‘Vadhyaham’, the question is “is it not a sin to commit suicide?’ The purport is since such an untimely death is inevitable there is no mistake. It should be noted that between suicide and killing a Brahmana there is commonness of sin. Further Sita thinks, ‘since ending life can save my loyalty to my husband, it will remove all sins’.The question is, ‘since suicide is a great sin is it not forbidden’? ‘If Rama arrives after the stipulated date my limbs will be broken into pieces like a sick foetus in the womb’ is Sita’s idea.
Kataka interprets, ‘Sita justifies her thought of suicide although it is not just by saying that all her sins can be wiped out by saving her loyalty’. The understanding is that when Rama can not come, the alternative is only to end her life.
Vadhyaham 5.28.5-12
‘Vadhyaham’, the question is “is it not a sin to commit suicide?’ The purport is since such an untimely death is inevitable there is no mistake. It should be noted that between suicide and killing a Brahmana there is commonness of sin. Further Sita thinks, ‘since ending life can save my loyalty to my husband, it will remove all sins’.The question is, ‘since suicide is a great sin is it not forbidden’? ‘If Rama arrives after the stipulated date my limbs will be broken into pieces like a sick foetus in the womb’ is Sita’s idea.
Kataka interprets, ‘Sita justifies her thought of suicide although it is not just by saying that all her sins can be wiped out by saving her loyalty’. The understanding is that when Rama can not come, the alternative is only to end her life.