Text of Confucianism Part 02

SR No.: 007676
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Legge
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1882
Total Pages: 2405
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 43 MB

Page 580

86
MAHÂVAGGA.
VI, 23, 14.
the Sakyaputtiya Samanas eat serpents' flesh ? Serpents are disgusting and loathsome animals.'
And the serpent king Supassa went to the place where the Blessed One was; having approached him and respectfully saluted the Blessed One, he stationed himself near him. Standing near him the serpent king Supassa said to the Blessed One: There are, Lord, unbelieving serpents who are disinclined (to the faith); these might do harm to the Bhikkhus even on trifling occasions. Pray, Lord, let their reverences not eat serpents' flesh. Then the Blessed One taught, incited, animated, and gladdened the serpent king Supassa by religious discourse (&c., down to :), and passing round him with his right side towards him, went away.'
In consequence of that the Blessed One, after having delivered a religious discourse, thus addressed the Bhikkhus: ‘Let no one, O Bhikkhus, eat serpents' flesh. He who does, commits a dukkata offence.'
14. At that time hunters had killed a lion and eaten his flesh, and when the Bhikkhus came and asked for alms, they gave them lions' flesh. The Bhikkhus, having eaten that lions' Alesh, sojourned in the forest. Then the lions, (attracted) by the smell of lions' Alesh, fell upon the Bhikkhus.
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
Let no one, O Bhikkhus, eat lions' flesh. He who does, commits a dukkata offence.'
15. At that time hunters had killed a tiger, &c., a panther, &c., a bear, &c., a hyena (&c., as in g 14, down to :)
*Let no one, O Bhikkhus, eat a hyena's flesh. He who does, commits a dukkata offence.'
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