SB 12.6.27

tasmāt satram idaṁ rājan
saṁsthīyetābhicārikam
sarpā anāgaso dagdhā
janair diṣṭaṁ hi bhujyate

tasmāt - therefore; satram - sacrifice; idam - this; rājan - O King; saṁsthīyeta - should be stopped; ābhicārikam - done with intent to harm; sarpāḥ - the serpents; anāgasaḥ - innocent; dagdhāḥ - burned; janaiḥ - by persons; diṣṭam - fate; hi - indeed; bhujyate - is suffered.

Text

Therefore, my dear King, please stop this sacrificial performance, which was initiated with the intent of doing harm to others. Many innocent snakes have already been burned to death. Indeed, all persons must suffer the unforeseen consequences of their past activities.

Purport

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.

Srimad Bhagavatam. Canto 12: The Age of Deterioration

Chapter 6: Maharaja Parikshit Passes Away. Text 27

Therefore, my dear King, please stop this sacrificial performance, which was initiated with the intent of doing harm to others. Many innocent snakes have already been burned to death. Indeed, all persons must suffer the unforeseen consequences of their past activities.