Shloka 32
दैवेनासादितं तस्य शमलं निरये पुमान् । भुङ्क्ते कुटुम्बपोषस्य हृतवित्त इवातुर: ॥ ३२ ॥
daivenāsāditaṁ tasya śamalaṁ niraye pumān bhuṅkte kuṭumba-poṣasya hṛta-vitta ivāturaḥ
By the arrangement of the Supreme Lord, that man is placed in hellish conditions to reap the pain of his sins; though he maintained his family, he suffers like one stricken after losing all his wealth.
The example set herein is that the sinful person suffers just like a man who has lost his wealth. The human form of body is achieved by the conditioned soul after many, many births and is a very valuable asset. Instead of utilizing this life to get liberation, if one uses it simply for the purpose of maintaining his so-called family and therefore performs foolish and unauthorized action, he is compared to a man who has lost his wealth and who, upon losing it, laments. When wealth is lost, there is no use lamenting, but as long as there is wealth, one has to utilize it properly and thereby gain eternal profit. It may be argued that when a man leaves his money earned by sinful activities, he also leaves his sinful activities here with his money. But it is especially mentioned herein that by superior arrangement ( daivenāsāditam ), although the man leaves behind him his sinfully earned money, he carries the effect of it. When a man steals some money, if he is caught and agrees to return it, he is not freed from the criminal punishment. By the law of the state, even though he returns the money, he has to undergo the punishment. Similarly, the money earned by a criminal process may be left by the man when dying, but by superior arrangement he carries with him the effect, and therefore he has to suffer hellish life.
FAQs
This verse says that by providence a person is taken to hell and must suffer for sinful acts performed in the name of maintaining family, even if he felt compelled by worldly duty.
He explains the consequences of living under material modes and sinful livelihood so the listener develops detachment and turns toward devotional life instead of harmful sense-driven duty.
Earn and support dependents through ethical, dharmic means; don’t justify wrongdoing as “for the family,” and cultivate devotion and responsibility that do not create karmic harm.