Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 30
Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell
Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas
एवं कुटुम्बं बिभ्राण उदरम्भर एव वा । विसृज्येहोभयं प्रेत्य भुङ्क्ते तत्फलमीदृशम् ॥ ३० ॥
evaṁ kuṭumbaṁ bibhrāṇa udaram bhara eva vā visṛjyehobhayaṁ pretya bhuṅkte tat-phalam īdṛśam
Pagkaalis sa katawang ito, ang taong bumuhay sa kanyang sarili at sa kanyang mga miyembro ng pamilya sa pamamagitan ng mga makasalanang gawain ay nagdurusa ng impiyernong buhay, at ang kanyang mga kamag-anak ay nagdurusa din.
The mistake of modern civilization is that man does not believe in the next life. But whether he believes or not, the next life is there, and one has to suffer if one does not lead a responsible life in terms of the injunctions of authoritative scriptures like the Vedas and Purāṇas. Species lower than human beings are not responsible for their actions because they are made to act in a certain way, but in the developed life of human consciousness, if one is not responsible for his activities, then he is sure to get a hellish life, as described herein.
FAQs
This verse teaches that whether one is absorbed in maintaining family or in selfish bodily maintenance, both are left behind at death, while the soul must face the karmic results of such attachment-driven activity.
Kapila instructs Devahuti on the dangers of fruitive, attachment-based life and prepares her for the path of liberation through spiritual discrimination and devotion beyond bodily identity.
Do duties responsibly, but reduce identity-based attachment—center life on spiritual practice (bhakti, hearing and chanting) so work and family support devotion rather than becoming the goal.