The Buddha teaches on the snake king, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.67 The Snake King

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyaṁ aññataro bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṅkato hoti. Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idha, bhante, sāvatthiyaṁ aññataro bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṅkato”ti.

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

Katamāni cattāri? Virūpakkhaṁ ahirājakulaṁ, erāpathaṁ ahirājakulaṁ, chabyāputtaṁ ahirājakulaṁ, kaṇhāgotamakaṁ ahirājakulaṁ. Na hi nūna so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phari. Sace hi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phareyya, na hi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṁ kareyya.

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

Virūpakkhehi me mettaṁ,
Mettaṁ erāpathehi me;
Chabyāputtehi me mettaṁ,
Mettaṁ kaṇhāgotamakehi ca.

Apādakehi me mettaṁ,
mettaṁ dvipādakehi me;
Catuppadehi me mettaṁ,
mettaṁ bahuppadehi me.

maṁ apādako hiṁsi,
maṁ hiṁsi dvipādako;
maṁ catuppado hiṁsi,
maṁ hiṁsi bahuppado.

Sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā,
sabbe bhūtā ca kevalā;
Sabbe bhadrāni passantu,
kañci pāpamāgamā.

Appamāṇo buddho,
Appamāṇo dhammo;
Appamāṇo saṅgho,
Pamāṇavantāni sarīsapāni.

Ahivicchikā satapadī,
Uṇṇanābhī sarabū mūsikā;
Katā me rakkhā katā me parittā,
Paṭikkamantu bhūtāni;
Sohaṁ namo bhagavato,
Namo sattannaṁ sammāsambuddhānan”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Katamāni cattāri?

What four?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Virūpakkhehi me mettaṁ,

I love the Virūpakkhas,

Mettaṁ erāpathehi me;

the Erāpathas I love,

Chabyāputtehi me mettaṁ,

I love the Chabyāputtas,

Mettaṁ kaṇhāgotamakehi ca.

the Kaṇhāgotamakas I love.

Apādakehi me mettaṁ,

I love the footless creatures,

mettaṁ dvipādakehi me;

the two-footed I love,

Catuppadehi me mettaṁ,

I love the four-footed,

mettaṁ bahuppadehi me.

the many-footed I love.

maṁ apādako hiṁsi,

May the footless not harm me!

maṁ hiṁsi dvipādako;

May I not be harmed by the two-footed!

maṁ catuppado hiṁsi,

May the four-footed not harm me!

maṁ hiṁsi bahuppado.

May I not be harmed by the many-footed!

Sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā,

All sentient beings, all living things,

sabbe bhūtā ca kevalā;

all creatures, every one:

Sabbe bhadrāni passantu,

may they see only nice things,

kañci pāpamāgamā.

may bad not come to anyone.

Appamāṇo buddho,

The Buddha is immeasurable,

Appamāṇo dhammo;

the teaching is immeasurable,

Appamāṇo saṅgho,

the Saṅgha is immeasurable.

Pamāṇavantāni sarīsapāni.

But limited are reptiles,

Ahivicchikā satapadī,

snakes and scorpions, centipedes,

Uṇṇanābhī sarabū mūsikā;

spiders and lizards and mice.

Katā me rakkhā katā me parittā,

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

Paṭikkamantu bhūtāni;

go away, creatures!

Sohaṁ namo bhagavato,

And so I revere the Blessed One,

Namo sattannaṁ sammāsambuddhānan”ti.

I revere the seven perfectly awakened Buddhas.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Recollection of the Buddha

Recollection of the Buddha

A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.

Also known as: recollection of Buddha, mindfulness of the Buddha, reflection on the qualities of the Buddha
Pāli: buddhānussati, buddhānusmṛti
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Safety

Safety

A state of complete security and refuge where there is no threat from defilements or the turbulence of becoming. It is the peace of one who has found shelter from the storms of craving and has nothing left to lose or fear.

Also known as: sanctuary, security, at peace, rest
Pāli: khema
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Last updated on July 27, 2026