A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c11.38

v1.c11.38

The organs of sense, and the major and minor parts of the body, appear thus simultaneously, apart from those which develop later in life (4.14). Sensations (vedanā) arise in the same period. The foetus begins to quicken (spandate) and to long for whatever was experienced in its previous life. This state is called dvaiḥṛdayya, because the foetus, being connected with the mother’s heart through nutritive vessels, goes through the same desires as its mother.96 For that reason the mother’s desires should be duly taken into consideration and satisfied, unless harmful to the child (4.15, 17, 19).97