Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
This place lies about one mile west of the present day Kālīya- daha. Saubhari Ṛṣi’s hermitage was here. Before the time of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Saubhari Ṛṣi performed austerities here for thousands of years. To conquer his senses, he remained standing in the water of the Yamunā during all seasons, including summer and winter. One day Garuḍa, an associate of the Supreme Lord, arrived here. Following his nature as a bird, he swallowed a big male fish right before everyone’s eyes. Seeing this, the fish community lamented and prayed to Saubhari Ṛṣi for retaliation. Engrossed in dry austerities and unaware of the glories of Bhagavān’s devotees, Saubhari Ṛṣi cursed Garuḍa, saying that if he were to come here again, his head would be cut off.
Saubhari Ṛṣi had cursed a great devotee, and, therefore, a desire arose in his heart to enjoy the material world. He came out of the waters of the Yamunā, and by his mystic power transformed himself into a young man. He married the many beautiful young daughters of Mahārāja Māndhāta, and remained engrossed in worldly pleasures for thousands of years.
By the desire of Bhagavān, the Kālīya serpent later moved to that same Yamunā pond with his family, in order to protect himself from the very powerful Garuḍa. This rendered the water in the pond poisonous, and all the fish living here, who had also committed an offence towards Garuḍa, died. In this way, Saubhari Ṛṣi and all the fish that had taken shelter of him faced total destruction, because they had committed an offence towards a bhakta. The scriptures therefore declare that one should at all costs refrain from committing Vaiṣṇava aparādha.
