In the Vammika Sutta (MN 23, Discourse on the Anthill), a radiant deva relates a parable to Kumara Kassapa, who then asks Buddha for the meaning. At the end, Buddha says the dragon/cobra (naga) is a term for an arahant.
What is the reason the dragon/cobra (naga) was chosen for this meaning? The Pali appears to use the term nago/nagassati for the cobra. I thought that nagas are beings in the first divine realm, but I had not heard of them symbolizing arahants.
Sutta English translations:
https://suttacentral.net/mn23/en/horner
https://suttacentral.net/mn23/en/sujato
Sutta in Pali:
https://suttacentral.net/mn23/pli/ms
Anonymous 6 years, 7 months ago.
