[326] This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One (Sugata), the Teacher, further said this:
"A khattiya (noble warrior) perfect in birth,
highborn and possessed of fame—
one should not despise him as 'young';
a man should not disparage him.
For it is possible that this lord of men,
the khattiya, having gained his realm,
grown wrathful, will come down hard upon him
with the rod of royal punishment.
Therefore one should avoid him,
guarding one's own life.
Whether in a village or in the forest,
wherever one may see a serpent,
one should not despise it as 'young';
a man should not disparage it.
In varied hues, both high and low,
the serpent glides, endowed with fiery power (teja);
assailing them, it may one day bite
the fool, whether man or woman.
Therefore one should avoid it,
guarding one's own life.
A fire that devours much, blazing,
the conflagration with its blackened trail—
one should not despise it as 'young';
a man should not disparage it.
For having obtained fuel,
that fire, having grown great,
assailing them, may one day burn
the fool, whether man or woman.
Therefore one should avoid it,
guarding one's own life.
When a fire burns down a forest—
that conflagration with its blackened trail—
shoots spring up there once again
with the passing of nights and days.
But whomever a bhikkhu accomplished in virtue (sīla)
burns with his fiery power—
no sons or cattle remain to him,
nor do his heirs find wealth;
without offspring, without heirs,
they become like palm-tree stumps.
Therefore indeed a wise person,
seeing the danger to himself,
toward a serpent and a fire,
a khattiya possessed of fame,
and a bhikkhu accomplished in virtue,
should conduct himself rightly indeed."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.