[99] Bhikkhus, the lion, king of beasts, comes forth from his lair in the evening time. Having come forth from his lair, he stretches himself; having stretched himself, he surveys the four quarters all around; having surveyed the four quarters all around, he roars the lion's roar (sīhanāda) three times; having roared the lion's roar three times, he sets out for his hunting-ground (gocara). If he delivers a blow to an elephant, he delivers the blow carefully indeed, not carelessly; if he delivers a blow to a buffalo, he delivers the blow carefully indeed, not carelessly; if he delivers a blow to an ox, he delivers the blow carefully indeed, not carelessly; if he delivers a blow to a leopard, he delivers the blow carefully indeed, not carelessly; if he delivers a blow even to small creatures, down to hares and cats, he delivers the blow carefully indeed, not carelessly. For what reason? [He thinks:] "Let not my path of skill (yoggapatha) be lost."
"Lion," bhikkhus, is a designation for the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Enlightened One. When the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma to an assembly, this is his lion's roar. If the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma to bhikkhus, the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma carefully indeed, not carelessly; if the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma to bhikkhunīs, the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma carefully indeed, not carelessly; if the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma to male lay followers, the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma carefully indeed, not carelessly; if the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma to female lay followers, the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma carefully indeed, not carelessly; if the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma to ordinary worldlings, even to carriers of leftover food and to hunters, the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma carefully indeed, not carelessly. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, the Tathāgata holds the Dhamma in weight, has reverence for the Dhamma.
End of the Ninth Sutta.
10. Kakudhasutta
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.