962 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 22

begotten; pafica—five in number; arcisi—in his wife, Arci; dtma—own;
sammatan—according to his desire.

TRANSLATION

Being situated in the liberated position of devotional service, Prthu
Maharaja not only performed all fruitive activities but also begot five sons
by his wife Arci. Indeed, all his sons were begotten according to his own
desire.

PURPORT

As a householder, Prthu Maharaja had five sons by his wife Arci, and
all these sons were begotten as he desired them. They were not born
whimsically or by accident. How one can beget children according to one’s
own desire is practically unknown in the present age (Kali-yuga). In this
regard the secret of success depends on the parents’ acceptance of the
various purificatory methods known as samskaras. The first samskara, the
garbhadhana-samskara or child-begetting samskara, is compulsory, especial-
ly for the higher castes, the brahmanas and the ksatriyas. As stated in
Bhagavad-gita, sex life which is not against religious principles is Krsna
Himself, and according to religious principles when one wants to beget a
child he must perform the garbhadhana-samskara before having sex. The
mental state of the father and mother before sex will certainly affect the
mentality of the child to be begotten. A child who is begotten out of lust
may not turn out as the parents desire. As stated in the sastras, yatha
yonir yatha byam. Yatha yonih indicates the mother, and yatha bijam
indicates the father. If the mental state of the parents is prepared before
they have sex, the child which they will beget will certainly reflect their
mental condition. It is therefore understood by the words atma-sammatan
that both Prthu Maharaja and Arci underwent the garbhadhana purificatory
process before begetting children, and thus they begot all their sons
according to their desires and purified mental states. Prthu Maharaja did
not beget his children out of lust, nor was he attracted to his wife for sense
gratificatory purposes. He begot the children as a grhastha for the future
administration of his government all over the world.

TEXT 54
wat Aare sats: TYMOTT UN
