History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c23.140

v2.c23.140

*Puṁsavana* :—This rite is so called because in virtue of it a male is born.⁵⁰⁸ The word '*puṁsuvana*' occurs in the Atharvaveda VI. 11. 1 where ⁵⁰⁹ it appears to be used literally ( in the sense of 'giving birth to a male child' ) 'The Aśvattha tree is on top of the Śamī tree, there the birth of a male has been effected'. The Āśv. gṛ. I. 13. 2-7 describes the rite as follows: 'he should in the third month of pregnancy, under the constellation Tiṣya ( i. e. Puṣya ) give ( thrice ) to eat to the wife, after she has fasted, ( on the preceding Punarvasu constellation ) in the curds of a cow which has a calf of the same colour ( with the cow ) two beans and one grain of barley for each handful of curds. On his asking ( the woman ) 'what dost thou drink? what dost thou drink?', she should thrice reply '*puṁsavana*', ( generation of a male ), '*puṁsavana*'. In this way ( he ) should make her take three handfuls ( of curds with two beans and barley ).' ⁵¹⁰