252 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 10, Ch. 3
If one is determined to make spiritual advancement, he will not beget
a child unless able to make that child a devotee. As stated in Srimad-
Bhagavatam (5.5.18), pita na sa syat: one should not become a father
unless one is able to protect his child from mrtyu, the path of birth and
death. But where is there education about this? A responsible father
never begets children like cats and dogs. Instead of being encouraged to
adopt artificial means of birth control, people should be educated in
Krsna consciousness because only then will they understand their re-
sponsibility to their children. If one can beget children who will be
devotees and be taught to turn aside from the path of birth and death
(mrtyu-sarisdra-vartmani), there is no need of birth control. Rather, one
should be encouraged to beget children. Artificial means of birth control
have no value. Whether one begets children or does not, a population of
men who are like cats and dogs will never make human society happy. It
is therefore necessary for people to be educated spiritually so that instead
of begetting children like cats and dogs, they will undergo austerities to
produce devotees. This will make their lives successful.
TEXTS 34-35
S
TATA TTATA RTT AAT |
a ~ i.
aeAral MATT TTT AST 11381
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aormiorenaarat =| FAT |
a
Aa RATATAT AERA: U4
varsa-vatdtapa-hima-
gharma-kala-gunan anu
sahamdnau svdsa-rodha-
vinirdhiita-mano-malau
Sirna-parnanilaharav
upasdantena cetasad
mattah kaman abhipsantau
mad-érddhanam ihatuh
varsa—the rain; véta—strong wind; dtapa—strong sunshine; hima—
severe cold; gharma—heat; kdla-gundn anu—according to seasonal
