The story of an animal

^Kd.1.63.1 Now at that time a certain serpent was troubled about his birth as a serpent, ^Vin.1.87 he was ashamed of it, loathed it^[1]. Then it occurred to that serpent: “Now, by what means could I be freed quickly from birth as a serpent and get back^[2] human status?” Then it occurred to that serpent: “These recluses, sons of the Sakyans, are dhamma-farers, even-farers, Brahma-farers, they are truth-speakers, they are of moral habit, of good conduct. Now if I were to go forth among the recluses, sons of the Sakyans, so would I be freed quickly from birth as a serpent and could get back human status.”

^Kd.1.63.2 Then that serpent, in the form of a brahmin youth, having approached the monks, asked for the going forth. The monks let him go forth, they ordained him. Now at that time that serpent, together with a certain monk, was living in a dwelling-place on the boundary.^[3] Then that monk, getting up in the night towards dawn, paced up and down in the open air. ^BD.4.111 Then that serpent, confident that that monk had gone out, fell asleep. The whole dwelling-place was full of the snake, his coils were protruding through the windows.

^Kd.1.63.3 Then that monk, thinking: “I will enter the dwelling-place,” opening the door,^[4] saw the whole dwelling-place full of the snake, his coils protruding through the windows. Terrified at seeing this, he uttered a cry of distress. Monks, having run up, spoke thus to that monk: “Why did you, your reverence, utter a cry of distress?”

“Your reverences, this whole dwelling-place is full of a snake, his coils are protruding through the windows.” Then that serpent having awakened because of this noise, sat down on his own seat. Monks spoke thus: “Who are you, friend?”

“I am a serpent, honoured sirs.”

“But why did you, friend, act in this way?” Then that serpent told this matter to the monks. The monks told this matter to the Lord.

^Kd.1.63.4 Then the Lord on this occasion, in this connection, having had the Order of monks convened, spoke thus to this serpent: “Indeed, you serpents are not liable to growth in this dhamma and discipline. You, serpent, go away, observe the Observance day precisely^[5] on the fourteenth, fifteenth and eighth day of the half-month. Thus will you be freed quickly from birth as a serpent and get back human status.”

Then that serpent, thinking: “It is said that I am not liable to growth in this dhamma and discipline,” pained, afflicted, shedding tears, departed having uttered a cry of distress.

^Kd.1.63.5 Then the Lord addressed the monks, saying: “Monks, there are these two cases of manifestation of a serpent’s true nature^[6]: when he indulges in sexual intercourse with a female of his own species, and when he falls asleep in confidence. Monks, these are two cases ^Vin.1.88 of manifestation of a serpent’s true nature. Monks, if an animal is not ordained, it should not be ordained; if it is ordained, it should be expelled.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Stock, as at AN.i.145; MN.i.423, MN.iii.300.

[2]:

paṭilabhati. He had been unchaste (in a former birth), Vin-a.1022. If paṭilabhati does mean “to get back” here rather than to “acquire”, it indicates a belief in the possibility of losing human status for animal status.

[3]:

paccantima. Vinaya Texts i.218 say “(near the boundary wall of the Jetavana)”, and although this may be meant, there is no evidence for it at Vin-a.1022. Paccantima cannot well mean “neighbouring, adjoining” here, for the evidence is that monk and snake shared the same dwelling-place.

[4]:

kavāṭaṃ paṇāmento. On this phrase see BD.1.199, n.3.

[5]:

tatth’ eva.

[6]:

Vin-a.1022 gives five cases: the time of its reinstatement, paṭisandhi, of its sloughing its skin, the two cases mentioned in the text, and the time of its passing away.