Shloka 18
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
क्षयं शोकं प्रकुर्वाणो न म्रियेत यदा नर: । शस्त्रादिभिरुपाविष्ट स्त्रिरात्रं तत्र निर्दिशेत्
kṣayaṃ śokaṃ prakurvāṇo na mriyeta yadā naraḥ | śastrādibhir upāviṣṭaḥ strirātraṃ tatra nirdiśet ||
Dijo Vyāsa: Si un hombre, abatido por el duelo y la ruina, se sienta con la intención de morir—ya sea ayunando hasta la muerte o intentando destruirse con armas y cosas semejantes—pero no muere en realidad, aun entonces debe prescribírsele un ayuno de tres noches como expiación por el acto censurable que intentó.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even an unsuccessful attempt at self-destruction—motivated by grief or loss—is treated as a blameworthy act in dharma discourse, and it requires expiation; here, the prescribed remedy is a three-night fast.
Vyāsa states a rule of conduct and penance: if a person, driven by sorrow, undertakes fasting to death or tries to kill himself with weapons but survives, a three-night observance (fast) should be enjoined to remove the fault of the attempted act.