Sex Life Is Meant to Create Exemplary Progeny

A concise summary of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 21

Regulated sex life to generate good population is valuable. Actually, Vidura was not interested in hearing the history of persons who merely engaged in sex life, but he was interested in the progeny of Svāyambhuva Manu because in that dynasty good devotee kings appeared who protected their subjects very carefully with spiritual knowledge. By hearing the history of their activities, therefore, one becomes more enlightened. The progeny created by Svāyambhuva Manu and his sons was approved of by great Vedic authorities. In other words, sex life for creating exemplary population is acceptable to all sages and the authorities of Vedic scriptures.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also a history of the great rulers of different parts of the universe. Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, sons of Svāyambhuva ruled this earth, which is divided into seven islands. These seven islands are still current, as are Asia, Europe, Africa, America, Australia and the North and South Poles. There is no chronological history of all the Indian kings in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but the deeds of the most important kings, such as Priyavrata and Uttānapāda are recorded by Srila Vyasadeva because the activities of such pious kings are worth hearing.

The present age belongs to the Vaivasvata Manu. Svāyambhuva Manu was previously ruling, the millennium when the Lord appeared as the boar. There are fourteen Manus in one day of the life of Brahmā, and in the life of each Manu there are particular incidents.

Kardama Muni and his wife, Devahūti, and about their children. It is described here that Devahūti was very much advanced in the performance of eightfold yoga. After self-realization there are eight further perfectional stages, which are called yoga-siddhis. The husband and wife, Kardama and Devahūti, were advanced in yoga practice; the husband was a mahā-yogī, great mystic, and the wife was a yoga-lakṣaṇa, or one advanced in yoga. They united and produced children. Formerly, after making their lives perfect, great sages and saintly persons used to beget children, otherwise they strictly observed the rules and regulations of celibacy.

Kardama Muni meditated in yoga for ten thousand years before attaining perfection. Actually there is no possibility of attaining yoga perfection by such paltry fifteen minute meditation and exercises as it is today. In this age, the only way to attain liberation is chanting the names of Lord Hari. Kardama Muni not only mediated but also engaged in devotional service; to attain perfection in yoga practice or meditation, one must act in devotional service by hearing, chanting and remembering the Supreme Lord.

By the performance of yoga, Kardama Muni actually saw the Supreme Lord as He is. There was no point in seeing an imagined form of God after practicing yoga for ten thousand years. The perfection of yoga, therefore, does not terminate in formless God; on the contrary, the perfection of yoga is attained when one actually sees the Supreme Lord in His eternal form.

In the samādhi stage one can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His partial form as Paramātmā, or as He is. Sage Patañjali describes that the soul is transcendentally pleased when he meets the Supersoul and sees Him.

Kardama Muni expressed his material desire before the Lord by saying, “Although I know that nothing material should be asked from You, I nevertheless desire to marry a girl of like disposition.” The phrase “like disposition” is very significant. Formerly, boys and girls of similar dispositions were married; the similar natures of the boy and girl were united in order to make them happy.

Kardama Muni wanted to have a wife of like disposition because a wife is necessary to assist in spiritual and material advancement. It is said that a wife yields the fulfillment of all desires in religion, economic development and sense gratification. If one has a nice wife, he is to be considered a most fortunate man. Kardama Muni could have asked this benediction from Parvati Devi, for it is recommended in the scriptures that if anyone wants a good wife, he should worship Parvati Devi. But he preferred to worship the Supreme Lord because it is recommended that everyone, whether he is full of desires, has no desire or desires liberation, should worship the Supreme Lord for eternal benefit.

Someone worships the Supreme Lord because of bodily or mental distress, someone else worships the Supreme Lord because he is in need of money, someone else worships the Lord out of inquisitiveness to know Him as He is, and someone wants to know the Lord as a philosopher can know Him, by the research work of his wisdom. There is no frustration for any of these four classes of men; each is endowed with the desired result of his worship.

Syambhuva Manu and his Satarupa have a daughter named Devahuti. The Lord advised Kardama Muni that they will come to meet the sage with a marriage proposal for their daughter. The Lord also said that Kardama will have 9 daughters through Devahuti. The Lord concluded by saying that Kardama Muni will ultimately get liberation. All activities, therefore, whether for the welfare of family, society, country or humanity at large, must be performed in devotion to the Lord.