Charak Samhita

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/11

ततः पुत्रकामा पश्चिमतोऽग्निं दक्षिणतो ब्राह्मणमुपविश्यान्वालभेत सह भर्त्रा यथेष्टं पुत्रमाशासाना| ततस्तस्या आशासानाया ऋत्विक् प्रजापतिमभिनिर्दिश्य योनौ तस्याः कामपरिपूरणार्थं काम्यामिष्टिं निर्वर्तयेद् ‘विष्णुर्योनिंकल्पयतु’ इत्यनयर्चा| ततश्चैवाज्येन स्थालीपाकमभिघार्य त्रिर्जुहुयाद्यथाम्नायम्| मन्त्रोपमन्त्रितमुदपात्रं तस्यै दद्यात् सर्वोदकार्थान् कुरुष्वेति| ततः समाप्ते कर्मणि पूर्वं दक्षिणपादमभिहरन्ती प्रदक्षिणमग्निमनुपरिक्रामेत् सह भर्त्रा| ततो [१] ब्राह्मणान् स्वस्ति वाचयित्वाऽऽज्यशेषं [२] प्राश्नीयात् पूर्वं पुमान्, पश्चात् स्त्री; न चोच्छिष्टमवशेषयेत्| ततस्तौ सह संवसेयातामष्टरात्रं, तथाविधपरिच्छदावेव च स्यातां [३] , तथेष्टपुत्रं जनयेताम् ||११||

sanskrit

[Additional rituals before cohabiting] Thereafter the woman, desirous of progeny, should sit with her husband on the west side of the altar, while the priest should sit to the south, and together they should perform the holy oblation to fire expressing their longing for a progeny. Then, the priest, addressing the God of procreation (Prajapati) for the fulfilment of her desire in her womb, should perform the ‘boon bestowing rite’, by chanting the said hymn ‘May Visnu bless the womb and make it fertile’. Then, the priest should prepare a bolus of cooked rice in an earthen pot by mixing the oblation with ghee, offering it to the holy fire thrice according to the prescribed methods. He should then give the sanctified pot of water to the woman to be used for all her purposes. On the completion of the rite, she should, placing her right foot first, walk around the fire keeping to her right and accompanied by her husband. Then, after taking the the blessing of the brahmanas, the couple should consume the remains of the sacrificial ghee - first the husband and then the wife - taking care not to leave any leftovers. On completion of this ritual, they shall cohabit for a period of eight nights, wearing the dress etc., as prescribed earlier. In this manner they will be able to beget a progeny, as desired.

english translation

tataH putrakAmA pazcimato'gniM dakSiNato brAhmaNamupavizyAnvAlabheta saha bhartrA yatheSTaM putramAzAsAnA| tatastasyA AzAsAnAyA Rtvik prajApatimabhinirdizya yonau tasyAH kAmaparipUraNArthaM kAmyAmiSTiM nirvartayed ‘viSNuryoniMkalpayatu’ ityanayarcA| tatazcaivAjyena sthAlIpAkamabhighArya trirjuhuyAdyathAmnAyam| mantropamantritamudapAtraM tasyai dadyAt sarvodakArthAn kuruSveti| tataH samApte karmaNi pUrvaM dakSiNapAdamabhiharantI pradakSiNamagnimanuparikrAmet saha bhartrA| tato [1] brAhmaNAn svasti vAcayitvA''jyazeSaM [2] prAznIyAt pUrvaM pumAn, pazcAt strI; na cocchiSTamavazeSayet| tatastau saha saMvaseyAtAmaSTarAtraM, tathAvidhaparicchadAveva ca syAtAM [3] , tatheSTaputraM janayetAm ||11||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/12

या तु स्त्री श्यामं लोहिताक्षं व्यूढोरस्कं महाबाहुं च पुत्रमाशासीत, या वा कृष्णं कृष्णमृदुदीर्घकेशं शुक्लाक्षं शुक्लदन्तंतेजस्विनमात्मवन्तम्; एष एवानयोरपि होमविधिः| किन्तु परिबर्हो वर्णवर्जं स्यात्| पुत्रवर्णानुरूपस्तु यथाशीरेव तयोः परिबर्होऽन्यः कार्यः स्यात् ||१२||

sanskrit

As regards the woman desirous of a child with sky blue complexion, red eye, broad chest and long limbs, or a woman who seeks off spring with black complexion, with black, soft and long hair, glittering white eye and teeth, radiant and self-restrained, the rituals to be followed are the same as described above. The preparations and materials required will not be of the same color but it should be made, in either case, to match the desired complexion of the child to be born, agreeable to the mother’s desire.

