Changes

On the tenth day of delivery, the woman, along with her child, should take bath in water treated with fragrant herbs, shveta sarshapa (white variety of mustard – Brassica nigra Koch.) and lodhra (Symplocos recemosa Roxb.). They should be dressed in light, new and clean garments, while the woman should also be adorned in pure, light and variegated ornaments. The garments and ornaments should have been consecrated using Vedic rituals, and blessed by priests wearing white garments and without any physical deformities. Then the child, having been wrapped in a new garment, should be placed with his head facing the east or the north. The father of the child should pay obeisance to the Gods and Brahmins on behalf of the child and then give it two names: one denoting the nakshatra under which it was born and the other intended for social interactions. The name for social purpose should have a Ghosha (sonant) for its first letter and for its last a Antastha (semi-vowel) or usman (sibilants and aspirate), should be free of Vriddhi(diphthongs), indicative of one of the three ancestors (father, grandfather and great grandfather) and not a new created The constellar name should be identical to that of the diety of the nakshatra and should be made up of two or four (Sanskrit) syllables. [50]

On the tenth day of delivery, the woman, along with her child, should take bath in water treated with fragrant herbs, shveta sarshapa (white variety of mustard – Brassica nigra Koch.) and lodhra (Symplocos recemosa Roxb.). They should be dressed in light, new and clean garments, while the woman should also be adorned in pure, light and variegated ornaments. The garments and ornaments should have been consecrated using Vedic rituals, and blessed by priests wearing white garments and without any physical deformities. Then the child, having been wrapped in a new garment, should be placed with his head facing the east or the north. The father of the child should pay obeisance to the Gods and Brahmins on behalf of the child and then give it two names: one denoting the nakshatra under which it was born and the other intended for social interactions. The name for social purpose should have a Ghosha (sonant) for its first letter and for its last a Antastha (semi-vowel) or usman (sibilants and aspirate), should be free of Vriddhi(diphthongs), indicative of one of the three ancestors (father, grandfather and great grandfather) and not a new created The constellar name should be identical to that of the diety of the nakshatra and should be made up of two or four (Sanskrit) syllables. [50]

वृत्ते [१] च नामकर्मणि कुमारं परीक्षितुमुपक्रमेतायुषः प्रमाणज्ञानहेतोः|  

वृत्ते [१] च नामकर्मणि कुमारं परीक्षितुमुपक्रमेतायुषः प्रमाणज्ञानहेतोः|  

Once the naming ceremony is over, the life-span of the child is assessed by the priests. The children that live long, according to this verse, have discrete, soft, sparse, oily, firm-rooted and black hair, firm and thick skin, naturally well-endowed, slightly bigger in size, umbrella-like head; broad, firm, even, united well with the temporal bone, endowed with three transverse lines, plump, having wrinkles and half moon-shaped forehead; thick, large, symmetrical ears with even flaps, equal elongated and downwardly depressed at the back, having compact tragus and big meatus; eyebrows that are slightly hanging downwards, disjoined (i.e., separate brows and not a uni-brow), even, compact and large; symmetrical eyes that have sharp vision, have beautiful shape (when viewed from the front and the sides); straight nose, with large nostrils, well ridged and slightly depressed at the tip; mouth big and straight, with good gums (and when the child grows up, a healthy set of teeth); tongue of sufficient length and breadth, smooth in texture and of normal colour; palate smooth, well developed, hot and red; voice sweet, echoing, and tempered; reddish lips that are neither too thick nor thin; large jaws; round, but not very long (or craning) or thick neck; broad and well developed chest; hidden xiphisternum and vertebral column; unbending and stable sides; arms, legs and fingers that are round, developed and long; hands and feet that are big and developed; unafflicted nails, round, unctuous, coppery, high and tortoise shaped; navel that is whirled clockwise and deep; waist 1/3rd less than chest (in breadth), even, having well developed muscles; buttocks round, not too elevated, with firm and developed muscles; thighs tapering downwards, round and well developed; shanks neither too stout nor too thin, but resembling that of deer’s foot, with hidden blood vessels, bones and joints; ankles neither too broad nor too thin; feet possessing the above features and tortoise shaped; and normal functions associated with passing bodily wastes, sexual organs, sleep, abilities to express emotions by smiling, weeping, and appetite through suckling. Other aspects of the child’s body or bodily functions, if with normal features, are desirable.  

