AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.67 The Snake King

Numbered Discourses 4.67 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.67

7. Deeds of Substance – 7. Pattakammavagga

AN 4.67 The Snake King – Ahirājasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2

Now, at that time a monk in Sāvatthī passed away due to a snake bite.

Tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyaṁ aññataro bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṅkato hoti.

1.3

Then several bhikkhū went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

1.4

“Sir, a monk in Sāvatthī has passed away due to a snake bite.”

“idha, bhante, sāvatthiyaṁ aññataro bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṅkato”ti.

2.1

“Bhikkhū, that monk mustn’t have spread a mind of love to the four royal snake families.

“Na hi nūna so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phari.

2.2

If he had, he wouldn’t have died due to a snake bite.

Sace hi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phareyya, na hi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṁ kareyya.

3.1

What four?

Katamāni cattāri?

3.2

The royal snake families of Virūpakkha, Erāpatha, Chabyāputta, and Kaṇhāgotamaka. …

Virūpakkhaṁ ahirājakulaṁ, erāpathaṁ ahirājakulaṁ, chabyāputtaṁ ahirājakulaṁ, kaṇhāgotamakaṁ ahirājakulaṁ.

3.3

Na hi nūna so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phari.

3.4

Sace hi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phareyya, na hi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṁ kareyya.

4.1

Bhikkhū, I urge you to spread a mind of love to the four royal snake families, for your own safety, security, and protection.

Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena pharituṁ attaguttiyā attarakkhāya attaparittāyāti.

5.1

I love the Virūpakkhas,

Virūpakkhehi me mettaṁ,

5.2

the Erāpathas I love,

Mettaṁ erāpathehi me;

5.3

I love the Chabyāputtas,

Chabyāputtehi me mettaṁ,

5.4

the Kaṇhāgotamakas I love.

Mettaṁ kaṇhāgotamakehi ca.

6.1

I love the footless creatures,

Apādakehi me mettaṁ,

6.2

the two-footed I love,

mettaṁ dvipādakehi me;

6.3

I love the four-footed,

Catuppadehi me mettaṁ,

6.4

the many-footed I love.

mettaṁ bahuppadehi me.

7.1

May the footless not harm me!

Mā maṁ apādako hiṁsi,

7.2

May I not be harmed by the two-footed!

mā maṁ hiṁsi dvipādako;

7.3

May the four-footed not harm me!

Mā maṁ catuppado hiṁsi,

7.4

May I not be harmed by the many-footed!

mā maṁ hiṁsi bahuppado.

8.1

All sentient beings, all living things,

Sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā,

8.2

all creatures, every one:

sabbe bhūtā ca kevalā;

8.3

may they see only nice things,

Sabbe bhadrāni passantu,

8.4

may bad not come to anyone.

mā kañci pāpamāgamā.

9.1

The Buddha is immeasurable,

Appamāṇo buddho,

9.2

the teaching is immeasurable,

Appamāṇo dhammo;

9.3

the Saṅgha is immeasurable.

Appamāṇo saṅgho,

9.4

But limited are crawling things,

Pamāṇavantāni sarīsapāni.

10.1

snakes and scorpions, centipedes,

Ahivicchikā satapadī,

10.2

spiders and lizards and mice.

Uṇṇanābhī sarabū mūsikā;

10.3

I’ve made this safeguard, I’ve made this protection:

Katā me rakkhā katā me parittā,

10.4

go away, creatures!

Paṭikkamantu bhūtāni;

10.5

And so I revere the Blessed One,

Sohaṁ namo bhagavato,

10.6

I revere the seven perfectly awakened Buddhas.”

Namo sattannaṁ sammāsambuddhānan”ti.

10.7

Sattamaṁ.