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 Virūpakkha, the Erāpatha, the Chabyāputta, and the Kaṇhagotama — 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.144 ff. cf. Vin.ii.109 f.

The story is evidently an expansion of the Khandha Paritta.