SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 11 Connected Discourses with Sakka – Sakkasaṁyutta > SN 11.6 Bird Nests

Linked Discourses 11.6 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.6

Chapter One – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 11.6 Bird Nests – Kulāvakasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

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

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

In that battle the demons won and the gods lost.

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

Defeated, the gods fled north with the demons in pursuit.

Parājitā ca kho, bhikkhave, devā apāyaṁsveva uttarenamukhā, abhiyaṁsveva ne asurā.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his charioteer Mātali in verse:

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātali saṅgāhakaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

‘Mātali, don’t ram the bird nests

‘Kulāvakā mātali simbalismiṁ,

in the red silk-cotton woods with your chariot pole.

Īsāmukhena parivajjayassu;

I’d rather give up our lives to the demons

Kāmaṁ cajāma asuresu pāṇaṁ,

than deprive these birds of their nests.’

Māyime dijā vikulāvakā ahesun’ti.

‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. And he turned the chariot back around, with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds.

‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ paccudāvattesi.

Then the demons thought,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, asurānaṁ etadahosi:

‘Now Sakka’s chariot has turned back.

‘paccudāvatto kho dāni sakkassa devānamindassa sahassayutto ājaññaratho.

The demons will have to fight the gods a second time!’ Terrified, they retreated right away to the citadel of the demons.

Dutiyampi kho devā asurehi saṅgāmessantī’ti bhītā asurapurameva pāvisiṁsu.

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

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