18. Snake-Charm.

A blessing upon all living beings!

Vinaya ii. 109-110.

Now at that time a certain monk was bitten by a snake and died. They reported that fact to the Exalted One.

Assuredly, monks, that monk had not suffused the four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts. For, monks, if that monk had suffused the four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts, in that case, monks, that monk would not have been bitten by a snake and died.

What are the four royal families of snakes?

The Virūpakkhas are a royal family of snakes.

The Erāpathas are a royal family of snakes.

The Chabyāputtas are a royal family of snakes.

The Black Gotamakas are a royal family of snakes.

Assuredly, monks, that monk had not suffused the four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts. For, monks, if that monk had suffused the four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts,in that case, monks, that monk would not have been bitten by a snake and died.

I permit you, monks, to suffuse these four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts; for self-preservation, for self-defense, to effect Protection of Self. And this, monks, may be effected in the following way:

There is friendship ’twixt me and Virūpakkha snakes,There is friendship ’twixt me and Erāpatha snakes,There is friendship ’twixt me and Chabyāputta snakes,There is friendship ’twixt me and Black Gotamaka snakes.There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings without feet,There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with two feet,There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with four feet,There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with many feet.Let no living being without feet injure me!Let no living being with two feet injure me!Let no living being with four feet injure me!Let no living being with many feet injure me!Let all creatures that live,—let all creatures that breathe,—Let all creatures that exist,—one and all,—Let all meet with prosperity!Let none come unto any adversity!

There is friendship ’twixt me and Virūpakkha snakes,

There is friendship ’twixt me and Erāpatha snakes,

There is friendship ’twixt me and Chabyāputta snakes,

There is friendship ’twixt me and Black Gotamaka snakes.

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings without feet,There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with two feet,There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with four feet,There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with many feet.

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings without feet,

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with two feet,

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with four feet,

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with many feet.

Let no living being without feet injure me!Let no living being with two feet injure me!Let no living being with four feet injure me!Let no living being with many feet injure me!

Let no living being without feet injure me!

Let no living being with two feet injure me!

Let no living being with four feet injure me!

Let no living being with many feet injure me!

Let all creatures that live,—let all creatures that breathe,—Let all creatures that exist,—one and all,—Let all meet with prosperity!Let none come unto any adversity!

Let all creatures that live,—let all creatures that breathe,—

Let all creatures that exist,—one and all,—

Let all meet with prosperity!

Let none come unto any adversity!

Infinite is the Buddha! Infinite is the Doctrine! Infinite is the Order!Finite are creeping things,—snakes and scorpions, centipedes, spiders and lizards, rats and mice!

Infinite is the Buddha! Infinite is the Doctrine! Infinite is the Order!

Finite are creeping things,—snakes and scorpions, centipedes, spiders and lizards, rats and mice!

I have wrought defense for myself!I have wrought protection for myself!Begone, living beings!I here do homage to the Exalted OneAnd to the Seven Supreme Buddhas!

I have wrought defense for myself!

I have wrought protection for myself!

Begone, living beings!

I here do homage to the Exalted One

And to the Seven Supreme Buddhas!

Jātaka 203: ii. 144-148.

There is friendship ’twixt me and Virūpakkha snakes.This parable was related by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain monk.The story goes that while he was splitting wood at the door of the room where the monks took hot baths, a snake came out of a hole in a rotten log and bit him on the big toe. He died on the spot. The news of his death and of how he came to die spread throughout the monastery. In the Hall of Truth the monks began to discuss the incident: “Brethren, such-and-such a monk, they say, while splitting wood at the door of the room where the monks take hot baths, was bitten by a snake and died on the spot.”The Teacher drew near and inquired: “Monks, what is the subject that engages your attention as you sit here all gathered together?” “Such-and-such,” said they. “Monks,” said the Teacher, “if that monk had cultivated friendship for the four royal families of snakes, the snake would not have bitten him. For even ascetics of old, before a Buddha had arisen, cultivated friendship for the four royal families of snakes, and thus obtained deliverance from the perils that arose through those royal families of snakes.” So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:

There is friendship ’twixt me and Virūpakkha snakes.This parable was related by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain monk.

The story goes that while he was splitting wood at the door of the room where the monks took hot baths, a snake came out of a hole in a rotten log and bit him on the big toe. He died on the spot. The news of his death and of how he came to die spread throughout the monastery. In the Hall of Truth the monks began to discuss the incident: “Brethren, such-and-such a monk, they say, while splitting wood at the door of the room where the monks take hot baths, was bitten by a snake and died on the spot.”

