[219] Then, when that night had passed, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, this night the Four Great Kings — with a great army of yakkhas, a great army of gandhabbas, a great army of kumbhaṇḍas, and a great army of nāgas — having set a guard over the four quarters, having stationed massed troops over the four quarters, and having posted a watch over the four quarters, when the night was far advanced, of surpassing beauty, illuminating the entire Mount Gijjhakūṭa, approached me; and having approached, they paid homage to me and sat down to one side.
"And those yakkhas, bhikkhus: some paid homage to me and sat down to one side; some exchanged greetings with me, and when the courteous and amiable talk was concluded, sat down to one side; some raised their joined palms in salutation toward me and sat down to one side; some announced their name and clan and sat down to one side; and some, remaining silent, sat down to one side.
"Sitting to one side, bhikkhus, the Great King Vessavaṇa said this to me: 'Venerable sir, there are eminent yakkhas who have no confidence in the Blessed One; there are eminent yakkhas who have confidence in the Blessed One; there are middling yakkhas who have no confidence in the Blessed One; there are middling yakkhas who have confidence in the Blessed One; there are lowly yakkhas who have no confidence in the Blessed One; there are lowly yakkhas who have confidence in the Blessed One. But for the most part, venerable sir, the yakkhas have no confidence in the Blessed One. And why is that? Because, venerable sir, the Blessed One teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from the destruction of life, teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from taking what is not given, teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from sexual misconduct, teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from false speech, and teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from wine, spirits, and intoxicants that are a basis for heedlessness. But for the most part, venerable sir, the yakkhas do not abstain from the destruction of life, do not abstain from taking what is not given, do not abstain from sexual misconduct, do not abstain from false speech, and do not abstain from wine, spirits, and intoxicants that are a basis for heedlessness; and that is displeasing and disagreeable to them.
"'There are, venerable sir, disciples of the Blessed One who resort to remote lodgings in the wilderness, in forest thickets — with little sound, with little noise, with an atmosphere devoid of people, where one may lie hidden from human beings, fitting for retreat. There dwell eminent yakkhas who have no confidence in this dispensation (pāvacana) of the Blessed One. For the gaining of their confidence, venerable sir, may the Blessed One learn the Āṭānāṭiya protection (rakkhā), for the guarding, the protection, the freedom from harm, and the dwelling at ease of the bhikkhus, the bhikkhunīs, the laymen (upāsaka), and the laywomen (upāsikā).'
"I consented, bhikkhus, by remaining silent. Then, bhikkhus, the Great King Vessavaṇa, knowing that I had consented, on that occasion recited this Āṭānāṭiya protection:
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.