Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 2
Garuḍa, Saubhari’s Curse, Kāliya’s Refuge, and Kṛṣṇa Saves Vraja from Forest Fire
श्रीशुक उवाच उपहार्यै: सर्पजनैर्मासि मासीह यो बलि: । वानस्पत्यो महाबाहो नागानां प्राङ्निरूपित: ॥ २ ॥ स्वं स्वं भागं प्रयच्छन्ति नागा: पर्वणि पर्वणि । गोपीथायात्मन: सर्वे सुपर्णाय महात्मने ॥ ३ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca upahāryaiḥ sarpa-janair māsi māsīha yo baliḥ vānaspatyo mahā-bāho nāgānāṁ prāṅ-nirūpitaḥ
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: To avoid being eaten by Garuḍa, the serpents had previously made an arrangement with him whereby they would each make a monthly offering of tribute at the base of a tree. Thus every month on schedule, O mighty-armed King Parīkṣit, each serpent would duly make his offering to that powerful carrier of Viṣṇu as a purchase of protection.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī has given an alternate explanation of this verse. Upahāryaiḥ may also be translated as “by those who are to be eaten,” and sarpa-janaiḥ as “those human beings who were dominated by or who belonged to the serpent race.” According to this reading, a group of human beings had fallen under the control of the serpents and were prone to be eaten by them. To avoid this, the human beings would make a monthly offering to the serpents, who in turn would offer a portion of that offering to Garuḍa so that he would not eat them. The particular translation given above is based on the commentary of Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī and the translation by Śrīla Prabhupāda in his Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In any case, all the ācāryas agree that the serpents purchased protection from Garuḍa.
FAQs
This verse states that the serpent-people had an established, monthly tribute—made of forest produce—fixed long ago as their regular offering.
He is setting the narrative context for the Kaliya episode, explaining the existing order and obligations among the serpent beings before Krishna’s intervention unfolds.
It highlights disciplined duty—keeping consistent commitments and offerings (service, charity, worship) as part of living in harmony with dharma.