(Part
One) 21.
The Serpent King
As
soon as he had 60 disciples the Buddha sent them
away to teach people everywhere. He left the Deer
Park and turned southwards towards the Magadha country.
Along
the way, on the banks of a river, there lived three
brothers whose names were Uruvela Kassapa, Nadi Kassapa
and Gaya Kassapa. Each lived with 500, 300 and 200
followers respectively.
One
evening the Buddha visited Uruvela Kassapa's hut and
asked, "If it is not an inconvenience, may I
spend a night in your kitchen?"
"I
don't mind, Great Gautama, but there is a fierce serpent
king in the kitchen. I am afraid it will harm you,"
said Uruvela Kassapa.
"Oh,
I don't mind," answered the Buddha. "If
you have no objection I will spent the night there."
The
Buddha went into the kitchen, spread some grass on
the floor for bedding, and sat down. The fierce serpent king,
hearing the noise, came slithering out of a hole in
the wall, opening his mouth to bite the Buddha."I
will not harm this serpent king. I will subdue him
by my love and kindness," thought the Buddha.
The angrier the serpent king became, the more kindly
and loving was Buddha. The serpent king could do him
no harm.
Early
next morning Uruvela Kassapa went to the Buddha and
found him sitting in deep meditation. The ascetic
was surprised and asked the Buddha whether the serpent king
had harmed him. "Here, see for yourself,"
said the Buddha and uncovered his begging bowl. Out
came the fierce serpent king and the ascetic started
to run away in fright. But the Buddha stopped him,
saying that he had a way to tame any fierce serpent.
"Can
I learn?" asked the ascetic. The Buddha then
gave his teachings and Uruvela Kassapa, his brothers
and all their followers became devotees of the Buddha's
Dharma.
