Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukkanipāto
VII: Pattakamma Vagga
Sutta 67
Ahina Sutta
By a Snake
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
For free distribution only.
Translator's note:
This is one of the few protective charms mentioned in the Pali Canon and specifically allowed by the Buddha for monks to use (another charm, also allowed to the monks, is contained in DN 32). Note that the power of the charm is said to come, not from the words, but from the mind of good will with which they are said. It thus differs from charms taught in later forms of Buddhism, where the words themselves are said to contain power.
[1][pts][piya] On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvaṭṭhī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.
Now, at that time in Sāvaṭṭhī a certain monk had died after having been bitten by a snake.
Then a large number of monks went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As they were sitting there they said to him, "Lord, just now in Sāvaṭṭhī a certain monk died after having been bitten by a snake."
"Then it's certain, monks, that that monk didn't suffuse the four royal snake lineages with a mind of good will.
For if he had suffused the four royal snake lineages with a mind of good will, he would not have died after having been bitten by a snake.
Which four?
The Virūpakkha royal snake lineage,[1]
the Erāpatha royal snake lineage,
the Chabyāputta royal snake lineage,
the Dark Gotamaka royal snake lineage.
It's certain that that monk didn't suffuse these four royal snake lineages with a mind of good will.
For if he had suffused these four royal snake lineages with a mind of good will, he would not have died after having been bitten by a snake.
I allow you, monks, to suffuse these four royal snake lineages with a mind of good will for the sake of self-protection, self-guarding, self-preservation."
I have good will for the Virūpakkhas,
good will for the Erāpathas,
good will for the Chabyāputtas,
good will for the Dark Gotamakas.
I have good will for footless beings,
good will for two-footed beings,
good will for four-footed beings,
good will for many-footed beings.
May footless beings do me no harm.
May two-footed beings do me no harm.
May four-footed beings do me no harm.
May many-footed beings do me no harm.
May all creatures,
all breathing things,
all beings
— each and every one —
meet with good fortune.
May none of them come to any evil.
Limitless is the Buddha,
limitless the Dhamma,
limitless the Saṇgha.
There is a limit to creeping things:
snakes, scorpions, centipedes,
spiders, lizards, and rats.
I have made this safeguard,
I have made this protection.
May the beings depart.
I pay homage
to the Blessed One,
homage
to the seven
rightly self-awakened ones.[2]
[1]The Virūpakkhas are the chiefs of the nāgas, associated with the western quarter (see DN 20). The other royal lineages of snakes are nowhere else mentioned in the Pali Canon. The commentary to this discourse does not identify them. The Dark Gotamakas may be the cobra family.
[2]The seven most recent Buddhas, including "our" Buddha, are mentioned in DN 14 and DN 32: Vipassi, Sikhi, Vessabhū, Kakusandha, Koṇāgamana, Kassapa, and Gotama. It's noteworthy that the concept of the seven Buddhas is associated with protective charms. For example, the heart of the charm given in DN 32 is this:
Homage to Vipassin, possessed of vision and splendor.
Homage to Sikhi, sympathetic to all beings.
Homage to Vessabhū, cleansed, austere.
Homage to Kakusandha, crusher of Māra's host.
Homage to Koṇāgamana, the Brahman who lived
the life perfected.
Homage to Kassapa, entirely released.
Homage to Aṇgīrasa [Gotama],
splendid son of the Sakyans,
who taught this Dhamma:
the dispelling of all stress and pain.
Those unbound in the world,
who have seen things as they are,
great ones of gentle speech,
thoroughly mature,
even they pay homage to Gotama,
the benefit of human and heavenly beings,
consummate in knowledge and conduct,
the great one, thoroughly mature.
We revere the Buddha Gotama,
consummate in knowledge and conduct.
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