Said the Teacher: “Thus, monks, even to dragons, though the World of Dragons wherein they dwell is filled to overflowing with the Seven Jewels, begging is offensive. How much more so must it be to human beings!” And having completed this parable, he identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the younger brother was my favorite disciple, but the older brother was I myself.” _18. Snake-Charm._ _A blessing upon all living beings!_ _A. Canonical version._ Vinaya ii. 109-110. Now at that time a certain monk was bitten by a snake and died. They reported that fact to the Exalted One. Assuredly, monks, that monk had not suffused the four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts. For, monks, if that monk had suffused the four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts, in that case, monks, that monk would not have been bitten by a snake and died. What are the four royal families of snakes? The Virūpakkhas are a royal family of snakes. The Erāpathas are a royal family of snakes. The Chabyāputtas are a royal family of snakes. The Black Gotamakas are a royal family of snakes. Assuredly, monks, that monk had not suffused the four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts. For, monks, if that monk had suffused the four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts, in that case, monks, that monk would not have been bitten by a snake and died. I permit you, monks, to suffuse these four royal families of snakes with friendly thoughts; for self-preservation, for self-defense, to effect Protection of Self. And this, monks, may be effected in the following way: There is friendship ’twixt me and Virūpakkha snakes, There is friendship ’twixt me and Erāpatha snakes, There is friendship ’twixt me and Chabyāputta snakes, There is friendship ’twixt me and Black Gotamaka snakes. There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings without feet, There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with two feet, There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with four feet, There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with many feet. Let no living being without feet injure me! Let no living being with two feet injure me! Let no living being with four feet injure me! Let no living being with many feet injure me! Let all creatures that live,--let all creatures that breathe,-- Let all creatures that exist,--one and all,-- Let all meet with prosperity! Let none come unto any adversity! Infinite is the Buddha! Infinite is the Doctrine! Infinite is the Order! Finite are creeping things,--snakes and scorpions, centipedes, spiders and lizards, rats and mice! I have wrought defense for myself! I have wrought protection for myself! Begone, living beings! I here do homage to the Exalted One And to the Seven Supreme Buddhas! _B. Uncanonical version._