english translation

yA tu strI zyAmaM lohitAkSaM vyUDhoraskaM mahAbAhuM ca putramAzAsIta, yA vA kRSNaM kRSNamRdudIrghakezaM zuklAkSaM zukladantaMtejasvinamAtmavantam; eSa evAnayorapi homavidhiH| kintu paribarho varNavarjaM syAt| putravarNAnurUpastu yathAzIreva tayoH paribarho'nyaH kAryaH syAt ||12||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/13

शूद्रा तु नमस्कारमेव कुर्यात् (देवाग्निद्विजगुरुतपस्विसिद्धेभ्यः [४] ) ||१३||

sanskrit

[Rituals for those belonging to the "shudra" lineage] Those belonging to shudra lineage, the mere act of salutation/pray (to the God, holy fire, brahmanas, teachers/elders/preceptors, and saints and seers) should suffice.

english translation

zUdrA tu namaskArameva kuryAt (devAgnidvijagurutapasvisiddhebhyaH [4] ) ||13||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/14

या या च यथाविधं पुत्रमाशासीत तस्यास्तस्यास्तां तां पुत्राशिषमनुनिशम्य तांस्ताञ्जनपदान्मनसाऽनुपरिक्रामयेत्| ततो [५] या या येषां येषां जनपदानां मनुष्याणामनुरूपं पुत्रमाशासीत सा सा तेषां तेषां जनपदानांमनुष्याणामाहारविहारोपचारपरिच्छदाननुविधत्स्वेति वाच्या स्यात्| इत्येतत् सर्वं पुत्राशिषां समृद्धिकरं कर्म व्याख्यातं भवति ||१४||

sanskrit

[Advice for the mother desiring certain traits in her offspring] By knowing about the kind of child she desires, the woman should be advised to mentally travel to such places where people having similar dispositions live. Also, she should be advised to take diet, assume behavior, and engage in activities, attire, and social/cultural behooving such places and people. Thus, the section detailing rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking – has been explained.

english translation

yA yA ca yathAvidhaM putramAzAsIta tasyAstasyAstAM tAM putrAziSamanunizamya tAMstAJjanapadAnmanasA'nuparikrAmayet| tato [5] yA yA yeSAM yeSAM janapadAnAM manuSyANAmanurUpaM putramAzAsIta sA sA teSAM teSAM janapadAnAMmanuSyANAmAhAravihAropacAraparicchadAnanuvidhatsveti vAcyA syAt| ityetat sarvaM putrAziSAM samRddhikaraM karma vyAkhyAtaM bhavati ||14||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/15

न खलु केवलमेतदेव कर्म वर्णवैशेष्यकरं भवति| अपि तु तेजोधातुरप्युदकान्तरिक्षधातुप्रायोऽवदातवर्णकरो भवति, पृथिवीवायुधातुप्रायः कृष्णवर्णकरः, समसर्वधातुप्रायःश्यामवर्णकरः ||१५||

sanskrit

[Role of mahabhutas in contributing to the complexion of the offspring] Apart from the procedures mentioned above, mahabhutas also contribute in colour and complexion of skin. It is important to note that the teja (aura) associated with apa and akasha mahabhuta are responsible for fair complexion, prithvi and vayu are responsible for black, and an equilibrium of all the five mahabhutas result in shyamavarna i.e. sky-like bluish complexion.

english translation

na khalu kevalametadeva karma varNavaizeSyakaraM bhavati| api tu tejodhAturapyudakAntarikSadhAtuprAyo'vadAtavarNakaro bhavati, pRthivIvAyudhAtuprAyaH kRSNavarNakaraH, samasarvadhAtuprAyaHzyAmavarNakaraH ||15||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/11

