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Shloka 12

कृतघ्ननिन्दा तथा सुग्रीवप्रबोधनम्

Condemnation of Ingratitude and Admonition of Sugriva

ब्रह्मघ्ने च सुरापे च चोरे भग्नव्रते तथा।निष्कृतिर्विहिता सद्भि: कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः।।।।

brahmaghne ca surāpe ca core bhagnavrate tathā | niṣkṛtir vihitā sadbhiḥ kṛtaghne nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ ||

สำหรับผู้ฆ่าพราหมณ์ ผู้ดื่มสุรา ผู้ลักขโมย และผู้ละเมิดพรตอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์นั้น บัณฑิตผู้ดีงามยังกำหนดการชดใช้บาปได้; แต่สำหรับคนอกตัญญู ไม่มีการไถ่บาปเลย.

brahma-ghnein the case of a brahmin-killer
brahma-ghne:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (ब्रह्मन्) + ghnin/ghna (घ्न)
Formतत्पुरुष (‘killer of a brahmin’), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative; ‘in the case of’), एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (च अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय
surā-pein the case of a drunkard
surā-pe:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsurā (सुरा) + pa (प)
Formतत्पुरुष (‘drinker of liquor’), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (च अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय
corein the case of a thief
core:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootcora (चोर प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
bhagna-vratein the case of a vow-breaker
bhagna-vrate:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagna (भग्न) + vrata (व्रत)
Formतत्पुरुष (‘one whose vow is broken’), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
tathālikewise
tathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (तथा अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (likewise/also)
niṣkṛtiḥexpiation
niṣkṛtiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootniṣkṛti (निष्कृति प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
vihitāis prescribed
vihitā:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvi+dhā (वि+धा धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘prescribed’ (agreeing with niṣkṛtiḥ)
sadbhiḥby the good (people)
sadbhiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootsat (सत् प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन
kṛtaghnein the case of the ungrateful
kṛtaghne:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootkṛtaghna (कृतघ्न प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (न अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय
astiexists
asti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (अस् धातु)
Formलट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
niṣkṛtiḥexpiation
niṣkṛtiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootniṣkṛti (निष्कृति)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

'There is expiation for one who kills a brahmin, a drunkard, a thief and a violator of sacred vows. But there is no atonement for an ungrateful man.'

L
Lakṣmaṇa
S
Sugrīva
B
brāhmaṇa (as category and as quoted authority)

FAQs

Ingratitude is treated as a foundational breach of dharma: it destroys trust, violates satya (keeping one’s word), and undermines social and moral order—hence it is depicted as beyond ordinary expiation.

Lakṣmaṇa warns Sugrīva through a severe maxim: after receiving Rāma’s help, Sugrīva must not default on his promise to assist in the search for Sītā.

The virtue demanded is gratitude expressed as faithful reciprocity; Lakṣmaṇa embodies moral clarity and insistence on truthfulness to commitments.