Hare Krsna,
We have been taught that there is a proper time, place and circumstances for everything. This principle even applies to cultivating good grhastha-asrama and giving birth to good progeny. Insanity is acting according to one’s own whims and fantasies disregarding scriptural injunctions and still expecting good results. The Vedic literatures are the laws of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One cannot violate the injunctions given in the Vedic literatures any more than one can violate the state laws. Any living creature who wants real benefit in life must act according to the direction of the Vedic literature. The conditioned souls who have come to this material world for material sense gratification are regulated by the injunctions of the Vedic literature.
The Supreme Lord has provided us clear instructions on the grhastha-asrama as well as appropriate and appropriate times for begetting children. The result of negligence is extremely severe. We can see two contrasting examples in this very Canto 3. Devahuti and Kardama Muni followed the proper codes of conduct of Grhastha-asrama and the result is they achieved the good fortune of becoming the parent of Lord Kapila – an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. On the contrary, Diti and Kasyapa Muni did not strictly follow the Vedic instructions regarding proper time for sexual intercourse and as a result, they were punished with two demoniac sons (Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa, as we will see in later chapters).
Sexual indulgence is not contrary to religious principles. Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad Gita 7.11 that He is sex life which is not contrary to religious principles.
To have a good grhastha-asrama, it is important (and a matter of great fortune) that both the husband and wife are properly trained to discharge spiritual duties; they should cooperate with each other. A faithful wife and spiritually trained brahmacārī are a good combination for advancement of the human mission. I am amazed when I see excellent devotee couples who are advanced in Krsna consciousness and are able to beget excellent Krsna conscious children. I had been to India recently and visited Sridham Mayapur. There are many devotee families from across the world who live there; some have even settled there for many years. I know a few of them who took Indian citizenship. They live in perfect devotee communities; they bring up their children perfectly. Almost all the children go to the gurukulas where they are trained to become first-class brahmacaris and brahmacarinis. I hope I may get such a high birth in my next life.
For those unfortunate souls with patriarchal mindset who diminish the value of a woman, here is Srila Prabhupada’s excellent counter argument, “…husbands as a class cannot repay their debt to women either in this life or in the next. Even if they engage themselves in repaying the women throughout their whole lives, it is still not possible. Not all husbands are as able to appreciate the good qualities of their wives, but even though one is able to appreciate these qualities, it is still not possible to repay the debt to the wife.” (SB 3.14.21 P)
The proper and improper time for begetting children is also quite instructive and eye-opening. Even if a married grhastha follows all the proper rules and regulations for begetting Krsna conscious children, they must still respect the injunctions of time. Sexual indulgence at a wrong time may invite birth to a child of ghostly character or a godless impersonalist. Why is this so? This is because Lord Siva is looking out for such errant couples who will be instruments in his mission of giving gross bodies to subtle ghostly characters.
“Lord Śiva, being very kind to the ghosts, sees that although they are condemned, they get physical bodies. He places them into the wombs of women who indulge in sexual intercourse regardless of the restrictions on time and circumstance.” (SB 3.14.24 P)
“The forbidden time for sexual intercourse would be noted by Lord Śiva, and Diti would meet with proper punishment by giving birth to a child of ghostly character or a godless impersonalist.” (SB 3.14.25 P)
There are great practical lessons to learn from the conduct of Diti and Kasyapa.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 