ततः पुत्रकामा पश्चिमतोऽग्निं दक्षिणतो ब्राह्मणमुपविश्यान्वालभेत सह भर्त्रा यथेष्टं पुत्रमाशासाना| ततस्तस्या आशासानाया ऋत्विक् प्रजापतिमभिनिर्दिश्य योनौ तस्याः कामपरिपूरणार्थं काम्यामिष्टिं निर्वर्तयेद् ‘विष्णुर्योनिंकल्पयतु’ इत्यनयर्चा| ततश्चैवाज्येन स्थालीपाकमभिघार्य त्रिर्जुहुयाद्यथाम्नायम्| मन्त्रोपमन्त्रितमुदपात्रं तस्यै दद्यात् सर्वोदकार्थान् कुरुष्वेति| ततः समाप्ते कर्मणि पूर्वं दक्षिणपादमभिहरन्ती प्रदक्षिणमग्निमनुपरिक्रामेत् सह भर्त्रा| ततो [१] ब्राह्मणान् स्वस्ति वाचयित्वाऽऽज्यशेषं [२] प्राश्नीयात् पूर्वं पुमान्, पश्चात् स्त्री; न चोच्छिष्टमवशेषयेत्| ततस्तौ सह संवसेयातामष्टरात्रं, तथाविधपरिच्छदावेव च स्यातां [३] , तथेष्टपुत्रं जनयेताम् ||११||

sanskrit

[Additional rituals before cohabiting] Thereafter the woman, desirous of progeny, should sit with her husband on the west side of the altar, while the priest should sit to the south, and together they should perform the holy oblation to fire expressing their longing for a progeny. Then, the priest, addressing the God of procreation (Prajapati) for the fulfilment of her desire in her womb, should perform the ‘boon bestowing rite’, by chanting the said hymn ‘May Visnu bless the womb and make it fertile’. Then, the priest should prepare a bolus of cooked rice in an earthen pot by mixing the oblation with ghee, offering it to the holy fire thrice according to the prescribed methods. He should then give the sanctified pot of water to the woman to be used for all her purposes. On the completion of the rite, she should, placing her right foot first, walk around the fire keeping to her right and accompanied by her husband. Then, after taking the the blessing of the brahmanas, the couple should consume the remains of the sacrificial ghee - first the husband and then the wife - taking care not to leave any leftovers. On completion of this ritual, they shall cohabit for a period of eight nights, wearing the dress etc., as prescribed earlier. In this manner they will be able to beget a progeny, as desired.

english translation

tataH putrakAmA pazcimato'gniM dakSiNato brAhmaNamupavizyAnvAlabheta saha bhartrA yatheSTaM putramAzAsAnA| tatastasyA AzAsAnAyA Rtvik prajApatimabhinirdizya yonau tasyAH kAmaparipUraNArthaM kAmyAmiSTiM nirvartayed ‘viSNuryoniMkalpayatu’ ityanayarcA| tatazcaivAjyena sthAlIpAkamabhighArya trirjuhuyAdyathAmnAyam| mantropamantritamudapAtraM tasyai dadyAt sarvodakArthAn kuruSveti| tataH samApte karmaNi pUrvaM dakSiNapAdamabhiharantI pradakSiNamagnimanuparikrAmet saha bhartrA| tato [1] brAhmaNAn svasti vAcayitvA''jyazeSaM [2] prAznIyAt pUrvaM pumAn, pazcAt strI; na cocchiSTamavazeSayet| tatastau saha saMvaseyAtAmaSTarAtraM, tathAvidhaparicchadAveva ca syAtAM [3] , tatheSTaputraM janayetAm ||11||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/12

या तु स्त्री श्यामं लोहिताक्षं व्यूढोरस्कं महाबाहुं च पुत्रमाशासीत, या वा कृष्णं कृष्णमृदुदीर्घकेशं शुक्लाक्षं शुक्लदन्तंतेजस्विनमात्मवन्तम्; एष एवानयोरपि होमविधिः| किन्तु परिबर्हो वर्णवर्जं स्यात्| पुत्रवर्णानुरूपस्तु यथाशीरेव तयोः परिबर्होऽन्यः कार्यः स्यात् ||१२||

sanskrit

As regards the woman desirous of a child with sky blue complexion, red eye, broad chest and long limbs, or a woman who seeks off spring with black complexion, with black, soft and long hair, glittering white eye and teeth, radiant and self-restrained, the rituals to be followed are the same as described above. The preparations and materials required will not be of the same color but it should be made, in either case, to match the desired complexion of the child to be born, agreeable to the mother’s desire.