Once the naming ceremony is over, the life-span of the child is assessed by the priests. The children that live long, according to this verse, have discrete, soft, sparse, oily, firm-rooted and black hair, firm and thick skin, naturally well-endowed, slightly bigger in size, umbrella-like head; broad, firm, even, united well with the temporal bone, endowed with three transverse lines, plump, having wrinkles and half moon-shaped forehead; thick, large, symmetrical ears with even flaps, equal elongated and downwardly depressed at the back, having compact tragus and big meatus; eyebrows that are slightly hanging downwards, disjoined (i.e., separate brows and not a uni-brow), even, compact and large; symmetrical eyes that have sharp vision, have beautiful shape (when viewed from the front and the sides); straight nose, with large nostrils, well ridged and slightly depressed at the tip; mouth big and straight, with good gums (and when the child grows up, a healthy set of teeth); tongue of sufficient length and breadth, smooth in texture and of normal colour; palate smooth, well developed, hot and red; voice sweet, echoing, and tempered; reddish lips that are neither too thick nor thin; large jaws; round, but not very long (or craning) or thick neck; broad and well developed chest; hidden xiphisternum and vertebral column; unbending and stable sides; arms, legs and fingers that are round, developed and long; hands and feet that are big and developed; unafflicted nails, round, unctuous, coppery, high and tortoise shaped; navel that is whirled clockwise and deep; waist 1/3rd less than chest (in breadth), even, having well developed muscles; buttocks round, not too elevated, with firm and developed muscles; thighs tapering downwards, round and well developed; shanks neither too stout nor too thin, but resembling that of deer’s foot, with hidden blood vessels, bones and joints; ankles neither too broad nor too thin; feet possessing the above features and tortoise shaped; and normal functions associated with passing bodily wastes, sexual organs, sleep, abilities to express emotions by smiling, weeping, and appetite through suckling. Other aspects of the child’s body or bodily functions, if with normal features, are desirable.  

This sums up the verse on physical features used to assess the longevity of the newborn.  [51]

This sums up the verse on physical features used to assess the longevity of the newborn.  [51]

अतो धात्रीपरीक्षामुपदेक्ष्यामः|  

अतो धात्रीपरीक्षामुपदेक्ष्यामः|  

This verse describes the qualities of the wet nurse attending the baby. The attending physician should ask of the parents to hire a wet nurse who belongs to the same caste as the child’s mother, who is in her youth, is submissive, free from diseases, not deficient in any limb, not given to unwholesome pursuits, not ugly, not ill- disposed, is native to the country, is not mean or does not indulge in mean acts, affectionate towards children, whose children have not died, who is a mother to a male child, who is never careless, not sleeping in beds soiled with excrement, not married to man of lower caste, skillful in attendance, hygienic and is endowed with plenty of milk in her breasts. [52]

This verse describes the qualities of the wet nurse attending the baby. The attending physician should ask of the parents to hire a wet nurse who belongs to the same caste as the child’s mother, who is in her youth, is submissive, free from diseases, not deficient in any limb, not given to unwholesome pursuits, not ugly, not ill- disposed, is native to the country, is not mean or does not indulge in mean acts, affectionate towards children, whose children have not died, who is a mother to a male child, who is never careless, not sleeping in beds soiled with excrement, not married to man of lower caste, skillful in attendance, hygienic and is endowed with plenty of milk in her breasts. [52]

तत्रेयं स्तनसम्पत्- नात्यूर्ध्वौ नातिलम्बावनतिकृशावनतिपीनौ युक्तपिप्पलकौ सुखप्रपानौ चेति (स्तनसम्पत्)||५३||

तत्रेयं स्तनसम्पत्- नात्यूर्ध्वौ नातिलम्बावनतिकृशावनतिपीनौ युक्तपिप्पलकौ सुखप्रपानौ चेति (स्तनसम्पत्)||५३||

tatrēyaṁ stanasampat- nātyūrdhvau nātilambāvanatikr̥śāvanatipīnau yuktapippalakau sukhaprapānau cēti(stanasampat)||53||  

tatrēyaṁ stanasampat- nātyūrdhvau nātilambāvanatikr̥śāvanatipīnau yuktapippalakau sukhaprapānau cēti(stanasampat)||53||  

