Mahabharata — Adi Parva, Shloka 21
कृपकृपी-जननम्
The Birth of Kṛpa and Kṛpī; Kṛpa’s Attainment of Astras
त्रयाणामितरेषां तु नाश आत्मनि नश्यति । पित्र्यादृणादनिर्मुक्त इदानीमस्मि तापसा:
trayāṇām itareṣāṁ tu nāśa ātmāni naśyati | pitryād ṛṇād anirmukta idānīm asmi tāpasāḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Adapun sisa utang itu, lenyapnya tidak terjadi hanya karena tubuh sendiri binasa. Wahai para pertapa, hingga kini pun aku belum terbebas dari utang kepada para leluhur.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the dharmic idea of ṛṇa (obligation): certain duties—especially toward one’s ancestors—are not automatically annulled by personal renunciation or even by death; they require appropriate fulfillment (classically through progeny and ancestral rites).
Vaiśampāyana addresses ascetics and states that, although some obligations may be considered discharged, he still regards himself as bound by the ancestral debt, emphasizing the continuing moral weight of duties to forebears.