1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Now on that occasion, in Sāvatthī, a certain bhikkhu had been bitten by a snake and had died.[n.758] The incident is also recorded at Vin II 109–10. Then a number of bhikkhus approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said: "Bhante, a certain bhikkhu here in Sāvatthī was bitten by a snake and died."

1Ekaṁ 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.

2The Blessed One said: "Surely, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu did not pervade the four royal families of snakes[n.759] Imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni. Mp: "This is said with reference to those snakes whose bite is venomous. For all those with a venomous bite are included in these four royal families of snakes." with a mind of loving-kindness. For if he had done so, he would not have been bitten by a snake and died. What are the four? The virūpakkha royal family of snakes, the erāpatha royal family of snakes, the chabyāputta royal family of snakes, and the black gotamaka royal family of snakes. Surely, that bhikkhu did not pervade these four royal families of snakes with a mind of loving-kindness. For if he had done so, he would not have been bitten by a snake and died.

2"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.

3Katamāni 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.

4"I enjoin you, bhikkhus, to pervade these four royal families of snakes with a mind of loving-kindness, for your own security, safety, and protection."

4Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena pharituṁ attaguttiyā attarakkhāya attaparittāyāti.

5I have loving-kindness for the virūpakkha snakes;
for the erāpatha snakes I have loving-kindness.
I have loving-kindness for the chabyāputta snakes;
for the black gotamakas I have loving-kindness.

5Virūpakkhehi me mettaṁ,
Mettaṁ erāpathehi me;
Chabyāputtehi me mettaṁ,
Mettaṁ kaṇhāgotamakehi ca.

6I have loving-kindness for footless creatures;
for those with two feet I have loving-kindness.
I have loving-kindness for those with four feet;
for those with many feet I have loving-kindness.

6Apādakehi me mettaṁ,
mettaṁ dvipādakehi me;
Catuppadehi me mettaṁ,
mettaṁ bahuppadehi me.

7May footless beings not harm me;
may no harm come to me from those with two feet;
may four-footed beings not harm me;
may no harm come to me from those with many feet.

7Mā maṁ apādako hiṁsi,
mā maṁ hiṁsi dvipādako;
Mā maṁ catuppado hiṁsi,
mā maṁ hiṁsi bahuppado.

8May all beings, all living things,
all creatures, every one,
meet with good fortune;
may nothing bad come to anyone.

8Sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā,
sabbe bhūtā ca kevalā;
Sabbe bhadrāni passantu,
mā kañci pāpamāgamā.

9The Buddha is measureless, the Dhamma is measureless, the Saṅgha is measureless;

9Appamāṇo buddho, Appamāṇo dhammo; Appamāṇo saṅgho

10Creeping things, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, lizards, and rats are finite.I have made a safeguard, I have made protection. Let the creatures retreat. I pay homage to the Blessed One, homage to the seven Perfectly Enlightened Ones.[n.760] Be formats this declaration as verse, but I follow Ce and Ee in taking it as prose. This is an asseveration of truth (saccakiriya) and, as such, belongs with the verses, but since no meter is apparent, it is unlikely to be actual verse. The asseveration is commonly recited by forest monks as a safeguard against snakebites. It is often incorporated into their daily recitation.

10Pamāṇavantāni sarīsapāni. Ahivicchikā satapadī, Uṇṇanābhī sarabū mūsikā; Katā me rakkhā katā me parittā, Paṭikkamantu bhūtāni; Sohaṁ namo bhagavato, Namo sattannaṁ sammāsambuddhānan"ti.

Sattamaṁ.