लगीं।
As soon as this regime came in, tax rates started rising.
(is shaasan ke aate hii taiks kii daren badhne lagiin।)
उस शासन में प्रेस पर कड़ी पाबंदियाँ थीं।
Under that regime, there were strict restrictions on the press.
(us shaasan men pres par kadii paabandiyaan thiin।)
इतिहासकार आज भी इस बात पर बहस करते हैं कि कौन-सा शासन बेहतर था।
Historians still debate today about which regime was better.
(itihaaskaar aaj bhii is baat par bahas karte hain ki kaun-saa shaasan behtar thaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
शासन
(shaasan)
(sg.m.oblique):
शासन
(shaasan)
(pl.m.direct):
शासन
(shaasan)
(pl.m.oblique):
शासनों
(shaasnon)