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204
LAWS OF MANU.
VI, 30.
30. (As well as those rites and texts) which have been practised and studied by the sages (Rishis), and by Brâhmana householders, in order to increase their knowledge (of Brahman), and their austerity, and in order to sanctify their bodies;
31. Or let him walk, fully determined and going straight on, in a north-easterly direction, subsisting on water and air, until his body sinks to rest.
32. A Brâhmana, having got rid of his body by one of those modes practised by the great sages, is exalted in the world of Brahman, free from sorrow and fear.
33. But having thus passed the third part of (a
30. Gov. and Kull. separate the two words Brâhmana householders. The former explains Brâhmana by hermit,' and the latter by 'acquainted with the Brahman, i. e. ascetic. By 'householders' Kull. understands hermits in the forest.' Ragh. explains Brahmana by those who know Brahman.'
31. Gov. and Kull. take yukta, ‘firmly resolved' (Når., Râgh.), in the sense of 'intent on the practice of Yoga.' Gov. and Kull. (see also Medh. on the next verse) say that a man may undertake the Mahaprasthana, or. Great Departure,' on a journey which ends in death, when he is incurably diseased or meets with a great misfortune, and that, because it is taught in the Sastras, it is not opposed to the Vedic rules which forbid suicide. From the parallel passage of Ap. II, 23, 2, it is, however, evident that a voluntary death by starvation was considered the befitting conclusion of a hermit's life. The antiquity and general prevalence of the practice may be inferred from the fact that the Gaina ascetics, too, consider it particularly meritorious.
32. 'By one of those modes,' i.e.' drowning oneself in a river, precipitating oneself from a mount, burning oneself or starving oneself to death'(Medh.); or by one of those modes of practising austerities, mentioned above, verse 23' (Gov., Kull., Nár., Nand.). Medh. adds a long discussion, trying to prove that the world of Brahman,' which the ascetic thus gains, is not the real complete liberation.
33-85. Âp. II, 23, 2-1; Gaut. III, II-25; Vas. VI, 19-20; ;
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