Changes

From this verse onwards, measures for the preservation of embryo (''garbha'') have been explained. Some of these rituals or practices require the pregnant woman to wear herbs, such as ''aindri'' (Citrulluscolocynthis Schrad – Gorakshakarkati), ''brahmi'' (Bacopamonnieri Pennel), ''satavirya'' (Cynodon doctylon Pers), ''sahasravirya'' (a variety of ''durva'' - cynodon species, also known as ''durvadwaya''), ''amogha'' (''patala'' – Stereospermumsuaveolens DC), ''avyatha'' (''guduchi'' – Tinospora cordifolia Miers), ''shiva''(''haritaki'' – Terminaliachebula Linn), ''arishta'' (katukarohini – Piccrorhizakurroa Royle ex Benth), ''vatyapushpi'' (Pitabala – Sidacordifolia Linn), and ''vishwaksenakanta'' (''priyangu'' – Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.),on her head or her right hand. Or she may drink milk or ghee processed with the above mentioned herbs, or bathe at every occasion of ''pushyanakshatra'' with water boiled using these herbs, and she should keep these herbs readily available always. Similarly, the regular use of all of the ''jivaniya'' class of herbs (life promoter group of herbs) in the (above) prescribed manner is also beneficial. Thus, the procedures for stabilization of embryo (''garbha'') have been described in this verse. [20]

From this verse onwards, measures for the preservation of embryo (''garbha'') have been explained. Some of these rituals or practices require the pregnant woman to wear herbs, such as ''aindri'' (Citrulluscolocynthis Schrad – Gorakshakarkati), ''brahmi'' (Bacopamonnieri Pennel), ''satavirya'' (Cynodon doctylon Pers), ''sahasravirya'' (a variety of ''durva'' - cynodon species, also known as ''durvadwaya''), ''amogha'' (''patala'' – Stereospermumsuaveolens DC), ''avyatha'' (''guduchi'' – Tinospora cordifolia Miers), ''shiva''(''haritaki'' – Terminaliachebula Linn), ''arishta'' (katukarohini – Piccrorhizakurroa Royle ex Benth), ''vatyapushpi'' (Pitabala – Sidacordifolia Linn), and ''vishwaksenakanta'' (''priyangu'' – Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.),on her head or her right hand. Or she may drink milk or ghee processed with the above mentioned herbs, or bathe at every occasion of ''pushyanakshatra'' with water boiled using these herbs, and she should keep these herbs readily available always. Similarly, the regular use of all of the ''jivaniya'' class of herbs (life promoter group of herbs) in the (above) prescribed manner is also beneficial. Thus, the procedures for stabilization of embryo (''garbha'') have been described in this verse. [20]

गर्भोपघातकरास्त्विमे भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा

गर्भोपघातकरास्त्विमे भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा

In summary, a pregnant woman indulging in unhealthy dietary and lifestyle activities that could cause certain diseases would increase the risk of her off spring getting afflicted with similar (or more virulent) disorders. From the father’s side, defects in semen could occur due to above mentioned factors for mother. Hence, a woman desirous of a child with excellent qualities should abstain from all forms of addictions as well as unhealthy dietary and lifestyle activities. [21]

In summary, a pregnant woman indulging in unhealthy dietary and lifestyle activities that could cause certain diseases would increase the risk of her off spring getting afflicted with similar (or more virulent) disorders. From the father’s side, defects in semen could occur due to above mentioned factors for mother. Hence, a woman desirous of a child with excellent qualities should abstain from all forms of addictions as well as unhealthy dietary and lifestyle activities. [21]

व्याधींश्चास्या मृदुमधुरशिशिरसुखसुकुमारप्रायैरौषधाहारोपचारैरुपचरेत्, न चास्या वमनविरेचनशिरोविरेचनानि प्रयोजयेत्, नरक्तमवसेचयेत्, सर्वकालं च नास्थापनमनुवासनं वा कुर्यादन्यत्रात्ययिकाद्व्याधेः|  

व्याधींश्चास्या मृदुमधुरशिशिरसुखसुकुमारप्रायैरौषधाहारोपचारैरुपचरेत्, न चास्या वमनविरेचनशिरोविरेचनानि प्रयोजयेत्, नरक्तमवसेचयेत्, सर्वकालं च नास्थापनमनुवासनं वा कुर्यादन्यत्रात्ययिकाद्व्याधेः|  

