After courteously greeting Shakyamuni in the monastery, King Pasenadi said, “Do you, reverend master Gotama, claim to be perfectly and supremely enlightened?”

“O king,” replied Shakyamuni, “If anyone can claim perfect, supreme enlightenment, it is I. I indeed am perfectly and supremely enlightened.”

Then the king said, “Reverend master, there are many Brahmans and samanas, such as the six non-Buddhist teachers, who are highly reputed as saviors among the people and who have large followings of disciples. None of them claims to be perfectly and supremely enlightened. Why do you, reverend master, who are younger than these men and who abandoned home and the secular world long after they did, claim supreme, perfect enlightenment.

Shakyamuni answered, “O king, it is wrong to despise things because they are young. There are four things that must not be looked down upon because of their youth: a mighty prince, a serpent, fire, and a Buddhist monk.”

Then, in lovely verses, Shakyamuni explained that a prince is not to be despised for his youth because, when he comes to the throne, he may take a despot’s revenge. A snake, even a young one, can bite, and fire, though young, can destroy. Injury to a Buddhist monk can blight the heritage of the injurer.

It is said that upon hearing this explanation the king was so deeply moved that he took refuge in the Buddha, the Law, and the Order and became a Buddhist. (Page 141-142)