OR SACRED WRITINGS OT THE HINDUS. 425 



the gods generally delight in the conceahnent [of 

 their name]. Tlie gods dehght in privacy *. 



^ V. ' This [living principle] is first, in man, 

 a fetus, or productive seed, which is the essence 

 drawn from all the members [of the bod}^]: thus 

 the man nourishes himself within himself. But, 

 when he emits it into woman, he procreates that 

 [fetus] : and such is its first birth. 



' It becomes identified with the woman ; and 

 being such, as is her own body, it does not de- 

 stroy her. She cherishes his ownself f, thus re- 

 ceived within her; and, as nurturing him, she 

 ought to be cherished [by him]. The woman nou- 

 rishes that fetus : but he previously cherished the 

 child, and further does so after its birth. Since 

 he supports the child before and after birth, he 

 cherishes himself: and that, for the perpetual suc- 

 cession of persons ; for thus are these persons per- 

 petuated. Such is his second birth. 



' This [second] self becomes his representative 

 for holy acts [of religion] : and that other [self], 

 having fulfilled its obligations, and completed its 

 period of life, deceases. Departing hence, .he is 

 born again [in some other shape]: and such is his 

 third birth. 



' This was declared by the holy sage. " ^Vith-^ 

 in the womb, I have recognised all the successive 

 births of these deities. A hundKLo bodies, like 



* Here, as at the conclusiou of every division of an U^'ruihad, 

 or of auy chapter iu the didactick porii'-U of the Vidas, the !i>it 

 phrase is repeated. 



t For the mau is identified with the child procveated by L',7.. 



