The Buddha teaches why some womb-born dragons keep the sabbath after transforming their bodies, reflecting on past mixed deeds and resolving to practice good conduct for a better rebirth.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena m’idhekacce jalābujā nāgā uposathaṁ upavasanti vossaṭṭhakāyā ca bhavantī”ti?
(Sabbaṁ vitthāretabbaṁ.)
“Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena m’idhekacce jalābujā nāgā uposathaṁ upavasanti vossaṭṭhakāyā ca bhavantī”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him,
“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena m’idhekacce jalābujā nāgā uposathaṁ upavasanti vossaṭṭhakāyā ca bhavantī”ti?
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some womb-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?”
(Sabbaṁ vitthāretabbaṁ.)
(Tell all in full.)
“Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena m’idhekacce jalābujā nāgā uposathaṁ upavasanti vossaṭṭhakāyā ca bhavantī”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
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Last updated on July 27, 2026