Matharavritti 3.6

3.6

This scriptural [means] from the Veda—the Agnihotra and so forth—which is declared to be a cause for counteracting the threefold misery through being a means to heaven, is also an uncertain counteraction, just like the perceived. For instance: "A wife desiring a son should eat the middle rice-ball with the mantra: 'Fathers, place an embryo...'". Thus, in accordance with the Vedic statement, she eats many rice-balls, more than a hundred, and yet not even a single son is born. Likewise, in scripture there is: "May we see a hundred autumns, may we live a hundred autumns." But a prince dies while still in the womb, or just born, or as a child, or even as a youth. Furthermore, that scriptural cause is impure, because it involves violence to animals. It is linked with decay, because of falling back down [from heaven]. It is linked with excess, because even there one hears of the relationship of master and servant. And it is said: