Shloka 1

Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation

Devanagari script

पजञ्चषष्ट्यधिकशततमोड< ध्याय: नाना प्रकारके पापों और उनके प्रायद्षित्तोंका वर्णन भीष्म उवाच ह्वतार्थो यक्ष्यमाणश्च सर्ववेदान्तगश्न यः । आचार्यपितृकार्यार्थ स्वाध्यायार्थभथापि च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | hṛtārtho yakṣyamāṇaś ca sarvavedāntagāś ca yaḥ | ācāryapitṛkāryārthaṃ svādhyāyārtham athāpi ca ||

Translation

Bhishma said: O King, if a Brahmin—versed in the entirety of the Vedas and the Vedānta—intends to perform a sacrifice, and his wealth has been stolen, then it is the king’s duty to provide him with means: for paying the teacher’s fee, for performing rites for the ancestors, and also for continuing Vedic study. Such eminent Brahmins are often seen seeking wealth not for indulgence but for the sake of dharma; therefore, they should be supported with resources for charity and learning.

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हृतार्थः: one whose wealth/means has been stolen
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृतार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यक्ष्यमाणः: about to perform a sacrifice
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्ववेदान्तगः: versed in all Vedanta (Upanishads)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्ववेदान्तग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आचार्यपितृकार्यार्थम्: for the purpose of duties toward teacher and ancestors
• आचार्यपितृकार्यार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्यपितृकार्यार्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्वाध्यायार्थम्: for the purpose of self-study (Vedic recitation/study)
• स्वाध्यायार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्यायार्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: also/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• the King (Rājan, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira in context)
• Brahmin (Brāhmaṇa)
• teacher/preceptor (Ācārya)
• ancestors (Pitṛs)
• Vedas (Veda)
• Vedānta/Upaniṣads (Vedānta)
• sacrifice (Yajña)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king must actively uphold dharma by materially supporting a learned, dharma-oriented Brahmin who has been robbed—especially so he can fulfill obligations like teacher’s fee (dakṣiṇā), ancestral rites, and Vedic study. Aid is framed as royal duty, not optional charity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva dialogue on dharma, Bhishma instructs the king about governance and expiation-related duties. Here he gives a specific case: when a Veda- and Vedānta-versed Brahmin preparing for sacrifice loses his wealth to theft, the king should provide funds so religious and educational duties are not obstructed.