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
Oleh itu, wahai Raja, hentikanlah upacara satra ini yang dimulakan dengan niat mencelakakan pihak lain. Banyak ular yang tidak bersalah telah terbakar mati; sesungguhnya manusia menanggung akibat tak terduga daripada perbuatannya yang lampau.
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.