Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 27
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
तस्मात् सत्रमिदं राजन् संस्थीयेताभिचारिकम् । सर्पा अनागसो दग्धा जनैर्दिष्टं हि भुज्यते ॥ २७ ॥
tasmāt satram idaṁ rājan saṁsthīyetābhicārikam sarpā anāgaso dagdhā janair diṣṭaṁ hi bhujyate
ゆえに、王よ、他者を害する意図で始められたこのサトラ祭を止めなさい。罪なき蛇たちがすでに多く焼かれて死んだ。まことに人は、自らの過去の行いがもたらす定めの果を受けねばならない。
Bṛhaspati here admits that although the snakes appeared to be innocent, by the Lord’s arrangement they were also being punished for previous vicious activities.
FAQs
Because the sacrifice had turned into an abhichāra (harmful, vengeance-driven rite) and was burning even innocent serpents, which is against dharma.
To restrain the king’s anger and restore dharmic conduct, reminding him that one should not commit further violence in the name of revenge and that destiny must be endured.
It teaches to avoid retaliatory harm, to stop actions fueled by vengeance, and to accept unavoidable outcomes with sobriety while choosing righteous, nonviolent responses.