Aitareyabrahmana 7.13: adhyāya 33, khaṇḍaḥ 1-6

7.13

Hariścandro ha Vaidhasa Aikṣvāko rājāputra āsa.
tasya ha śataṃ jāyā babhūvus, tāsu putraṃ na lebhe.
tasya ha Parvatanāradau gṛha ūṣatuḥ, sa ha Nāradam papracha
yaṃ nv imam putram ichanti ye vijānanti ye ca na \
kiṃ svit putreṇa vindate tan ma ācakṣva Nāradeti
sa ekayā pṛṣṭo daśabhiḥ pratyuvāca
ṛnam asmin saṃnayaty amṛtatvaṃ ca gachati \
pitā putrasya jātasya paśyec cej jīvato mukham \\
yāvantaḥ pṛthivyām bhogā yāvanto jātavedasi \
yāvanto apsu prāṇinām bhūyān putre pitus tataḥ \\
śaśvat putreṇa pitaro 'tyāyan bahulaṃ tamaḥ \
ātmā hi jajña ātmanaḥ sa irāvaty atitāriṇī \\
kiṃ nu malaṃ kim ajinaṃ kim u śmaśrūṇi kiṃ tapaḥ \
putram brahmāṇa ichadhvaṃ sa vai loko 'vadāvadaḥ \\
annaṃ ha prāṇaḥ śaraṇaṃ ha vāso
rūpaṃ hiraṇyam paśavo vivāhāḥ \
sakhā ha jāyā kṛpaṇaṃ ha duhitā
jyotir ha putraḥ parame vyoman \\
patir jāyām praviśati garbho bhūtvā sa mātaram \
tasyām punar navo bhūtvā daśame māsi jāyate \\
taj jāyā jāyā bhavati yad asyāṃ jāyate punaḥ \
ābhūtir eṣābhūtir bījam etan nidhīyate \\
devāś caitām ṛṣayaś ca tejaḥ samabharan mahat \
devā manuṣyān abruvann eṣā vo jananī punaḥ \\
nāputrasya loko 'stīti tat sarve paśavo viduḥ \
tasmāt tu putro mātaraṃ svasāraṃ cādhirohati \\
eṣa panthā urugāyaḥ suśevo
yam putriṇa ākramante viśokāḥ \
tam paśyanti paśavo vayāṃsi ca
tasmāt te mātrāpi mithunībhavantī/ti
hāsmā ākhyāya

vii. 13 (xxxiii. 1). Hariçcandra Vaidhasa Aikṣvāka was the son of a king; a hundred wives were his, but he had no son from them. In his house dwelt Parvata and Nārada; he asked Nārada: ‘Since now men desire a son, Both those that have and those that have not knowledge What doth a man gain by a son? Tell me that, O Nārada.’ He, asked in one verse, replied in ten: ‘A debt he payeth in him, And immortality he attaineth, That father who seeth the face Of a son born living. The delights in the earth, The delights in the fire, The delights in the waters of living beings, Greater than these is that of a father in a son. By means of a son have fathers ever Passed over the deep darkness; The self is born from the self

The (son) is (a ship), well-found, to ferry over. What is the use of dirt, what of the goat-skin? What of long hair, and what of fervour? Seek a son, O Brahmans, This is the world's advice . Food is breath, clothing a protection, Gold an ornament, cattle lead to marriage, A wife is a comrade, a daughter a misery, And a son a light in the highest heaven. The father entereth the wife, Having become a germ (he entereth) the mother, In her becoming renewed, He is born in the tenth month. A wife hath her name of wife, Since in her he is born again He is productive, she productive, The seed is placed here. The gods and the seers Brought her together as great brilliance; The gods said to men "This is your mother again." "A sonless one cannot attain heaven," All the beasts know this; Therefore a son his mother And his sister mounteth. This is the broad and auspicious path Along which men with sons fare free from sorrow;

On it beasts and herds gaze For it they unite even with a mother. Thus he told him.