or libation for the dead, can obtain rest for the departed
spirit of the father. Hence the begetting of a son is a religious
duty, particularly for a Brahmin, and is one of the three debts to
which he is bound during life. After he has read the Vedas in the form
prescribed by Law, has legally begotten a son, and has performed
sacrifices to the best of his power, he has paid his three debts, and
may then apply his heart to eternal bliss. MENU, vi. 36. By a son a
man obtains victory over all people; by a son's son he enjoys
immortality; and afterwards, by the son of that grandson, he reaches
the solar abode. MENU, ix. 137.

This last passage is immediately followed by the explanation of the
Sanscrit word Puttra, son, by "the deliverer from hell." Since the son
(trayate) delivers his father from the hell, named put, he was
therefore called puttra by Brahma himself. This explanation, which it
given by the Indian etymologists, appears nevertheless, as is often
the case, rather forced; since the final syllable, tra, which is
translated by deliver (or preserve, WILSON, in voce) is a common
ending of many words, without the peculiar signification of
delivering: as with this final syllable on the word Pu, to be pure, is
formed the noun Puwitra, pure. WILKINS, Grammar, p. 454; KOSEGARTEN.
The affix with which this last is formed however, is not tra, but
itra, and it affords therefore no ground of objection to the usual
etymology of Puttra. WILSON.

The Indian poetry is full of instances of this strong desire for
offspring. In the Ramayana, king Dasaratha performs the Aswamedha, or
offering of a horse, to obtain a son. "To this magnanimous king,
acquainted in every duty, pre-eminent in virtue, and performing sacred
austerities for the sake of obtaining children, there was no son to
perpetuate his family. At length in the anxious mind of this noble one
the thought arose, 'Why do I not perform an Ushwamedha to obtain a
son.'" CAREY and MARSHMAN's translation, sect. viii. p. 74. Compare
the Raghu Vansa, canto i., and all that is done by king Dilipa to
obtain a son: and the poem of the death of Hidimbha, published by
Bopp.]

[Footnote 10: p. 3. l. 14. _--in his hospitable hall_. Hospitality to
a Brahmin is of course one of the greatest virtues. "A Brahmin coming
as a guest, and not received with just honour, takes to himself all
the reward of the housekeeper's former virtue, even though he had been
so temperate as to live on the g