[60] Now at that time the king's elephants were dying. In the famine the people ate elephant flesh, and they gave elephant flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus ate the elephant flesh. People looked down upon this, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyans, eat elephant flesh? Elephants are an appurtenance of the king. If the king were to find out, he would not be pleased with them." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, elephant flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa)."
Now at that time the king's horses were dying. In the famine the people ate horse flesh, and they gave horse flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus ate the horse flesh. People looked down upon this, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyans, eat horse flesh? Horses are an appurtenance of the king. If the king were to find out, he would not be pleased with them." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, horse flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
Now at that time, in the famine, the people ate dog flesh, and they gave dog flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus ate the dog flesh. People looked down upon this, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyans, eat dog flesh? The dog is loathsome and repulsive." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, dog flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
Now at that time, in the famine, the people ate snake flesh, and they gave snake flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus ate the snake flesh. People looked down upon this, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyans, eat snake flesh? The snake is loathsome and repulsive." Then Supassa the nāga king approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, Supassa the nāga king said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, there are nāgas without faith and without confidence; they might harm bhikkhus even over a trifle. It would be good, venerable sir, if the noble ones did not eat snake flesh." Then the Blessed One instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened Supassa the nāga king with a talk on the Dhamma. Then Supassa the nāga king, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side towards him, and departed. Then the Blessed One, on that occasion and in that connection, having given a talk on the Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, snake flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
Now at that time hunters, having killed a lion, ate the lion flesh, and they gave lion flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus, having eaten the lion flesh, dwelt in the forest. Lions, on account of the smell of lion flesh, attacked the bhikkhus. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, lion flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
Now at that time hunters, having killed a tiger, ate the tiger flesh, and they gave tiger flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus, having eaten the tiger flesh, dwelt in the forest. Tigers, on account of the smell of tiger flesh, attacked the bhikkhus. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, tiger flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
Now at that time hunters, having killed a leopard, ate the leopard flesh, and they gave leopard flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus, having eaten the leopard flesh, dwelt in the forest. Leopards, on account of the smell of leopard flesh, attacked the bhikkhus. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, leopard flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
Now at that time hunters, having killed a bear, ate the bear flesh, and they gave bear flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus, having eaten the bear flesh, dwelt in the forest. Bears, on account of the smell of bear flesh, attacked the bhikkhus. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, bear flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
Now at that time hunters, having killed a hyena, ate the hyena flesh, and they gave hyena flesh to bhikkhus walking for alms. The bhikkhus, having eaten the hyena flesh, dwelt in the forest. Hyenas, on account of the smell of hyena flesh, attacked the bhikkhus. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, hyena flesh is not to be eaten. Whoever should eat it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
The Second Recitation Section, on Suppiyā, is finished.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.