kept alive?  That part of the body into which the food that is eaten goes and where it is digested, is the place where the embryo resides, but it is not digested there.  In the womb, amid urine and faeces, one’s sojourn is regulated by Nature.  In the matter of residence therein or escape therefrom, the born creature is not a free agent.  In fact, in these respects, he is perfectly helpless.  Some embryos fall from the womb (in an undeveloped state).  Some come out alive (and continue to live).  While as regards some, they meet with destruction in the womb, after being quickened with life, in consequence of some other bodies being ready for them (through the nature of their acts).[1777] That man who, in an act of sexual congress, injects the vital fluid, obtains from it a son or daughter.  The offspring thus obtained, when the time comes, takes part in a similar act of congress.  When the allotted period of a person’s life is at its close, the five primal elements of his body attain to the seventh and the ninth stages and then cease to be.  The person, however, undergoes no change.[1778] Without doubt, when persons are afflicted by diseases as little animals assailed by hunters, they then lose the powers of rising up and moving about.  If when men are afflicted by diseases, they wish to spend even vast wealth, physicians with their best efforts fail to alleviate their pain.  Even physicians, that are well-skilled and well-up in their scriptures and well-equipt with excellent medicines, are themselves afflicted by disease like animals assailed by hunters.  Even if men drink many astringents and diverse kinds of medicated ghee, they are seen to be broken by decrepitude like trees by strong elephants.  When animals and birds and beasts of prey and poor men are afflicted by ailments, who treats them with medicines?  Indeed, these are not seen to be ill.  Like larger animals assailing smaller ones, ailments are seen to afflict even terrible kings of fierce energy and invincible prowess.  All men, reft of the power of even uttering cries indicate of pain, and overwhelmed by error and grief, are seen to be borne away along the fierce current into which they have been thrown.  Embodied creatures, even when seeking to conquer nature, are unable to conquer it with the aid of wealth, of sovereign power, or of the austerest penances.[1779] If all attempts men make were crowned with success, then men would never be subject to decrepitude, would never come upon anything disagreeable, and lastly would be crowned with fruition in respect of all their wishes.  All men wish to attain to gradual superiority of position.  To gratify this wish they strive to the best of their power.  The result, however, does not agree with wish.[1780] Even men that are perfectly heedful, that are honest, and brave and endued with prowess, are seen to pay their adorations to men intoxicated with the pride of affluence and with even alcoholic stimulants.[1781] Some men are seen whose calamities disappear before even these are marked or