Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.17.2-3
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Serpents Purchased Protection
“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.”
What the purport teaches
- The serpents made monthly offerings at the base of a tree to purchase protection from Garuḍa, the powerful carrier of Viṣṇu.
- Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī gives an alternate explanation: human beings offered tribute to the serpents, who passed a portion to Garuḍa.
- The translation follows Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrīla Prabhupāda. All the ācāryas agree that the serpents purchased protection from Garuḍa.
Try this today
Reread the two explanations and write their shared conclusion in one sentence.
Ask yourself
How does noticing the ācāryas’ shared conclusion help you read their different explanations?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.