the five great sins

the five great sins

the five mahapathakams or five  most heinous sins according to Hindu belief are

ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वङ्गनागमः । महान्ति पातकान्याहुः संसर्गश्चापि तैः सह.l

manusmriti 11-54

Killing learned men 

Drinking hooch 

Stealing

 Desecrating the preceptor's bed 

and finally the act of supporting or helping in any of the four acts above..

Yes, we believe that abetting a wrong deed is as bad as committing it.

न केवलं यो महतो अपभाषते शृणोति तस्मादपि यः स पापभाक्

Not only the one who scandalizes or insults others but those who hear that ( and support it covertly or openly ) are also partners in the sin..

This is what Kalidasa puts in his Mahakavyam-- Kumarasambhavam -- in the words of Uma