Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12
ब्रह्मघ्नं च सुरापे च चौरे भग्नव ते शठे । निष्कृतिर्विहिता सद्भिः कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः
brahmaghnaṃ ca surāpe ca caure bhagnava te śaṭhe | niṣkṛtirvihitā sadbhiḥ kṛtaghne nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ
பிராமணஹந்தன், மதுபானி, திருடன், விரதம் முறித்தவன், வஞ்சகன்—இவர்களுக்கு நல்லோர் பிராயச்சித்தம் விதித்துள்ளனர்; ஆனால் நன்றிகெட்டவனுக்கு பிராயச்சித்தமே இல்லை.
Rājā (the King) — continuing speech
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis (frame; not explicit here)
Scene: The king enumerates notorious sins—brahmahatyā, surāpāna, theft, vow-breaking, deceit—then points to ingratitude as beyond expiation; listeners appear sobered, heads bowed.
FAQs
Ingratitude is portrayed as a uniquely grave moral failing—worse than many named sins—because it violates the very foundation of dharma and social trust.
No single tīrtha is specified in this verse; it functions as a dharma-teaching embedded within the broader tīrtha narrative.
The verse refers generally to niṣkṛti/prāyaścitta (expiations) for various sins, but states none exists for kṛtaghna (ingratitude).