Text 33] The Birth of Lord Krsna 251

father of the Prajapatis); prajd-sarge—in the creation of progeny;
yada—when; tatah—thereafter; sanniyamya—keeping under full con-
trol; indriya-gradmam—the senses; tepdthe—underwent; paramam—
very great; tapah—austerity.

TRANSLATION

When both of you were ordered by Lord Brahma to create prog-
eny, you first underwent severe austerities by controlling your
senses.

PURPORT

Here is an instruction about how to use one’s senses to create progeny.
According to Vedic principles, before creating progeny one must fully
control the senses. This control takes place through the garbhadhana-
samskdra. In India there is great agitation for birth control in various
mechanical ways, but birth cannot be mechanically controlled. As stated
in Bhagavad-gité (13.9), janma-mrtyu-jard-vyddhi-duhkha-dosdnu-
darsanam: birth, death, old age and disease are certainly the primary
distresses of the material world. People are trying to control birth, but
they are not able to control death; and if one cannot control death, one
cannot control birth either. In other words, artificially controlling birth is
not any more feasible than artificially controlling death.

According to Vedic civilization, procreation should not be contrary to
religious principles, and then the birthrate will be controlled. As stated
in Bhagavad-gita (7.11), dharméviruddho bhitesu kamo ’smi: sex not
contrary to religious principles is a representation of the Supreme Lord.
People should be educated in how to give birth to good children through
sarhskdras, beginning with the garbhddhdna-samskara; birth should not
be controlled by artificial means, for this will lead to a civilization of
animals. If one follows religious principles, he automatically practices
birth control because if one is spiritually educated he knows that the
aftereffects of sex are various types of misery (bahu-duwhkha-bhdja).
One who is spiritually advanced does not indulge in uncontrolled sex.
Therefore, instead of being forced to refrain from sex or refrain from
giving birth to many children, people should be spiritually educated, and
then birth control will automatically follow.
