Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 12 - Chapter 1 - Verse 27

Sanskrit:

तस्मात् सत्रमिदं राजन् संस्थीयेताभिचारिकम् ।सर्पा अनागसो दग्धा जनैर्दिष्टं हि भुज्यते ॥ २७ ॥

ITRANS:

tasmāt satram idaṁ rājansaṁsthīyetābhicārikamsarpā anāgaso dagdhājanair diṣṭaṁ hi bhujyate

Translation:

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.