Shloka 216

Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation

Devanagari script

परिवेष्टाग्निहोत्रस्य भवेन्नासंस्कृतस्तथा । न कन्या, न युवती, न मन्त्र न जाननेवाला, न मूर्ख और न संस्कारहीन पुरुष ही अग्निमें हवन करनेका अधिकारी है

Transliteration

pariveṣṭāgnihotrasya bhavennāsaṁskṛtastathā |

Translation

بھیشم نے کہا—اگنی ہوتَر اور اس کے ملحقہ اعمال میں غیر مُسنْسکرت (بے دِکشا) شخص کا حق نہیں۔ نہ کنیا، نہ غیر شادی شدہ جوان عورت، نہ منتر سے ناواقف، نہ احمق، اور نہ بے سنسکار مرد—آگ میں ہون کرنے کا اہل ہے۔

Word by Word

• परिवेष्ट: of one who is wrapped/covered (i.e., not properly prepared/qualified)
• परिवेष्ट: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवेष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वेष्ट्)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अग्निहोत्रस्य: of the Agnihotra (fire-offering rite)
• अग्निहोत्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• भवेत्: would be / should be
• भवेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• असंस्कृतः: unrefined / uninitiated / without proper rites
• असंस्कृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंस्कृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus / likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Agnihotra
• sacred fire (Agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ritual action (like Agnihotra) is governed by dharma: it requires proper preparation—initiation/saṁskāra, knowledge of mantras, and maturity/competence. Without these, performing offerings is considered improper and spiritually/ritually invalid.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira about right conduct. Here he specifies qualifications for Vedic fire-rituals, warning that those lacking training or refinement should not perform havan/Agnihotra.