FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.6.8

अपां वीर्यस्य सर्गस्य पर्जन्यस्य प्रजापते: । पुंस: शिश्न उपस्थस्तु प्रजात्यानन्दनिर्वृते: ॥ ८ ॥
apāṁ vīryasya sargasya
[apaam veeryasya sargasya]
parjanyasya prajāpateḥ
[parjanyasya prajaapateh]
puṁsaḥ śiśna upasthas tu
[pumsah shishna upasthas tu]
prajāty-ānanda-nirvṛteḥ
[prajaaty-aananda-nirvriteh]
apām — of water vīryasya — of the semen sargasya — of the generative parjanyasya — of rains prajāpateḥ — of the creator puṁsaḥ — of the Lord śiśnaḥ — the genitals upasthaḥ tu — the place where the genitals are situated prajāti — due to begetting ānanda — pleasure nirvṛteḥ — cause.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
apāṁ vīryasya sargasya
apām
of water
vīryasya
of the semen
sargasya
of the generative
parjanyasya prajāpateḥ
parjanyasya
of rains
prajāpateḥ
of the creator
puṁsaḥ śiśna upasthas tu
puṁsaḥ
of the Lord
śiśnaḥ
the genitals
upasthaḥ tu
the place where the genitals are situated
prajāty-ānanda-nirvṛteḥ
prajāti
due to begetting
ānanda
pleasure
nirvṛteḥ
cause.
From the Lord’s genitals originate water, semen, generatives, rains and the procreators. His genitals are the cause of a pleasure that counteracts the distress of begetting.

The genitals and the pleasure of begetting counteract the distresses of family encumbrances. One would cease to generate altogether if there were not, by the grace of the Lord, a coating, a pleasure-giving substance, on the surface of the generative organs. This substance gives a pleasure so intense that it counteracts fully the distress of family encumbrances. A person is so captivated by this pleasure-giving substance that he is not satisfied by begetting a single child, but increases the number of children, with great risk in regard to maintaining them, simply for this pleasure-giving substance. This pleasure-giving substance is not false, however, because it originates from the transcendental body of the Lord. In other words, the pleasure-giving substance is a reality, but it has taken on an aspect of pervertedness on account of material contamination. In the material world, sex life is the cause of many distresses on account of material contact. Therefore, the sex life in the material world should not be encouraged beyond the necessity. There is a necessity for generating progeny even in the material world, but such generation of children must be carried out with full responsibility for spiritual values. The spiritual values of life can be realized in the human form of material existence, and the human being must adopt family planning with reference to the context of spiritual values, and not otherwise. The degraded form of family restriction by use of contraceptives, etc., is the grossest type of material contamination. Materialists who use these devices want to fully utilize the pleasure potency of the coating on the genitals by artificial means, without knowing the spiritual importance. And without knowledge of spiritual values, the less intelligent man tries to utilize only the material sense pleasure of the genitals.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
From the location of his penis arose water, semen, creation, showers and Prajāpati Dakṣa, its presiding deity. From his sense organ of generation arose the destruction of pain (production of bliss) through sexual union for producing offspring.
Commentary

Vīryasya means of semen. From the place of the penis (śiṣnaḥ) arose rain showers (parjanyasya). From the organ of generation (upasthaḥ) arose destruction of pain (nirvṛteḥ) through union for producing offspring (the action of this organ).

The pleasure that drives reproduction is real because it comes from Him, but it has taken a distorted form in matter. The hook of sex pleasure binds beings to family burdens; recognizing its true source brings freedom.
Reflection Questions
  • Where has the hook of pleasure quietly enlarged my burdens?
  • Can I honor the real source of pleasure without being captured by its distortion?
📝 My note

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