The Teacher drew near and inquired: “Monks, what is the subject that engages your attention as you sit here all gathered together?” “Such-and-such,” said they. “Monks,” said the Teacher, “if that monk had cultivated friendship for the four royal families of snakes, the snake would not have bitten him. For even ascetics of old, before a Buddha had arisen, cultivated friendship for the four royal families of snakes, and thus obtained deliverance from the perils that arose through those royal families of snakes.” So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:

In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn in the kingdom of Kāsi in the household of a Brahman. When he reached manhood, he renounced the pleasures of sense, retired from the world and adopted the life of an ascetic, and developed the Supernatural Powers and the Attainments. By supernatural power, in the region of Himavat, at a bend in the Ganges, he created a hermitage, and there he resided, surrounded by a company of ascetics, diverting himself with the diversions of the Trances.

At that time, on the bank of the Ganges, reptiles of various kinds wrought such havoc among the ascetics that many of them lost their lives. Ascetics reported that fact to the Future Buddha. The Future Buddha caused all of the ascetics to be assembled, and said to them: “If you would cultivate friendship for the four royal families of snakes, the snakes would not bite you. Therefore from this time forth, cultivate friendship for the four royal families of snakes in the following way.” So saying, he recited this stanza:

There is friendship ’twixt me and Virūpakkha snakes,

There is friendship ’twixt me and Erāpatha snakes,

There is friendship ’twixt me and Chabyāputta snakes,

There is friendship ’twixt me and Black Gotamaka snakes.

Having thus pointed out to them the four royalfamilies of serpents, he said: “In case you are successful in cultivating friendship for these, reptiles will not bite you or annoy you.” So saying, he recited the second stanza:

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings without feet,

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with two feet,

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with four feet,

There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with many feet.

Having thus set forth Cultivation of Friendship in the usual form, he next set it forth by way of prayer, reciting this stanza:

Let no living being without feet injure me!Let no living being with two feet injure me!Let no living being with four feet injure me!Let no living being with many feet injure me!

Let no living being without feet injure me!

Let no living being with two feet injure me!

Let no living being with four feet injure me!

Let no living being with many feet injure me!

Next, setting forth Cultivation of Friendship without respect of persons, he recited this stanza:

Let all creatures that live,—let all creatures that breathe,—Let all creatures that exist,—one and all,—Let all meet with prosperity!Let none come unto any adversity!

Let all creatures that live,—let all creatures that breathe,—

Let all creatures that exist,—one and all,—

Let all meet with prosperity!

Let none come unto any adversity!

“Thus,” said he, “cultivate friendship for all living beings without respect of persons.” Having so said, he spoke once more, to bid them meditate on the virtues of the Three Jewels. Said he: “Infiniteis the Buddha! Infinite is the Doctrine! Infinite is the Order!”

When the Future Buddha had thus pointed out that the virtues of the Three Jewels are infinite, he said: “Meditate on the virtues of these Three Jewels.” Having so said, in order to point out that living beings are finite, he continued: “Finite are creeping things,—snakes, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, lizards, rats and mice!”

Having so said, the Future Buddha declared: “Since lust, ill-will, and delusion, which exist in these creatures, are the qualities which make creatures finite, therefore these creeping things are finite.” And he said: “By the supernatural power of the Three Jewels, which are infinite, let those of us who are finite, obtain protection for ourselves both by night and by day.” And he said: “Thus meditate on the virtues of the Three Jewels.” Having so said, in order to point out what more must yet be done, he recited this stanza:

I have wrought defense for myself!I have wrought protection for myself!Begone, living beings!I here do homage to the Exalted OneAnd to the Seven Supreme Buddhas!

I have wrought defense for myself!

I have wrought protection for myself!

Begone, living beings!

I here do homage to the Exalted One

And to the Seven Supreme Buddhas!

Said the Future Buddha: “In the very act of rendering homage, meditate on the Seven Buddhas.”Thus the Future Buddha composed this protective charm for the company of ascetics and gave it to them.

From that time on the company of ascetics, abiding steadfast in the admonition of the Future Buddha, cultivated friendliness, meditated on the virtues of the Buddhas. Even as they thus meditated on the virtues of the Buddhas, all of the reptiles disappeared. As for the Future Buddha, through the cultivation of the Exalted States, he attained the goal of the World of Brahmā.

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