Linked Discourses 29.2 1. Dragons Better (SN29.2)

1.1

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

1.2

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, nāgayoniyo.

“Mendicants, dragons reproduce in these four ways.

1.3

Katamā catasso?

What four?

1.4

Aṇḍajā nāgā, jalābujā nāgā, saṁsedajā nāgā, opapātikā nāgā.

Dragons are born from an egg, from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously.

1.5

Tatra, bhikkhave, aṇḍajehi nāgehi jalābujā ca saṁsedajā ca opapātikā ca nāgā paṇītatarā.

Of these, dragons born from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously are better than those born from an egg.

1.6

Tatra, bhikkhave, aṇḍajehi ca jalābujehi ca nāgehi saṁsedajā ca opapātikā ca nāgā paṇītatarā.

Dragons born from moisture or spontaneously are better than those born from an egg or from a womb.

1.7

Tatra, bhikkhave, aṇḍajehi ca jalābujehi ca saṁsedajehi ca nāgehi opapātikā nāgā paṇītatarā.

Dragons born spontaneously are better than those born from an egg, from a womb, or from moisture.

1.8

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso nāgayoniyo”ti.

These are the four ways that dragons reproduce.”

1.9

Dutiyaṁ.