In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn in the kingdom of Kāsi in the household of a Brahman. When he reached manhood, he renounced the pleasures of sense, retired from the world and adopted the life of an ascetic, and developed the Supernatural Powers and the Attainments. By supernatural power, in the region of Himavat, at a bend in the Ganges, he created a hermitage, and there he resided, surrounded by a company of ascetics, diverting himself with the diversions of the Trances.
At that time, on the bank of the Ganges, reptiles of various kinds wrought such havoc among the ascetics that many of them lost their lives. Ascetics reported that fact to the Future Buddha. The Future Buddha caused all of the ascetics to be assembled, and said to them: “If you would cultivate friendship for the four royal families of snakes, the snakes would not bite you. Therefore from this time forth, cultivate friendship for the four royal families of snakes in the following way.” So saying, he recited this stanza:
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.
Having thus pointed out to them the four royal families of serpents, he said: “In case you are successful in cultivating friendship for these, reptiles will not bite you or annoy you.” So saying, he recited the second stanza:
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,