This is something I have personally experienced, heard and seen. At one point in time, the Buddha was residing at Jetavana Monastery in Shravasti when King Prasenajit of Kosala came to visit him. After exchanging greetings, King Prasenajit sat down next to the Buddha and asked him, "Gautama (Buddha), you claim that you have attained supreme enlightenment which transcends all boundaries and is universally equal. Is this true? Did you really say this?"

The Buddha replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. These are my words and I have indeed attained supreme enlightenment which transcends all boundaries and is universally equal."

King Prasenajit said, "Gautama, I find it hard to believe what you're saying because I've met many venerable elders such as founders of sects or spiritual leaders who were widely recognized for their moral excellence like Sariputra Maudgalyayana , Mahakasyapa , Ananda , Shariputra's younger brother Upali , Purna Maitrayani-putra  and others who never claimed they had attained supreme enlightenment which transcends all boundaries and is universally equal. How can a young monk like yourself attain such an achievement so quickly? Therefore your words are unbelievable! Young man should be more grounded instead of making incredible claims."

The Buddha then said,"Your Majesty there are four things in this world that should not be underestimated or looked down upon:

Firstly,a newborn prince cannot be underestimated or looked down upon just because he's young but noble with a good reputation since once he inherits the throne he becomes king.If anyone violates national laws,the king will become angry,and use state law to punish them.Therefore,to protect oneself from harm,it's important to follow rules,don't do anything illegal and avoid being punished by the king.

Secondly, a venomous snake seen in fields,forests or villages should not be underestimated or looked down upon just because it's young. The snake can crawl in different forms and attack people who come close to it.Therefore,to protect oneself from harm,it's important to stay away from places where snakes often appear and avoid being attacked or bitten by them.

Thirdly,a small flame that emits black smoke should not be underestimated or looked down upon since once it comes into contact with combustible firewood or fuel,it will turn into a raging fire.If anyone gets too close to the fire they will get hurt.Therefore,to protect oneself from harm,it's important to extinguish the flame when it is still small so as to prevent it from turning into a big fire which could cause injury.If the flames are already large then one should move away from its surroundings so as to avoid getting injured.After forest fires,the trees become charcoal but after some time,new sprouts grow again on this land.

Fourthly,monks who observe precepts cannot be underestimated or looked down upon just because they're young.They burn themselves with preceptual discipline,making sure that they have no offspring nor any property for inheritance.Monks who observe precepts do not have children,nor heirs,and therefore won't experience suffering like birth,old age,sickness and death anymore.Just like cutting off branches of a tree without roots.The wise person understands that arrogance only leads him/her astray and loses opportunities for wisdom.He/she also loses his/her teacher.Your Majesty,you shouldn't underestimate anyone in this world.Treat everyone with respect."

At this point,the Buddha recited:

"A noble prince born with fame,

A youth of Sakya clan,

Do not despise nor look down on him

For he'll become king someday.

Angry he'll punish those who break laws,

So follow rules lest you suffer loss.

A snake in fields or forest seen,

Do not despise nor look down on him

For he may bite and cause you harm,

So stay away to avoid alarm.

Small flames that emit black smoke,

Do not despise nor look down on them

For they can grow into raging fire,

And burn those who come too near.

Extinguish small flames when you see them,

To prevent big fires from happening.

If the fire is already large, move away

To avoid getting hurt by its sway.

After forest fires, trees turn charcoal;

But after some time new sprouts will follow."

"Monks who observe precepts cannot be underestimated or looked down upon just because they're young. They burn themselves with preceptual discipline,making sure that they have no offspring nor any property for inheritance.Monks who observe precepts do not have children,nor heirs,and therefore won't experience suffering like birth,old age,sickness and death anymore.Just like cutting off branches of a tree without roots.The wise person understands that arrogance only leads him/her astray and loses opportunities for wisdom.He/she also loses his/her teacher.Your Majesty,you shouldn

King Bimbisara exclaimed to the Buddha after hearing his teachings, "Great Master, your words are excellent! Your words are excellent! Your teachings straighten what is crooked and reveal what is hidden. They guide those who are lost like a light in the darkness illuminating their path. Your teachings must all be like this! Great Master, please allow me to take refuge in you, your teachings and your Sangha. Please let me become your lay disciple from today onwards and for the rest of my life." The Buddha nodded in acceptance of King Bimbisara's request for refuge.