Any ailment or disease afflicting a pregnant woman should be treated very delicately, by means of medicaments and diet that are mainly soft, palatable, cooling, pleasant and mild. She should not be subjected to emetics, purgatives, or ''nasya'' (errhines), or to practices such as bloodletting. She should not be, at any time, administered corrective and unctuous enema, except in very serious emergency situations. In her final trimester, the pregnant woman, if in emergency conditions wherein emesis is urgently required, should only be treated by means of very mild emetics etc., or by its substitutes. A pregnant woman should be handled like a pot brimful of oil, which can spill on irritation i.e., very delicately. [22]

Any ailment or disease afflicting a pregnant woman should be treated very delicately, by means of medicaments and diet that are mainly soft, palatable, cooling, pleasant and mild. She should not be subjected to emetics, purgatives, or ''nasya'' (errhines), or to practices such as bloodletting. She should not be, at any time, administered corrective and unctuous enema, except in very serious emergency situations. In her final trimester, the pregnant woman, if in emergency conditions wherein emesis is urgently required, should only be treated by means of very mild emetics etc., or by its substitutes. A pregnant woman should be handled like a pot brimful of oil, which can spill on irritation i.e., very delicately. [22]

सा चेदपचाराद् द्वयोस्त्रिषु वा मासेषु पुष्पं पश्येन्नास्या गर्भः स्थास्यतीति विद्यात्; अजातसारो हि तस्मिन् काले भवतिगर्भः||२३||

सा चेदपचाराद् द्वयोस्त्रिषु वा मासेषु पुष्पं पश्येन्नास्या गर्भः स्थास्यतीति विद्यात्; अजातसारो हि तस्मिन् काले भवतिगर्भः||२३||

If a pregnant woman with a large and well-formed foetus starts experiencing bleeding or other forms of uterine discharge as aresult of indulgence in hot and pungent food articles, the foetus will cease growing. Such a foetus will stay for a long time in the mother’s womb and this condition is referred to as Upavistaka (or prolonged gestation).  

If a pregnant woman with a large and well-formed foetus starts experiencing bleeding or other forms of uterine discharge as aresult of indulgence in hot and pungent food articles, the foetus will cease growing. Such a foetus will stay for a long time in the mother’s womb and this condition is referred to as Upavistaka (or prolonged gestation).  

Similarly, in a pregnant woman who suffers from malnutrition due to overindulgence in rituals requiring fasting, or who avoids unctuous articles and indulges in vata-provoking dietary or lifestyle activities, foetus will not develop due to it getting weaned away from nutrition, and such foetus will remain in the womb for a long period of time without developing. This condition is called Nagodara (elephantine gestation). [26]

Similarly, in a pregnant woman who suffers from malnutrition due to overindulgence in rituals requiring fasting, or who avoids unctuous articles and indulges in vata-provoking dietary or lifestyle activities, foetus will not develop due to it getting weaned away from nutrition, and such foetus will remain in the womb for a long period of time without developing. This condition is called Nagodara (elephantine gestation). [26]

नार्योस्तयोरुभयोरपि चिकित्सितविशेषमुपदेक्ष्यामः- भौतिकजीवनीयबृंहणीयमधुरवातहरसिद्धानां सर्पिषां पयसामामगर्भाणांचोपयोगो गर्भवृद्धिकरः; तथा सम्भोजनमेतैरेव सिद्धैश्च घृतादिभिः सुभिक्षायाः [१] , अभीक्ष्णंयानवाहनापमार्जनावजृम्भणैरुपपादनमिति||२७||  

नार्योस्तयोरुभयोरपि चिकित्सितविशेषमुपदेक्ष्यामः- भौतिकजीवनीयबृंहणीयमधुरवातहरसिद्धानां सर्पिषां पयसामामगर्भाणांचोपयोगो गर्भवृद्धिकरः; तथा सम्भोजनमेतैरेव सिद्धैश्च घृतादिभिः सुभिक्षायाः [१] , अभीक्ष्णंयानवाहनापमार्जनावजृम्भणैरुपपादनमिति||२७||