The following conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and a life member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness took place in August 1976 on an early-morning walk in Hyderabad, India.
Member: What is your view on birth control by contraception?
Srila Prabhupada: That is the most sinful activity. Birth control should be done by restraining sex.
Member: That is one way.
Srila Prabhupada: That is the only way approved in the sastra [scriptures]. All other ways are sinful.
Member: But people are committing sinful activities like contraception and abortion. What will happen to them?
Srila Prabhupada: They will suffer. Those who are killing children in the womb will themselves be killed.
Replies
People are using dharma the way want and defending their sinful acts.
न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥ २३ ॥