The Buddha recounts Sakka, lord of gods, speaking verses on don’t be angry, illustrating how even celestial rulers apply the Dhamma to conflict, conduct, and devotion.

SN 11.25 Don’t Be Angry

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū …pe… bhagavā etadavoca:

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

‘Mā vo kodho ajjhabhavi,
ca kujjhittha kujjhataṁ;
Akkodho avihiṁsā ca,
ariyesu ca paṭipadā;
Atha pāpajanaṁ kodho,
pabbatovābhimaddatī’”ti.

Tatiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Chetvā dubbaṇṇiya māyā,
accayena akodhano;
Desitaṁ buddhaseṭṭhena,
idañhi sakkapañcakanti.

Sakkasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

Sagāthāvaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Devatā devaputto ca,
rājā māro ca bhikkhunī;
Brahmā brāhmaṇa vaṅgīso,
vanayakkhena vāsavoti.

Sagāthāvaggasaṁyuttapāḷi niṭṭhitā.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū …pe… bhagavā etadavoca:

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“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:

‘Mā vo kodho ajjhabhavi,

‘Don’t let anger be your master,

ca kujjhittha kujjhataṁ;

don’t get angry at angry people.

Akkodho avihiṁsā ca,

Kindness and harmlessness

ariyesu ca paṭipadā;

are always present in the noble ones.

Atha pāpajanaṁ kodho,

For anger crushes bad people

pabbatovābhimaddatī’”ti.

like a mountain.’”

Tatiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Chetvā dubbaṇṇiya māyā,

accayena akodhano;

Desitaṁ buddhaseṭṭhena,

idañhi sakkapañcakanti.

Sakkasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses with Sakka are complete.

Sagāthāvaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Devatā devaputto ca,

rājā māro ca bhikkhunī;

Brahmā brāhmaṇa vaṅgīso,

vanayakkhena vāsavoti.

Sagāthāvaggasaṁyuttapāḷi niṭṭhitā.

The Book With Verses is finished.

Topics & 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
View all discourses →
Loving Kindness

Loving Kindness

The practice of developing boundless love and goodwill toward all beings, starting with oneself and extending outward.

Also known as: metta practice, unconditional love, goodwill meditation, goodwill, benevolence, kindness, friendliness
Pāli: mettā, metta, abyāpāda, abyāpajja
View all discourses →
Non-harm

Non-harm

The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.

Also known as: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting
Pāli: avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026