History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c45.54

v3.c45.54

Some put forward a Vedic passage 'one who desires heaven should not (seek to) die before the appointed span of life is at an end (of itself)' as opposed to the permission for suicide given by the smṛtis. Medhātithi on Manu VI. 32²¹³⁸ quotes this Vedic text and explains it away by saying that if *śruti* intended to lay down an absolute prohibition against suicide in every case, it would have simply said 'one who desires heaven should not (seek to) die'. The Vāj. S. (40. 3) contains a verse saying 'whoever destroy their self reach after death *Asura* worlds that are shrouded in blinding darkness', which really refers to persons ignorant of the correct knowledge of the Self. But this has been interpreted by many as referring to those guilty of suicide (ātmahan). Vide Uttararāmacarita IV, after verse 3²¹³⁹ and Bṛ. Up. IV. 4. 11 for a verse similar to that in the Vāj. S. The Rājataraṅgiṇī (VI. 1411) refers to officers appointed by the king to superintend prāyopaveśa (resolving on death by fasting).