The Buddha teaches the four ways phoenixes reproduce and how phoenixes of each birth-type can carry off dragons of corresponding or lesser birth-types, with spontaneously-born phoenixes able to seize any dragon.

SN 30.2 They Carry Off

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, supaṇṇayoniyo. Katamā catasso? Aṇḍajā …pe… imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso supaṇṇayoniyo. Tatra, bhikkhave, aṇḍajā supaṇṇā aṇḍajeva nāge haranti, na jalābuje, na saṁsedaje, na opapātike. Tatra, bhikkhave, jalābujā supaṇṇā aṇḍaje ca jalābuje ca nāge haranti, na saṁsedaje, na opapātike. Tatra, bhikkhave, saṁsedajā supaṇṇā aṇḍaje ca jalābuje ca saṁsedaje ca nāge haranti, na opapātike. Tatra, bhikkhave, opapātikā supaṇṇā aṇḍaje ca jalābuje ca saṁsedaje ca opapātike ca nāge haranti. Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso supaṇṇayoniyo”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, supaṇṇayoniyo.

“Mendicants, phoenixes reproduce in these four ways.

Katamā catasso?

What four?

Aṇḍajā …pe…

Phoenixes are born from eggs, from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously.

imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso supaṇṇayoniyo.

These are the four ways that phoenixes reproduce.

Tatra, bhikkhave, aṇḍajā supaṇṇā aṇḍajeva nāge haranti, na jalābuje, na saṁsedaje, na opapātike.

Of these, phoenixes born from an egg can only carry off dragons born from an egg, not those born from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously.

Tatra, bhikkhave, jalābujā supaṇṇā aṇḍaje ca jalābuje ca nāge haranti, na saṁsedaje, na opapātike.

Phoenixes born from a womb can carry off dragons born from an egg or from a womb, but not those born from moisture or spontaneously.

Tatra, bhikkhave, saṁsedajā supaṇṇā aṇḍaje ca jalābuje ca saṁsedaje ca nāge haranti, na opapātike.

Phoenixes born from moisture can carry off dragons born from an egg, from a womb, or from moisture, but not those born spontaneously.

Tatra, bhikkhave, opapātikā supaṇṇā aṇḍaje ca jalābuje ca saṁsedaje ca opapātike ca nāge haranti.

Phoenixes born spontaneously can carry off dragons born from an egg, from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso supaṇṇayoniyo”ti.

These are the four ways that phoenixes reproduce.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026