These are the features of ideal breasts: they should be neither be very high nor very loose and sagging, neither very lean nor massive. They should have proportionate nipples and be easy to suck. [53]

These are the features of ideal breasts: they should be neither be very high nor very loose and sagging, neither very lean nor massive. They should have proportionate nipples and be easy to suck. [53]

स्तन्यसम्पत्तु प्रकृतिवर्णगन्धरसस्पर्शम्, उदपात्रे च दुह्यमानमुदकं व्येति प्रकृतिभूतत्वात्; तत् पुष्टिकरमारोग्यकरं चेति(स्तन्यसम्पत्)||५४||

स्तन्यसम्पत्तु प्रकृतिवर्णगन्धरसस्पर्शम्, उदपात्रे च दुह्यमानमुदकं व्येति प्रकृतिभूतत्वात्; तत् पुष्टिकरमारोग्यकरं चेति(स्तन्यसम्पत्)||५४||

stanyasampattu prakr̥tivarṇagandharasasparśam, udapātrē ca duhyamānamudakaṁ vyētiprakr̥tibhūtatvāt; tat puṣṭikaramārōgyakaraṁ cēti (stanyasampat)||54||

stanyasampattu prakr̥tivarṇagandharasasparśam, udapātrē ca duhyamānamudakaṁ vyētiprakr̥tibhūtatvāt; tat puṣṭikaramārōgyakaraṁ cēti (stanyasampat)||54||

Ideal breast milk for the baby has properties such as natural color, smell, taste and touch and when poured into a pot of water, it should mix at once perfectly with the water. Such milk is nourishing and health giving to the child. [54]

Ideal breast milk for the baby has properties such as natural color, smell, taste and touch and when poured into a pot of water, it should mix at once perfectly with the water. Such milk is nourishing and health giving to the child. [54]

अतोऽन्यथा व्यापन्नं ज्ञेयम्|  

अतोऽन्यथा व्यापन्नं ज्ञेयम्|  

तस्य विशेषाः श्यावारुणवर्णं कषायानुरसं विशदमनालक्ष्यगन्धं रूक्षं द्रवं फेनिलं लघ्वतृप्तिकरं कर्शनं वातविकाराणां कर्तृवातोपसृष्टं क्षीरमभिज्ञेयं [१] ; कृष्णनीलपीतताम्रावभासं तिक्ताम्लकटुकानुरसं कुणपरुधिरगन्धि भृशोष्णं पित्तविकाराणां कर्तृच पित्तोपसृष्टं क्षीरमभिज्ञेयम्, अत्यर्थशुक्लमतिमाधुर्योपपन्नं लवणानुरसं घृततैलवसामज्जगन्धि पिच्छिलंतन्तुमदुकपात्रेऽवसीदछ्लेष्मविकाराणां कर्तृ श्लेष्मोपसृष्टं क्षीरमभिज्ञेयम्||५५||  

तस्य विशेषाः श्यावारुणवर्णं कषायानुरसं विशदमनालक्ष्यगन्धं रूक्षं द्रवं फेनिलं लघ्वतृप्तिकरं कर्शनं वातविकाराणां कर्तृवातोपसृष्टं क्षीरमभिज्ञेयं [१] ; कृष्णनीलपीतताम्रावभासं तिक्ताम्लकटुकानुरसं कुणपरुधिरगन्धि भृशोष्णं पित्तविकाराणां कर्तृच पित्तोपसृष्टं क्षीरमभिज्ञेयम्, अत्यर्थशुक्लमतिमाधुर्योपपन्नं लवणानुरसं घृततैलवसामज्जगन्धि पिच्छिलंतन्तुमदुकपात्रेऽवसीदछ्लेष्मविकाराणां कर्तृ श्लेष्मोपसृष्टं क्षीरमभिज्ञेयम्||५५||  

