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 ||
毗耶娑说：若有人为忧悲与败亡所压，坐下立誓求死——或绝食至死，或以兵刃等自毁——而终究未死；即便如此，也应为其所企图之可责之行，规定三夜斋戒，以作赎罪之法。
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.