• Khandhavatta Jātaka (No.203)

The Bodhisatta was once born in Kāsi, and later became an ascetic. On it being reported to him that many ascetics died of snake-bite, he gathered them together and taught them how, by cultivating love for the four royal races of snakes -

• the Virūpakkhas,

• the Erāpattas,

• the Chabbyāputtas, and

• the Kanhagotamas -

they could prevent themselves from ever being bitten by any creature.

The story was told in reference to a monk who died of snake-bite. J. ii.144ff.. cf. Vin.ii.109f.

The story is evidently an expansion of the Khanda Paritta.