SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 11 Connected Discourses with Sakka – Sakkasaṁyutta > SN 11.4 With Vepacitti

Linked Discourses 11.4 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.4

Chapter One – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 11.4 With Vepacitti – Vepacittisutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

Then Vepacitti, lord of demons, addressed the demons,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo asure āmantesi:

‘My good sirs, if the demons defeat the gods in this battle, bind Sakka, the lord of gods, by his limbs and neck and bring him to my presence in the citadel of the demons.’

‘sace, mārisā, devānaṁ asurasaṅgāme samupabyūḷhe asurā jineyyuṁ devā parājineyyuṁ, yena naṁ sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi bandhitvā mama santike āneyyātha asurapuran’ti.

Meanwhile, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the Thirty-Three,

Sakkopi kho, bhikkhave, devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse āmantesi:

‘My good sirs, if the gods defeat the demons in this battle, bind Vepacitti by his limbs and neck and bring him to my presence in the Sudhamma hall of the gods.’

‘sace, mārisā, devānaṁ asurasaṅgāme samupabyūḷhe devā jineyyuṁ asurā parājineyyuṁ, yena naṁ vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi bandhitvā mama santike āneyyātha sudhammasabhan’ti.

In that battle the gods won and the demons lost.

Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, saṅgāme devā jiniṁsu, asurā parājiniṁsu.

So the gods of the Thirty-Three bound Vepacitti by his limbs and neck and brought him to Sakka’s presence in the Sudhamma hall of the gods.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi bandhitvā sakkassa devānamindassa santike ānesuṁ sudhammasabhaṁ.

And as Sakka was entering and leaving the hall, Vepacitti abused and insulted him with rude, harsh words.

Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi baddho sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ sudhammasabhaṁ pavisantañca nikkhamantañca asabbhāhi pharusāhi vācāhi akkosati paribhāsati.

So Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka in verse,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

‘O Maghavā, O Sakka,

‘Bhayā nu maghavā sakka,

is it from fear or from weakness

dubbalyā no titikkhasi;

that you put up with such harsh words

Suṇanto pharusaṁ vācaṁ,

in the presence of Vepacitti?’

sammukhā vepacittino’ti.

‘It’s not out of fear or weakness

‘Nāhaṁ bhayā na dubbalyā,

that I’m patient with Vepacitti.

khamāmi vepacittino;

For how can a sensible person like me

Kathañhi mādiso viññū,

get in a fight with a fool?’

bālena paṭisaṁyuje’ti.

‘Fools would vent even more

‘Bhiyyo bālā pabhijjeyyuṁ,

if there’s no-one to put a stop to them.

no cassa paṭisedhako;

So a wise one should stop

Tasmā bhusena daṇḍena,

a fool with forceful punishment.’

dhīro bālaṁ nisedhaye’ti.

‘I think that this is the only way

‘Etadeva ahaṁ maññe,

to put a stop to a fool,

bālassa paṭisedhanaṁ;

when you know that the other is upset,

Paraṁ saṅkupitaṁ ñatvā,

be mindful and stay calm.’

yo sato upasammatī’ti.

‘I see this fault, Vāsava,

‘Etadeva titikkhāya,

in just being patient.

vajjaṁ passāmi vāsava;

When a fool thinks,

Yadā naṁ maññati bālo,

“He puts up with me out of fear,”

bhayā myāyaṁ titikkhati;

the idiot will go after you even harder,

Ajjhāruhati dummedho,

like a cow chasing someone who runs away.’

gova bhiyyo palāyinan’ti.

‘Let him think this if he wishes, or not—

‘Kāmaṁ maññatu vā mā vā,

“He puts up with me out of fear.”

bhayā myāyaṁ titikkhati;

Of goals culminating in one’s own good,

Sadatthaparamā atthā,

none better than patience is found.

khantyā bhiyyo na vijjati.

When a strong person

Yo have balavā santo,

puts up with a weakling,

dubbalassa titikkhati;

they call that the ultimate patience,

Tamāhu paramaṁ khantiṁ,

for a weakling must always be patient.

niccaṁ khamati dubbalo.

The strength of folly

Abalaṁ taṁ balaṁ āhu,

is really just weakness, they say.

yassa bālabalaṁ balaṁ;

But no-one can challenge a person

Balassa dhammaguttassa,

who’s strong, guarded by the teaching.

paṭivattā na vijjati.

When you get angry at an angry person

Tasseva tena pāpiyo,

you just make things worse for yourself.

yo kuddhaṁ paṭikujjhati;

When you don’t get angry at an angry person

Kuddhaṁ appaṭikujjhanto,

you win a battle hard to win.

saṅgāmaṁ jeti dujjayaṁ.

When you know that the other is angry,

Ubhinnamatthaṁ carati,

you act for the good of both

attano ca parassa ca;

yourself and the other

Paraṁ saṅkupitaṁ ñatvā,

if you’re mindful and stay calm.

yo sato upasammati.

People unfamiliar with the teaching

Ubhinnaṁ tikicchantānaṁ,

consider one who heals both

attano ca parassa ca;

oneself and the other

Janā maññanti bāloti,

to be a fool.’

ye dhammassa akovidā’ti.

So, bhikkhū, even Sakka, lord of gods—while living off of the fruit of his good and bad deeds, and ruling as sovereign lord over these gods of the Thirty-Three—will speak in praise of patience and gentleness.

So hi nāma, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo sakaṁ puññaphalaṁ upajīvamāno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kārento khantisoraccassa vaṇṇavādī bhavissati.

But since you have gone forth in such a well explained teaching and training, it would be truly beautiful for you to be patient and gentle!”

Idha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, sobhetha yaṁ tumhe evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajitā samānā khamā ca bhaveyyātha soratā cā”ti.