[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v2.c23.140 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c23.140 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c23.140 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c23.140](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.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 - [Previous: v2.c23.139](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c23.139) - [Next: v2.c23.141](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c23.141) - [Up: v2.c23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c23) ## Cites (2) - [Āśvalāyanagṛhyasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.grhya.rgveda.asvalayana.1.13-2) — Āśvalāyana, Sanskrit - [Atharvavedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.atharva.6.11.1) — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c23.140](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c23.140) · Pramāṇa