The Buddha recounts Sakka, lord of gods, speaking verses on transgression, illustrating how even celestial rulers apply the Dhamma to conflict, conduct, and devotion.

SN 11.24 Transgression

Sāvatthiyaṁ …pe… ārāme.

Tena kho pana samayena dve bhikkhū sampayojesuṁ. Tatreko bhikkhu accasarā. Atha kho so bhikkhu tassa bhikkhuno santike accayaṁ accayato deseti; so bhikkhu nappaṭiggaṇhāti. Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idha, bhante, dve bhikkhū sampayojesuṁ, tatreko bhikkhu accasarā. Atha kho so, bhante, bhikkhu tassa bhikkhuno santike accayaṁ accayato deseti, so bhikkhu nappaṭiggaṇhātī”ti.

“Dveme, bhikkhave, bālā. Yo ca accayaṁ accayato na passati, yo ca accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ nappaṭiggaṇhāti ime kho, bhikkhave, dve bālā.

Dveme, bhikkhave, paṇḍitā. Yo ca accayaṁ accayato passati, yo ca accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paṇḍitā.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo sudhammāyaṁ sabhāyaṁ deve tāvatiṁse anunayamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

‘Kodho vo vasamāyātu,
ca mittehi vo jarā;
Agarahiyaṁ garahittha,
ca bhāsittha pesuṇaṁ;
Atha pāpajanaṁ kodho,
Pabbatovābhimaddatī’”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ …pe… ārāme.

At Sāvatthī.

Tena kho pana samayena dve bhikkhū sampayojesuṁ.

Now at that time two mendicants had clashed.

Tatreko bhikkhu accasarā.

One of them transgressed against the other.

Atha kho so bhikkhu tassa bhikkhuno santike accayaṁ accayato deseti;

The transgressor confessed to the other mendicant,

so bhikkhu nappaṭiggaṇhāti.

but they didn’t accept it.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“idha, bhante, dve bhikkhū sampayojesuṁ, tatreko bhikkhu accasarā.

Atha kho so, bhante, bhikkhu tassa bhikkhuno santike accayaṁ accayato deseti, so bhikkhu nappaṭiggaṇhātī”ti.

“Dveme, bhikkhave, bālā.

“Mendicants, there are two fools.

Yo ca accayaṁ accayato na passati, yo ca accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ nappaṭiggaṇhāti

One who doesn’t recognize when they’ve made a mistake. And one who doesn’t properly accept the confession of someone who’s made a mistake.

ime kho, bhikkhave, dve bālā.

These are the two fools.

Dveme, bhikkhave, paṇḍitā.

There are two who are astute.

Yo ca accayaṁ accayato passati, yo ca accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti

One who recognizes when they’ve made a mistake. And one who properly accepts the confession of someone who’s made a mistake.

ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paṇḍitā.

These are the two who are astute.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo sudhammāyaṁ sabhāyaṁ deve tāvatiṁse anunayamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the thirty-three, spoke this verse:

‘Kodho vo vasamāyātu,

‘Control your anger;

ca mittehi vo jarā;

don’t let friendships decay.

Agarahiyaṁ garahittha,

Don’t blame the blameless,

ca bhāsittha pesuṇaṁ;

and don’t backbite.

Atha pāpajanaṁ kodho,

For anger crushes bad people

Pabbatovābhimaddatī’”ti.

like a mountain.’”

Qualities:

Anger

Anger

A burning surge of aversion that erupts against people or situations, scorching clarity and kindness. It distorts perception and drives speech and action toward harm.

Also known as: rage, wrath, fury, indignation
Pāli: kodha, kopa
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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Immaturity

Immaturity

A childish lack of discernment that fails to see the results of actions clearly. It delights in surface pleasure and ignores consequence. Immaturity leads to poor choices and association with unwise companions.

Also known as: lacking in discernment, lacking in good sense, child-like in understanding, lack of wisdom, lack of experience, foolishness
Pāli: bāla
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026