Stephen Hodge:

> Mention is made in some Buddhist texts of four venomous snakes
> that are likened to various bad, dangerous things.
> Unfortunately, the names of each of the four snakes themselves
> are rarely mentioned and I only have them in secondary Buddhist
> languages. I have a good idea what they might be in English --
> cobras, vipers, kraits etc but not the original names. Are they
> ever mentioned anywhere in the Pali canon ?

Hello Stephen,

Three Pali tetrads of snakes come to mind, but I'm not sure if
any are quite what you're looking for. Perhaps you could state
which bad things they represent. Otherwise it's hard to know what
to look for, since Pali has at least thirty words for 'snake'.
Anyhow, these are the tetrads I can recall now:

Firstly there are the four royal snake families
(naagaraajakulaani) of the Khandhaparitta: Viruupakkha,
Eraapatha, Chabbyaaputta, and Gotamaka. But these aren't your
regular snakes; they're all respectable upper-class naagas, so I
doubt they would ever be compared to anything bad or dangerous.

Then in the Aasiivisasutta (S iv 172-5) the four mahaabhuuta are
compared to four (unspecified) kinds of viper. The Atthakathaa
gives these names based on the effects of their venom, but these
are not normal Pali words for snakes: ka.t.thamukha, puutimukha,
aggimukha, and satthamukha.

The ka.t.thamukha's venom (representing pa.thavii) makes the
victim's body and limbs become as stiff as a board. The
puutimukha's venom (representing aapo) makes the body ooze with
pus like an over-ripe jakfruit. The aggimukha's venom
(representing tejo) makes the victim feel as if the body were on
fire. The venom of the satthamukha (representing vayo) makes him
feel he is being drilled full of holes.

These four types of snake are then sub-divided according to the
means by which the venom acts (by biting, seeing, physical
contact, or contagion). That gives us 16 kinds of snake. These
are then sub-divided according to which part of the body they
like to bite....and so it goes on. By the end we have 1024 kinds
of snake, but I'm not sure any one of them could be identified as
a cobra, a krait or any other known snake. All the same, it's an
interesting passage, and quite ingenious how it relates the
snakes to the characteristics of ruupa. I have appended it below
in a postscript.

The Atthasaalinii (DhsA) has a verse with much the same
teaching, albeit rather shorter:

Patthaddho bhavati kaayo, da.t.tho ka.t.thamukhena vaa;
pathaviidhaatuppakopena, hoti ka.t.thamukheva so.
Puutiyo bhavati kaayo, da.t.tho puutimukhena vaa;
aapodhaatuppakopena, hoti puutimukheva so.
Santatto bhavati kaayo, da.t.tho aggimukhena vaa;
tejodhaatuppakopena, hoti aggimukheva so.
Sa–chinno bhavati kaayo, da.t.tho satthamukhena vaa;
vaayodhaatuppakopena, hoti satthamukheva so.

As bodies that the ka.t.thamukha bites
Stiffen, so bodies from the tottering
Of the extension-element grow stiff
As though they entered ka.t.thamukha's mouth.

As bodies that the puutimukha bites
Grow putrid, so bodies from the tottering
Of the cohesion-element will rot
As though they entered puutimukha's mouth.

As bodies that the aggimukha bites
Grow hot, so bodies from the tottering
Of the heat-element wax also hot
As though they entered aggimukha's mouth.

As bodies that the satthamukha bites
Are cut up, so bodies from the tottering
Of the element of motion are cut up
As though they entered satthamukha's mouth.
(The Expositor II 395)

Finally, there's another Aasiivisasutta in the Catukka-nipaata of
the A`nguttara Nikaaya which compares people to four kinds of
snake according to how quickly they get angry and how long they
remain so. The Atthakathaa does not identify the snakes; the
.Tiikaa gives the following as examples:

Venomous but not aggressive: ma.nisappa (tree snake).
Aggressive but not venomous: udakasappa (water snake).
Both venomous and aggressive: ane.lakasappa (white snake ??).
Neither venomous nor aggressive: niilasappa (whip-snake).

However, I wouldn't expect much material from Pali
sub-commentaries to be present in non-Theravaadin texts.

Best wishes,

Dhammanando

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From the Commentary to the SN's Aasiivisasutta:

Tattha 'cattaaro aasiivisaa' ti ka.t.thamukho, puutimukho,
aggimukho, satthamukhoti ime cattaaro. Tesu ka.t.thamukhena
da.t.thassa sakalasariira.m sukkhaka.t.tha.m viya thaddha.m hoti,
sandhipabbesu adhimatta.m ayasuulasamappita.m viya ti.t.thati.
Puutimukhena da.t.thassa pakkapuutipanasa.m viya
vipubbakabhaava.m aapajjitvaa paggharati ca`ngavaare
pakkhitta-udaka.m viya hoti. Aggimukhena da.t.thassa
sakalasariira.m jhaayitvaa bhasmamu.t.thi viya thusamu.t.thi viya
ca vippakiriiyati. Sattamukhena da.t.thassa sakalasariira.m
bhijjati, asanipaata.t.thaana.m viya mahaanikhaadanena
khatasandhimukha.m viya ca hoti. Eva.m visavasena vibhattaa
cattaaro aasiivisaa.

