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 ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: Kung ang isang lalaki, nilamon ng dalamhati at kapahamakan, ay umupo na may layuning mamatay—sa pamamagitan man ng pag-aayuno hanggang kamatayan o ng pagtatangkang wasakin ang sarili gamit ang sandata at iba pa—ngunit hindi naman talaga namatay, kahit sa gayong kalagayan ay dapat ipataw ang pag-aayuno sa loob ng tatlong gabi bilang pagtubos sa kapintas-pintas na gawaing tinangka niya.
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.