Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 10
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः
Sarga 111: Counsel on Gurus, Parental Debt, and Bharata’s Protest
यन्मातापितरौ वृत्तं तनये कुरुतस्सदा।न सुप्रतिकरं तत्तु मात्रा पित्रा च यत्कृतम्।।2.111.9।।यथाशक्तिप्रदानेन स्वापनोच्छादनेन च।नित्यं च प्रियवादेन तथा संवर्धनेन च।।2.111.10।।
yan mātā-pitarau vṛttaṃ tanaye kurutas sadā | na supratikaraṃ tat tu mātrā pitrā ca yat-kṛtam ||
yathāśakti-pradānena svāpanochchādanena ca | nityaṃ ca priyavādena tathā saṃvardhanena ca ||
父母对儿女恒常所行的一切照拂与教养——量力施与的馈赠、哄其入睡与为其遮体、日日温言软语，以及亲自抚育成人——这些恩德，实难报答于母与父。
The course of action the parents always adopt in respect of their son, the benefits they confer on him according to their resources, the way they lull him to sleep and clothe him, the affectionate words they always speak to him and the way they bring him up all these cannot be repaid.
FAQs
Filial dharma: parents’ lifelong sacrifices create an unrepayable moral debt, so honoring and obeying them becomes a central duty.
Vasiṣṭha instructs Rāma on righteousness by emphasizing the immeasurable care given by parents, framing Rāma’s choices in terms of gratitude and duty.
Kṛtajñatā (gratitude) expressed as obedient, respectful conduct toward one’s parents and elders.