Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 160

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मघ्ने च सुरापे च चौरे भग्नवते शठे । निष्कृतिर्विहिता सद्भिः कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः

Transliteration

brahmaghne ca surāpe ca caure bhagnavate śaṭhe | niṣkṛtirvihitā sadbhiḥ kṛtaghne nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ

Translation

Pour le meurtrier d’un brāhmane, pour le buveur d’alcool, pour le voleur, pour celui qui trahit la confiance et pour le trompeur—les hommes de bien ont prescrit des expiations; mais pour l’ingrat, il n’est point d’expiation.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मघ्ने: in the case of a Brahmin-slayer
• ब्रह्मघ्ने: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc./7th), एकवचन

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

• सुरापे: in the case of a liquor-drinker
• सुरापे: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुराप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc./7th), एकवचन

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

• चौरे: in the case of a thief
• चौरे: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc./7th), एकवचन

• भग्नवते: in the case of one who has broken (a vow/faith)
• भग्नवते: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग्नवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc./7th), एकवचन

• शठे: in the case of a deceitful person
• शठे: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc./7th), एकवचन

• निष्कृतिः: expiation
• निष्कृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• विहिता: prescribed
• विहिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + √धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘निष्कृतिः’ इति विशेषण

• सद्भिः: by the good/wise
• सद्भिः: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr./3rd), बहुवचन

• कृतघ्ने: in the case of an ungrateful person
• कृतघ्ने: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc./7th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निष्कृतिः: expiation
• निष्कृतिः: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom./1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Indra (Sahasrākṣa) (deduced from context)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas of the lineages assembled

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A moral allegory: on one side, figures representing brahmahatyā, surāpāna, theft, breach of trust, deceit—each shown with a path of expiation; on the other, a shadowed figure labeled ‘kṛtaghna’ with no path, emphasizing the verse’s stark claim.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Brāhmaṇa (as category in brahmahatyā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The text elevates gratitude as foundational dharma: even grave sins may have expiation, but ingrained ingratitude is portrayed as spiritually corrosive.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it supplies a moral maxim within the tīrtha-centered narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Expiations (niṣkṛti/prāyaścitta) are referenced generally, but no particular rite is specified.