SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 11 Connected Discourses with Sakka – Sakkasaṁyutta > SN 11.7 Not Betray

Linked Discourses 11.7 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.7

Chapter One – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 11.7 Not Betray – Nadubbhiyasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, as Sakka, lord of gods, was in private retreat this thought came to his mind,

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakkassa devānamindassa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:

‘I should never betray even a sworn enemy.’

‘yopi me assa supaccatthiko tassapāhaṁ na dubbheyyan’ti.

And then Vepacitti, lord of demons, knowing what Sakka was thinking, approached him.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkassa devānamindassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena sakko devānamindo tenupasaṅkami.

Sakka saw Vepacitti coming off in the distance,

Addasā kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.

and said to him,

Disvāna vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ etadavoca:

‘Stop, Vepacitti, you’re caught!’

‘tiṭṭha, vepacitti, gahitosī’ti.

‘Dear sir, don’t give up the idea you just had!’

‘Yadeva te, mārisa, pubbe cittaṁ, tadeva tvaṁ mā pajahāsī’ti.

‘Swear, Vepacitti, that you won’t betray me.’

‘Sapassu ca me, vepacitti, adubbhāyā’ti.

‘Whatever bad things happen to a liar,

‘Yaṁ musā bhaṇato pāpaṁ,

or to someone who slanders the noble ones,

Yaṁ pāpaṁ ariyūpavādino;

or to someone who betrays a friend,

Mittadduno ca yaṁ pāpaṁ,

or to someone who’s ungrateful,

Yaṁ pāpaṁ akataññuno;

the same bad things impact

Tameva pāpaṁ phusatu,

anyone who betrays you, Sujā’s husband.’”

Yo te dubbhe sujampatī’”ti.