Pali original scripture

3. Kosalasaṃyuttaṃ

1. Paṭhamavaggo

SN.3.1/(1). Daharasuttaṃ

　　 112. Evaṃ me sutaṃ – ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṃ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṃ kathaṃ sāraṇīyaṃ vītisāretvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṃ etadavoca– “bhavampi no gotamo anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhiṃ abhisambuddhoti paṭijānātī”ti? “Yañhi taṃ, mahārāja, sammā vadamāno vadeyya ‘anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhiṃ abhisambuddho’ti, mameva taṃ sammā vadamāno vadeyya. Ahañhi, mahārāja, anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhiṃ abhisambuddho”ti.

　　 “Yepi te, bho gotama, samaṇabrāhmaṇā saṅghino gaṇino gaṇācariyā ñātā yasassino titthakarā sādhusammatā bahujanassa, seyyathidaṃ– pūraṇo kassapo, makkhali gosālo, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto, sañcayo belaṭṭhaputto, pakudho kaccāyano, ajito kesakambalo; tepi mayā ‘anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhiṃ abhisambuddhoti paṭijānāthā’ti puṭṭhā samānā anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhiṃ abhisambuddhoti na paṭijānanti. Kiṃ pana bhavaṃ gotamo daharo ceva jātiyā navo ca pabbajjāyā”ti?

　　 “Cattāro kho me, mahārāja, daharāti na uññātabbā, daharāti na paribhotabbā. Katame cattāro? Khattiyo kho, mahārāja, daharoti na uññātabbo, daharoti na paribhotabbo. Urago kho, mahārāja, daharoti na uññātabbo, daharoti na paribhotabbo. Aggi kho, mahārāja, daharoti na uññātabbo, daharoti na paribhotabbo. Bhikkhu, kho, mahārāja, daharoti na uññātabbo, daharoti na paribhotabbo. Ime kho, mahārāja, cattāro daharāti na uññātabbā, daharāti na paribhotabbā”ti.

　　 Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṃ vatvāna sugato athāparaṃ etadavoca satthā–

　　 “Khattiyaṃ jātisampannaṃ, abhijātaṃ yasassinaṃ;

　　 Daharoti nāvajāneyya, na naṃ paribhave naro.

　　 “Ṭhānañhi so manujindo, rajjaṃ laddhāna khattiyo;

　　 So kuddho rājadaṇḍena, tasmiṃ pakkamate bhusaṃ.

　　 Tasmā taṃ parivajjeyya, rakkhaṃ jīvitamattano.

　　 “Gāme vā yadi vā raññe, yattha passe bhujaṅgamaṃ;

　　 Daharoti nāvajāneyya, na naṃ paribhave naro.

　　 “Uccāvacehi vaṇṇehi, urago carati tejasī.

　　 So āsajja ḍaṃse bālaṃ, naraṃ nāriñca ekadā.

　　 Tasmā taṃ parivajjeyya, rakkhaṃ jīvitamattano.

　　 “Pahūtabhakkhaṃ jālinaṃ, pāvakaṃ kaṇhavattaniṃ;

　　 Daharoti nāvajāneyya, na naṃ paribhave naro.

　　 “Laddhā hi so upādānaṃ, mahā hutvāna pāvako;

　　 So āsajja ḍahe bālaṃ, naraṃ nāriñca ekadā.

　　 Tasmā taṃ parivajjeyya, rakkhaṃ jīvitamattano.

　　 “Vanaṃ yadaggi ḍahati, pāvako kaṇhavattanī;

　　 Jāyanti tattha pārohā, ahorattānamaccaye.

　　 “Yañca kho sīlasampanno, bhikkhu ḍahati tejasā.

　　 Na tassa puttā pasavo, dāyādā vindare dhanaṃ.

　　 Anapaccā adāyādā, tālāvatthū bhavanti te.

　　 “Tasmā hi paṇḍito poso, sampassaṃ atthamattano.

　　 Bhujaṅgamaṃ pāvakañca, khattiyañca yasassinaṃ.

　　 Bhikkhuñca sīlasampannaṃ, sammadeva samācare”ti.

　　 Evaṃ vutte, rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṃ etadavoca– “abhikkantaṃ, bhante, abhikkantaṃ, bhante! Seyyathāpi bhante, nikkujjitaṃ vā ukkujjeyya paṭicchannaṃ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṃ ācikkheyya andhakāre vā telapajjotaṃ dhāreyya– ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṃ bhagavatā anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṃ, bhante, bhagavantaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṃ maṃ, bhante, bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṃ saraṇaṃ gatan”ti.