History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c74.t2.33.1

v5.c74.t2.33.1

One important question that very much exercised the minds of ancient and medieval Indian writers was whether and when suicide, particularly at sacred spots like the confluence of the Ganges and Jumnā or at the foot of the Akṣaya Vaṭa at Prayāga, would involve no sin.¹³⁷⁰ This matter has already been dealt with at length in H. of Dh. vol. II. pp 924-928 and vol. III. pp. 939, 948-949. Only a brief treatment by way of a summary of the pages and a few notes will be added here. The general sentiment of Dharmaśāstra works is to condemn suicide or an attempt to commit suicide as a great sin (vide H of Dh vol II. page 924 for texts). The Āp. Dh. S. (I. 10 28 15-17) mentions the view of Hārīta which condemns suicide even as prāyaścitta for committing a mahāpātaka (like incest) and puts killing another or killing oneself on the same footing Manu V. 89 and Yāj. III. 154 condemn suicide by denying after-death rites to those who commit it, but Manu allowed suicide in various ways as prāyaścitta for mahāpātakas (vide Manu XI. 73, 90-91, 103-104). But exceptions to the condemnation of suicide are found in the smṛtis, epics and purāṇas. They may be grouped under several heads. (1) Suicide as an exception in various ways by those guilty of mahāpātakas (viz. brāhmaṇa murder, drinking of *surā*, theft of brāhmaṇa's gold and incest), vide H. of Dh. vol. II. pp. 924-925 for smṛti and other texts.