english translation

yA tu strI zyAmaM lohitAkSaM vyUDhoraskaM mahAbAhuM ca putramAzAsIta, yA vA kRSNaM kRSNamRdudIrghakezaM zuklAkSaM zukladantaMtejasvinamAtmavantam; eSa evAnayorapi homavidhiH| kintu paribarho varNavarjaM syAt| putravarNAnurUpastu yathAzIreva tayoH paribarho'nyaH kAryaH syAt ||12||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/13

शूद्रा तु नमस्कारमेव कुर्यात् (देवाग्निद्विजगुरुतपस्विसिद्धेभ्यः [४] ) ||१३||

sanskrit

[Rituals for those belonging to the "shudra" lineage] Those belonging to shudra lineage, the mere act of salutation/pray (to the God, holy fire, brahmanas, teachers/elders/preceptors, and saints and seers) should suffice.

english translation

zUdrA tu namaskArameva kuryAt (devAgnidvijagurutapasvisiddhebhyaH [4] ) ||13||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/14

या या च यथाविधं पुत्रमाशासीत तस्यास्तस्यास्तां तां पुत्राशिषमनुनिशम्य तांस्ताञ्जनपदान्मनसाऽनुपरिक्रामयेत्| ततो [५] या या येषां येषां जनपदानां मनुष्याणामनुरूपं पुत्रमाशासीत सा सा तेषां तेषां जनपदानांमनुष्याणामाहारविहारोपचारपरिच्छदाननुविधत्स्वेति वाच्या स्यात्| इत्येतत् सर्वं पुत्राशिषां समृद्धिकरं कर्म व्याख्यातं भवति ||१४||

sanskrit

[Advice for the mother desiring certain traits in her offspring] By knowing about the kind of child she desires, the woman should be advised to mentally travel to such places where people having similar dispositions live. Also, she should be advised to take diet, assume behavior, and engage in activities, attire, and social/cultural behooving such places and people. Thus, the section detailing rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking – has been explained.

english translation

yA yA ca yathAvidhaM putramAzAsIta tasyAstasyAstAM tAM putrAziSamanunizamya tAMstAJjanapadAnmanasA'nuparikrAmayet| tato [5] yA yA yeSAM yeSAM janapadAnAM manuSyANAmanurUpaM putramAzAsIta sA sA teSAM teSAM janapadAnAMmanuSyANAmAhAravihAropacAraparicchadAnanuvidhatsveti vAcyA syAt| ityetat sarvaM putrAziSAM samRddhikaraM karma vyAkhyAtaM bhavati ||14||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/15

न खलु केवलमेतदेव कर्म वर्णवैशेष्यकरं भवति| अपि तु तेजोधातुरप्युदकान्तरिक्षधातुप्रायोऽवदातवर्णकरो भवति, पृथिवीवायुधातुप्रायः कृष्णवर्णकरः, समसर्वधातुप्रायःश्यामवर्णकरः ||१५||

sanskrit

[Role of mahabhutas in contributing to the complexion of the offspring] Apart from the procedures mentioned above, mahabhutas also contribute in colour and complexion of skin. It is important to note that the teja (aura) associated with apa and akasha mahabhuta are responsible for fair complexion, prithvi and vayu are responsible for black, and an equilibrium of all the five mahabhutas result in shyamavarna i.e. sky-like bluish complexion.

english translation

na khalu kevalametadeva karma varNavaizeSyakaraM bhavati| api tu tejodhAturapyudakAntarikSadhAtuprAyo'vadAtavarNakaro bhavati, pRthivIvAyudhAtuprAyaH kRSNavarNakaraH, samasarvadhAtuprAyaHzyAmavarNakaraH ||15||

hk transliteration