If any of the three varieties of vitiated milks described in the preceding verse is in advertently consumed by the child, after ascertaining the specific features of the milk or the symptoms that are associated with a dosha affliction, emetics, purgatives and unctuous and non-unctuous enema specific to that afflicted dosha should be administered. The dietetic guidelines to a woman with vitiated milk are as follows: her food and drink should consist mainly of barley, wheat, sali and shashtika rice, mudga (Phaseolus mungo Linn. - green gram), harenuka (Lathyrus ashaca Linn.), sura, sauviraka, maireya and medaka varieties of wines, lashuna (Alium sativum Linn.) and karanja (Pongamia pinnata Merr.). The milk should be examined at frequent intervals for specific features and the appropriate corrective measures should be adopted. The decoctions of patha (Cissmpelos pareira Linn.), shunthi (Zingiberofficinale Rosc.), devadaru (Cedrusdeodara Loud.), musta (Cyperusrotundus Linn.), murva (Clemaistrilobaheyne ex Roth), guduchi (Tinosporacordifolia Miers.), indrayava (Holarrhenaantidysentrica wall.), kiratatikta (SwertiachirataBuch. -Ham.), katukarohini (Picrorhizakurroa Royle ex Benth.) and sariva (Hemidesmusindicus R. B.) are said to be beneficial. Similarly, other drugs with bitter, astringent, pungent and sweet tastes could also be administered, depending upon the nature of the disorder, dosage and season. [56]

If any of the three varieties of vitiated milks described in the preceding verse is in advertently consumed by the child, after ascertaining the specific features of the milk or the symptoms that are associated with a dosha affliction, emetics, purgatives and unctuous and non-unctuous enema specific to that afflicted dosha should be administered. The dietetic guidelines to a woman with vitiated milk are as follows: her food and drink should consist mainly of barley, wheat, sali and shashtika rice, mudga (Phaseolus mungo Linn. - green gram), harenuka (Lathyrus ashaca Linn.), sura, sauviraka, maireya and medaka varieties of wines, lashuna (Alium sativum Linn.) and karanja (Pongamia pinnata Merr.). The milk should be examined at frequent intervals for specific features and the appropriate corrective measures should be adopted. The decoctions of patha (Cissmpelos pareira Linn.), shunthi (Zingiberofficinale Rosc.), devadaru (Cedrusdeodara Loud.), musta (Cyperusrotundus Linn.), murva (Clemaistrilobaheyne ex Roth), guduchi (Tinosporacordifolia Miers.), indrayava (Holarrhenaantidysentrica wall.), kiratatikta (SwertiachirataBuch. -Ham.), katukarohini (Picrorhizakurroa Royle ex Benth.) and sariva (Hemidesmusindicus R. B.) are said to be beneficial. Similarly, other drugs with bitter, astringent, pungent and sweet tastes could also be administered, depending upon the nature of the disorder, dosage and season. [56]

क्षीरजननानि तु मद्यानि सीधुवर्ज्यानि, ग्राम्यानूपौदकानि च शाकधान्यमांसानि, द्रवमधुराम्ललवणभूयिष्ठाश्चाहाराः,क्षीरिण्यश्चौषधयः, क्षीरपानमनायासश्च, वीरणषष्टिकशालीक्षुवालिकादर्भकुशकाशगुन्द्रेत्कटमूलकषायाणां च पानमिति(क्षीरजननानि)||५७||  

क्षीरजननानि तु मद्यानि सीधुवर्ज्यानि, ग्राम्यानूपौदकानि च शाकधान्यमांसानि, द्रवमधुराम्ललवणभूयिष्ठाश्चाहाराः,क्षीरिण्यश्चौषधयः, क्षीरपानमनायासश्च, वीरणषष्टिकशालीक्षुवालिकादर्भकुशकाशगुन्द्रेत्कटमूलकषायाणां च पानमिति(क्षीरजननानि)||५७||  

Galactogogues (lactation-stimulants) include the following food articles and habits: all wines with the exception of sidhu, vegetables, cereals and meat of domestic, marshy and aquatic origins; food articles and liquids that have predominantly sweet, sour or salty taste; herbs containing milky juices; cow’s milk; avoidance of laborious tasks, and; drinking of the decoctions of roots of virana (Vetiveria zizanoides Nash.), shashtika (a variety of shali – Oryza sativa Linn.), shali (Oryza sativa Linn.), ikshuvalika (Astercantha longifolia Nees.), darbha (Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf), kusha  (Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf), kasha (Saccharum spontaneum Linn.), gundra (Saccharum sara)and Itkata (-?-)(are galactogogues). [57]

