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. Having thus set forth Cultivation of Friendship in the usual form, he next set it forth by way of prayer, reciting this stanza: 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! Next, setting forth Cultivation of Friendship without respect of persons, he recited this stanza: 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! “Thus,” said he, “cultivate friendship for all living beings without respect of persons.” Having so said, he spoke once more, to bid them meditate on the virtues of the Three Jewels. Said he: “Infinite is the Buddha! Infinite is the Doctrine! Infinite is the Order!” When the Future Buddha had thus pointed out that the virtues of the Three Jewels are infinite, he said: “Meditate on the virtues of these Three Jewels.” Having so said, in order to point out that living beings are finite, he continued: “Finite are creeping things,--snakes, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, lizards, rats and mice!” Having so said, the Future Buddha declared: “Since lust, ill-will, and delusion, which exist in these creatures, are the qualities which make creatures finite, therefore these creeping things are finite.” And he said: “By the supernatural power of the Three Jewels, which are infinite, let those of us who are finite, obtain protection for ourselves both by night and by day.” And he said: “Thus meditate on the virtues of the Three Jewels.” Having so said, in order to point out what more must yet be done, he recited this stanza: 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! Said the Future Buddha: “In the very act of rendering homage, meditate on the Seven Buddhas.” Thus the Future Buddha composed this protective charm for the company of ascetics and gave it to them. From that time on the company of ascetics, abiding steadfast in the admonition of the Future Buddha, cultivated friendliness, meditated on the virtues of the Buddhas. Even as they thus meditated on the virtues of the Buddhas, all of the reptiles disappeared. As for the Future Buddha, through the cultivation of the Exalted States, he attained the goal of the World of Brahmā. _19. Partridge, Monkey, and Elephant._ _Reverence your elders._ _A. Canonical version._ Vinaya ii. 161-162.