SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 11 Connected Discourses with Sakka – Sakkasaṁyutta > SN 11.5 Victory by Good Speech

Linked Discourses 11.5 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.5

Chapter One – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 11.5 Victory by Good Speech – Subhāsitajayasutta

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, said to Sakka, lord of gods,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

‘Lord of gods, let there be victory by fine words!’

‘hotu, devānaminda, subhāsitena jayo’ti.

‘Vepacitti, let there be victory by fine words!’

‘Hotu, vepacitti, subhāsitena jayo’ti.

Then the gods and the demons appointed a panel of judges, saying,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devā ca asurā ca pārisajje ṭhapesuṁ:

‘These will understand our good and bad statements.’

‘ime no subhāsitadubbhāsitaṁ ājānissantī’ti.

Then Vepacitti, lord of demons, said to Sakka, lord of gods,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’

‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.

When he said this, Sakka said to him,

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ etadavoca:

‘Vepacitti, you are the elder god here.

‘tumhe khvettha, vepacitti, pubbadevā.

Recite a verse.’

Bhaṇa, vepacitti, gāthan’ti.

So Vepacitti recited this verse:

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

‘Fools would vent even more

‘Bhiyyo bālā pabhijjeyyuṁ,

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

no cassa paṭisedhako;

So an intelligent person should stop

Tasmā bhusena daṇḍena,

a fool with forceful punishment.’

dhīro bālaṁ nisedhaye’ti.

The demons applauded Vepacitti’s verse, while the gods kept silent.

Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, vepacittinā asurindena gāthāya asurā anumodiṁsu, devā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

Then Vepacitti said to Sakka,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’

‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.

So Sakka recited this verse:

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

‘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.

The gods applauded Sakka’s verse, while the demons kept silent.

Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkena devānamindena gāthāya, devā anumodiṁsu, asurā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

Then Sakka said to Vepacitti,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ etadavoca:

‘Vepacitti, recite a verse!’

‘bhaṇa, vepacitti, gāthan’ti.

So Vepacitti recited this verse:

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

‘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.

The demons applauded Vepacitti’s verse, while the gods kept silent.

Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, vepacittinā asurindena gāthāya asurā anumodiṁsu, devā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

Then Vepacitti said to Sakka,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’

‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.

So Sakka recited this verse:

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

‘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.

The gods applauded Sakka’s verses, while the demons kept silent.

Bhāsitāsu kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkena devānamindena gāthāsu, devā anumodiṁsu, asurā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

Then the panel of judges consisting of both gods and demons said this,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devānañca asurānañca pārisajjā etadavocuṁ:

‘The verses spoken by Vepacitti

‘bhāsitā kho vepacittinā asurindena gāthāyo.

evoke punishment and violence. That’s how you get arguments, quarrels, and disputes.

Tā ca kho sadaṇḍāvacarā sasatthāvacarā, iti bhaṇḍanaṁ iti viggaho iti kalaho.

The verses spoken by Sakka

Bhāsitā kho sakkena devānamindena gāthāyo.

don’t evoke punishment and violence. That’s how you stay free of arguments, quarrels, and disputes.

Tā ca kho adaṇḍāvacarā asatthāvacarā, iti abhaṇḍanaṁ iti aviggaho iti akalaho.

Sakka, lord of gods, wins victory by fine words!’

Sakkassa devānamindassa subhāsitena jayo’ti.

And that’s how Sakka came to win victory by fine words.”

Iti kho, bhikkhave, sakkassa devānamindassa subhāsitena jayo ahosī”ti.