Shloka 10
Garuḍa, Saubhari’s Curse, Kāliya’s Refuge, and Kṛṣṇa Saves Vraja from Forest Fire
मीनान्सुदु:खितान्दृष्ट्वा दीनान्मीनपतौ हते । कृपया सौभरि: प्राह तत्रत्यक्षेममाचरन् ॥ १० ॥
mīnān su-duḥkhitān dṛṣṭvā dīnān mīna-patau hate kṛpayā saubhariḥ prāha tatratya-kṣemam ācaran
Seeing the wretched fish of that lake plunged into misery at the death of their leader, Saubhari, thinking he was acting mercifully for the welfare of the lake’s residents, uttered the following curse.
In this regard Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that when our so-called compassion does not tally with the order of the Supreme Lord, it merely causes a disturbance. Because Saubhari had forbidden Garuḍa’s coming to that lake, Kāliya moved in and made his headquarters there, and this spelled doom for all the lake’s residents.
FAQs
This verse shows Saubhari Muni becoming compassionate on seeing the fish suffer, illustrating dayā as a natural dharmic impulse to protect the distressed.
Because he saw them helpless and grieving; out of compassion he addressed them and acted to ensure their protection and welfare.
Respond to suffering with responsible compassion—helping the vulnerable—while also staying alert to how emotional involvement can grow into attachment and cloud judgment.