Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c11.3.3

c11.3.3

18 ). A *ṛtvij* places in her vagina an oblation for Prajāpati ( Car 4.8.9-10; Su 3.2.25; AS 1. c.; AHr 2.1.28 ff. ). The husband should ascend the matrimonial bed first, with the right foot, the wife with her left foot. At the time of generation the menstrual blood is dissolved ( by the heat produced ) just as the butter melts in fire ( Su 3.2.36 ). The sperm is of watery quality and the menstrual blood of fiery quality; yet other elements (earth, atmosphere and wind) are also contained therein. In the union of husband and wife, wind expels from the body the heat (produced by the contact of her organs), by the connection of heat and wind the sperm comes out following the pleasant feeling (*harṣa*), arrives in the uterus and is united with the menstrual blood. Thus the foetus is created when the spirit (*jīva, cetanādhātu*), quick as wind and impelled by his deed in an earlier birth (*karman*), enters it as the sixth element. If the sperm preponderates a male child is born, if the menstrual blood prevails a female child is generated, if both of them exist in equal quantity a creature incapable of generation (*napuṃsaka, klība*) is born. Moreover, the generation of female progeny rests on odd days, because on these days the menstrual blood increases in quantity ( Su 3.3.3-5; Car 4.2.11 ff.; 22 ff.; 4.4.7 f.; 2.2.201; 2.1.199; AHr 2.1.5 ).