उपकारेण वीरस्तु प्रतीकारेण युज्यते।अकृतज्ञोऽप्रतिकृतो हन्ति सत्त्ववतां मनः।।
upakāreṇa vīras tu pratīkāreṇa yujyate | akṛtajño ’pratikṛto hanti sattvavatāṁ manaḥ ||
វីរបុរសពិតប្រាកដ តែងតបស្នងគុណដោយការតបស្នងសមគួរ; តែអ្នកអកតញ្ញូ—អ្នកមិនតបស្នង—ធ្វើឲ្យបេះដូងអ្នកមានធម៌រងរបួស។
A hero should in return help whoever has helped him. An ungrateful person hurts the heart of the virtuous by not returning the assistance.'
Gratitude (kṛtajñatā) is a pillar of righteous conduct: receiving help creates a moral obligation to respond with appropriate reciprocation.
Rama frames the moral expectation that Sugriva should return Rama’s assistance (in gaining the kingdom) by helping Rama in his own cause.
Nobility expressed as reciprocity: the ‘vīra’ is defined not only by strength but by moral responsiveness.