Verse 1

¹Why did Kaliya leave Ramanaka, the home of the serpents? And what wrong had he alone done to Suparna? ²Mighty-armed one, a tribute had long ago been set for the serpents here, to be brought month by month at the foot of a tree by those of the snake folk whose work it is to bring it. ³At each turn of the moon all the serpents give up their own share to great Suparna, and by that they keep themselves safe. ⁴But Kaliya, son of Kadru, drunk on the strength of his poison, made nothing of Garuda and ate that tribute himself.