Visavegavikaarena panete so.lasa honti. Ka.t.thamukho hi
da.t.thaviso, di.t.thaviso, phu.t.thaviso, vaatavisoti catubbidho
hoti. Tena hi da.t.thampi di.t.thampi phu.t.thampi tassa vaatena
paha.tampi sariira.m vuttappakaarena thaddha.m hoti. Sesesupi
eseva nayoti. Eva.m visavegavikaaravasena so.lasa honti.

Puna puggalapa.n.nattivasena catusa.t.thi honti. Katha.m?
Ka.t.thamukhesu taava da.t.thaviso ca aagataviso no ghoraviso,
ghoraviso no aagataviso, aagataviso ceva ghoraviso ca,
nevaagataviso na ghoravisoti catubbidho hoti. Tattha yassa visa.m
sampajjalitati.nukkaaya aggi viya siigha.m abhiruhitvaa akkhiini
gahetvaa khandha.m gahetvaa siisa.m gahetvaa .thitanti
vattabbata.m aapajjati ma.nisappaadiina.m visa.m viya, manta.m
pana parivattetvaa ka.n.navaata.m datvaa da.n.dakena paha.tamatte
otaritvaa da.t.tha.t.thaaneyeva ti.t.thati, aya.m aagataviso no
ghoraviso naama. Yassa pana visa.m sa.nika.m abhiruhati,
aaru.lhaaru.lha.t.thaane pana aya.m siita-udaka.m viya hoti
udakasappaadiina.m visa.m viya, dvaadasavassaccayenaapi
ka.n.napi.t.thikhandhapi.t.thikaadiisu ga.n.dapi.lakaadivasena
pa––aayati, mantaparivattanaadiisu ca kayiramaanaasu siigha.m na
otarati, aya.m ghoraviso no aagataviso naama. Yassa pana visa.m
siigha.m abhiruhati, na siigha.m otarati ane.lakasappaadiina.m
visa.m viya, aya.m aagataviso ceva ghoraviso ca. Yassa pana
visa.m manda.m hoti, otaariyamaanampi sukheneva otarati
niilasappadhammanisappaadiina.m visa.m viya, aya.m nevaagataviso
na ghoraviso naama. Iminaa upaayena ka.t.thamukhe
da.t.thavisaadayo puutimukhaadiisu ca da.t.thavisaadayo
veditabbaati. Eva.m puggalapa.n.nattivasena catusa.t.thi.

Tesu "a.n.dajaa naagaa" ti-aadinaa yonivasena ekeka.m catudhaa
vibhajitvaa chapa.n.naasaadhikaani dve sataani honti. Te
jalajaathalajaati dvigu.nitaa dvaadasaadhikaani pa–casataani
honti, te kaamaruupa-akaamaruupaana.m vasena dvigu.nitaa
catuviisaadhikasahassasa`nkhaa honti. Puna gatamaggassa
pa.tilomato sa.mkhippamaanaa ka.t.thamukhaadivasena cattaarova
hontiiti. Te sandhaaya bhagavaa "seyyathaapi, bhikkhave, cattaaro
aasiivisaa" ti aaha. Kulavasena hi ete gahitaa.

Tattha 'aasiivisaa' ti aasittavisaatipi aasiivisaa,
asitavisaatipi aasiivisaa, asisadisavisaatipi aasiivisaa.
'Aasittavisaa' ti sakalakaaye aasi–citvaa viya .thapitavisaa,
parassa ca attano sariire ca aasi–canavisaati attho. 'Asitavisaa'
ti ya.m ya.m etehi asita.m hoti paribhutta.m, ta.m ta.m visameva
sampajjati, tasmaa asita.m visa.m hoti etesanti aasiivisaa.
'Asisadisavisaa' ti asiviya tikhi.na.m
paramammacchedanasamattha.m visa.m etesanti aasiivisaati
evamettha vacanattho veditabbo. 'Uggatejaa' ti uggatatejaa
balavatejaa. 'Ghoravisaa' ti dunnimmaddanavisaa.

'Eva.m vadeyyun' ti pa.tijaggaapanattha.m eva.m vadeyyu.m.
Raajaano hi aasiivise gaahaapetvaa: "tathaaruupe core vaa etehi
.da.msaapetvaa maaressaama, nagaruuparodhakaale parasenaaya vaa
ta.m khipissaama, parabala.m nimmaddetu.m asakkontaa subhojana.m
bhu–jitvaa varasayana.m aaruyha etehi attaana.m .da.msaapetvaa
sattuuna.m vasa.m anaagacchantaa attano ruciyaa marissaamaa" ti
aasiivise jaggaapenti. Te ya.m cora.m sahasaava maaretu.m na
icchanti, "evamete diigharatta.m dukkhappatto hutvaa marissantii"
ti icchantaa ta.m purisa.m eva.m vadanti 'ime te ambho purisa
cattaaro aasiivisaa' ti.

