Seeing that Jalaram was more inclined towards sadhus and sannyasis his father feared that he would perhaps be a sannyasi himself. So he sought to bind him with the worldly ties. The young Jalaram did not like it. He politely said to his father, 'Why do you try to bind me with the worldly ties? I only wish to worship God."

Both his father and his uncle explained to Jalaram the blessedness of the dutiful household, "If we have a household we can offer drinking water to some body; we can offer meals to a stranger; we can feed doves and sparrows. Even the ants might get their food from our house. All this is pious work."

Jalaram was convinced with the argument of feeding others.

At the age of sixteen, Jalaram was married to Virbai, the daughter of Pragji Thakkar of Atkot.