History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.419

v5.c72.419

The fourth class of cases where rules of āśauca do not apply relate to persons deceased to whom some fault or taint attaches. Gaut. (14. 11)⁶⁷⁷ and Śaṅkha-Likhita provide that there is sadyaḥśauca for those who kill themselves (i. e. commit suicide) by starting on the great journey (to the Himālaya), by fasting, by a weapon (like a dagger), by fire or poison or water or by hanging or by falling down from a precipice.