Galactogogues (lactation-stimulants) include the following food articles and habits: all wines with the exception of sidhu, vegetables, cereals and meat of domestic, marshy and aquatic origins; food articles and liquids that have predominantly sweet, sour or salty taste; herbs containing milky juices; cow’s milk; avoidance of laborious tasks, and; drinking of the decoctions of roots of virana (Vetiveria zizanoides Nash.), shashtika (a variety of shali – Oryza sativa Linn.), shali (Oryza sativa Linn.), ikshuvalika (Astercantha longifolia Nees.), darbha (Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf), kusha  (Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf), kasha (Saccharum spontaneum Linn.), gundra (Saccharum sara)and Itkata (-?-)(are galactogogues). [57]

धात्री तु यदा स्वादुबहुलशुद्धदुग्धा स्यात्तदास्नातानुलिप्ता शुक्लवस्त्रं परिधायैन्द्रीं ब्राह्मीं शतवीर्यां सहस्रवीर्याममोघामव्यथांशिवामरिष्टां वाट्यपुष्पीं विष्वक्सेनकान्तां [१] वा बिभ्रत्योषधिं कुमारं प्राङ्मुखंप्रथमं दक्षिणं स्तनं पाययेत्|  

धात्री तु यदा स्वादुबहुलशुद्धदुग्धा स्यात्तदास्नातानुलिप्ता शुक्लवस्त्रं परिधायैन्द्रीं ब्राह्मीं शतवीर्यां सहस्रवीर्याममोघामव्यथांशिवामरिष्टां वाट्यपुष्पीं विष्वक्सेनकान्तां [१] वा बिभ्रत्योषधिं कुमारं प्राङ्मुखंप्रथमं दक्षिणं स्तनं पाययेत्|  

iti dhAtrIkarma||58||  

iti dhAtrIkarma||58||  

When the wet nurse,  having sweet, copious and pure milk, has bathed and anointed herself with fragrant pastes, dressed in white garments and adorned with herbs such as aindri (Citrullus colocynthis Schrad), brahmi (Bacopa monnieri Pennel), shatavirya (Cynodon dactylon Pers.), sahasravirya (a type of Shatavirya), amogha (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), avyatha (Tinospora cordifolia Miers.)shiva (Terminalia chebula Linn.), vatyapushpi (Sida rhombifolia Linn.) and viswaksenakanta (Callicarpa macrophyla Vahl.), then she should take hold of the baby and, while facing east , feed the baby from the right breast first. These are prescribed dutiesof dhatri, or the wet nurse attending the baby. [58]

When the wet nurse,  having sweet, copious and pure milk, has bathed and anointed herself with fragrant pastes, dressed in white garments and adorned with herbs such as aindri (Citrullus colocynthis Schrad), brahmi (Bacopa monnieri Pennel), shatavirya (Cynodon dactylon Pers.), sahasravirya (a type of Shatavirya), amogha (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), avyatha (Tinospora cordifolia Miers.)shiva (Terminalia chebula Linn.), vatyapushpi (Sida rhombifolia Linn.) and viswaksenakanta (Callicarpa macrophyla Vahl.), then she should take hold of the baby and, while facing east , feed the baby from the right breast first. These are prescribed duties of dhatri, or the wet nurse attending the baby. [58]

 

अतोऽनन्तरं कुमारागारविधिमनुव्याख्यास्यामः-वास्तुविद्याकुशलः प्रशस्तं रम्यमतमस्कं निवातं प्रवातैकदेशंदृढमपगतश्वापदपशुदंष्ट्रिमूषिकपतङ्गं सुविभक्तसलिलोलूखलमूत्रवर्चःस्थानस्नानभूमिमहानसमृतुसुखंयथर्तुशयनासनास्तरणसम्पन्नं कुर्यात्; तथा सुविहितरक्षाविधानबलिमङ्गलहोमप्रायश्चित्तंशुचिवृद्धवैद्यानुरक्तजनसम्पूर्णम्|  

अतोऽनन्तरं कुमारागारविधिमनुव्याख्यास्यामः-वास्तुविद्याकुशलः प्रशस्तं रम्यमतमस्कं निवातं प्रवातैकदेशंदृढमपगतश्वापदपशुदंष्ट्रिमूषिकपतङ्गं सुविभक्तसलिलोलूखलमूत्रवर्चःस्थानस्नानभूमिमहानसमृतुसुखंयथर्तुशयनासनास्तरणसम्पन्नं कुर्यात्; तथा सुविहितरक्षाविधानबलिमङ्गलहोमप्रायश्चित्तंशुचिवृद्धवैद्यानुरक्तजनसम्पूर्णम्|