1. Accepting a wife to give birth to a son

    Putra [son] has got a duty, to save the forefathers. Therefore one has to, it is his duty to keep a putra. At least one son he must leave. But people are not very much anxious to have putra. Rather to kill putra. They are so sinful. Kama-lobha-hata-cetasah. Simply sense enjoyment. That’s all.

    Why bharya? Why one should marry? Putrarthe kriyate bharya. Bharya means wife. One accepts a wife. Why? For a putra. For a son. Why son is required? Putrah pindam prayojanam. Offering oblations by the putra to deliver the forefathers. That is prayojanam, that is absolutely necessary. Each and every one should leave a putra before his death. He has got so many duties. This is Vedic civilization.

    From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 1.37-39 — London, July 27, 1973