Tattha 'kaalena kaalan' ti kaale kaale. 'Sa.mvesetabbaa' ti
nipajjaapetabbaa. 'A––ataro vaa a––ataro vaa' ti
ka.t.thamukhaadiisu yo koci. 'Ya.m te ambho purisa kara.niiya.m,
ta.m karohii' ti ida.m atthacarakassa vacana.m veditabba.m. Tassa
kira purisassa eva.m aasiivise pa.tipaadetvaa Îaya.m vo
upa.t.thaakoâti catuusu pe.laasu .thapitaana.m aasiivisaana.m
aarocenti. Atheko nikkhamitvaa aagamma tassa purisassa
dakkhi.napaadaanusaarena abhiruhitvaa dakkhi.nahattha.m
ma.nibandhato pa.t.thaaya ve.thetvaa dakkhi.naka.n.nasotamuule
pha.na.m katvaa susuuti karonto nipajji. Aparo
vaamapaadaanusaarena abhiruhitvaa tatheva vaamahattha.m
ve.thetvaa vaamaka.n.nasotamuule pha.na.m katvaa susuuti karonto
nipajji, tatiyo nikkhamitvaa abhimukha.m abhiruhitvaa kucchi.m
ve.thetvaa galavaa.takamuule pha.na.m katvaa susuuti karonto
nipajji, catuttho pi.t.thibhaagena abhiruhitvaa giiva.m
ve.thetvaa uparimuddhani pha.na.m .thapetvaa susuuti karonto
nipajji.

Eva.m catuusu aasiivisesu sariira.t.thakesuyeva jaatesu eko tassa
purisassa atthacarakapuriso ta.m disvaa "ki.m te, bho purisa,
laddhan" ti, pucchi. Tato tena "ime me, bho, hatthesu
hatthaka.taka.m viya baahaasu keyuura.m viya kucchimhi
kucchive.thanasaa.tako viya ka.n.nesu ka.n.nacuu.likaa viya gale
muttaavaliyo viya siise siisapasaadhana.m viya keci
ala`nkaaravisesaa ra––aa dinnaa" ti vutte so aaha: "bho
andhabaala, maa eva.m ma––ittha Îra––aa me tu.t.theneta.m
pasaadhana.m dinnanâti. Tva.m ra––o aagucaarii coro, ime ca
cattaaro aasiivisaa durupa.t.thaahaa duppa.tijaggiyaa, ekasmi.m
u.t.thaatukaame eko nhaayitukaamo hoti, ekasmi.m nhaayitukaame
eko bhu–jitukaamo, ekasmi.m bhu–jitukaame eko nipajjitukaamo.
Tesu yasseva icchaa na puurati, so tattheva .da.msitvaa maaretii"
ti. Atthi pana, bho, eva.m sante koci sotthimaggoti? aama,
raajapurisaana.m vikkhittabhaava.m –atvaa palaayana.m
sotthibhaavoti vatvaa "ya.m te kara.niiya.m, ta.m karohii" ti
vadeyya.

Ta.m sutvaa itaro catunna.m aasiivisaana.m pamaadakkha.na.m
raajapurisehi ca pavivitta.m disvaa, vaamahatthena
dakkhi.nahattha.m ve.thetvaa, dakkhi.naka.n.nacuu.likaaya
pha.na.m .thapetvaa, sayitaasiivisassa sariira.m parimajjanto
viya sa.nika.m ta.m apanetvaa, eteneva upaayena sesepi apanetvaa
tesa.m bhiito palaayeyya. Atha na.m te aasiivisaa "aya.m
amhaaka.m ra––aa upa.t.thaako dinno" ti anubandhamaanaa
aagaccheyyu.m. Ida.m sandhaaya 'atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso
bhiito catunna.m aasiivisaana.m É pe É palaayethaa' ti vutta.m.

Tasmi.m pana purise eva.m aagatamagga.m oloketvaa oloketvaa
palaayante raajaa "palaato so puriso" ti sutvaa "ko nu kho ta.m
anubandhitvaa ghaatetu.m sakkhissatii" ti vicinanto tasseva
paccatthike pa–ca jane labhitvaa "gacchatha na.m anubandhitvaa
ghaatethaa" ti peseyya. Athassa atthacaraa purisaa ta.m pavatti.m
–atvaa aaroceyyu.m. So bhiyyosomattaaya bhiito palaayetha.
Imamattha.m sandhaaya 'tamena.m eva.m vadeyyun' ti-aadi vutta.m.

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