SA 1226（一二二六） 三菩提

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling through the country of Kosala and arrived at Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma in Śrāvastī.

At that time, King Prasenajit heard that the World-Honored One was traveling through the country of Kosala and had arrived at Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma in Śrāvastī. Having heard this, he went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, sat to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I have heard the World-Honored One himself declare that he will attain supreme perfect enlightenment. Is what is being passed around by people not false and exaggerated speech? Is it as it is said, in accordance with the Dharma, in conformity with the Dharma? Is it not that others who are of the same Dharma are weary and disgusted with the questions and answers?"

The Buddha told the great king, "What they say is true, not false. It is as it is said, in accordance with the Dharma, in conformity with the Dharma. It is not that others who are of the same Dharma are weary and disgusted with the questions and answers. Why is that? Great king, it is because I have now truly attained supreme perfect enlightenment."

King Prasenajit said to the Buddha, "Although the World-Honored One speaks like this, I still do not believe it. Why is that? There are some senior śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas here, namely Pūraṇa Kāśyapa, Maskarin Gośālīputra, Sañjayin Vairaṭṭīputra, Ajita Keśakambalin, Kakuda Kātyāyana, Nirgrantha Jñātiputra, who do not say they have attained supreme perfect enlightenment. How can the World-Honored One, being young and newly ordained, have attained supreme perfect enlightenment?"

The Buddha told the great king, "There are four kinds of things that, although small, should not be underestimated. What are the four? A young prince of the kṣatriya caste should not be underestimated, a young dragon should not be underestimated, a small fire should not be underestimated, and a young bhikṣu should not be underestimated." At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

The kṣatriya prince has the marks of a great man, and his
noble family is renowned. Although he is young, the wise do not
underestimate him. He will certainly ascend the throne, and will have resentment
towards those who harm him. Therefore, he is difficult to underestimate, and
should be treated with great respect. Those who seek to protect themselves
should protect themselves as they would protect their lives. By protecting themselves
equally, they protect their lives equally. Whether in villages or empty places
when one sees a young dragon, one should not give rise to
the thought of despising it because of its small size. Even a
small dragon with variegated colors should be treated with comfort and ease
Those who despise snakes, whether male or female, will all be harmed
by their poison. Therefore, those who protect themselves should do so as
they would protect their own lives. By protecting themselves well, they protect
others equally. Although a small fire may consume a small amount, it
is limitless. A small candle can also burn, and if it has
enough fuel, it will spread. Gradually advancing from the small, it can
burn down villages and cities. Therefore, those who protect themselves should do
so as they would protect their own lives. By protecting themselves well
they protect others equally. When consumed by a raging fire, all the
plants are completely burned up. When extinguished, they do not shrink back
and the fire of precepts is reborn. If one轻毀比丘 who upholds pure
precepts, it will burn one's body and descendants, and calamities will flow
for hundreds of generations, like burning a palm tree, without a long
period of growth. Therefore, one should protect oneself as one would protect
one's own life. By protecting oneself well, one protects others equally. The
kṣatriya prince has the marks of a great man, the young dragon
the small fire, and the bhikṣu who upholds pure precepts should not
be given rise to the thought of despising them. Therefore, one should
protect oneself as one would protect one's own life. By protecting oneself
well, one protects others equally.

Having spoken this sūtra, King Prasenajit, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and followed the teachings, paid homage, and departed.