SN 11.4 With Vepacitti

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo asure āmantesi:

Then Vepacitti, lord of titans, addressed the titans,

‘sace, mārisā, devānaṁ asurasaṅgāme samupabyūḷhe asurā jineyyuṁ devā parājineyyuṁ, yena naṁ sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi bandhitvā mama santike āneyyātha asurapuran’ti.

‘My good fellows, if the titans defeat the gods in this battle, bind Sakka, the lord of gods, by his limbs and neck and bring him to my presence in the citadel of the titans.’

Sakkopi kho, bhikkhave, devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse āmantesi:

Meanwhile, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the thirty-three,

‘sace, mārisā, devānaṁ asurasaṅgāme samupabyūḷhe devā jineyyuṁ asurā parājineyyuṁ, yena naṁ vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi bandhitvā mama santike āneyyātha sudhammasabhan’ti.

‘My good fellows, if the gods defeat the titans in this battle, bind Vepacitti by his limbs and neck and bring him to my presence in the Hall of Clear Right of the gods.’

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

In that battle the gods won and the titans lost.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi bandhitvā sakkassa devānamindassa santike ānesuṁ sudhammasabhaṁ.

So the gods of the thirty-three bound Vepacitti by his limbs and neck and brought him to Sakka’s presence in the Hall of Clear Right of the gods.

Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi baddho sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ sudhammasabhaṁ pavisantañca nikkhamantañca asabbhāhi pharusāhi vācāhi akkosati paribhāsati.

And as Sakka was entering and leaving the hall, Vepacitti abused and insulted him with rude, harsh words.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

So Mātali the chariot handler addressed Sakka in verse,

‘Bhayā nu maghavā sakka,

‘O Maghavā, O Sakka,

dubbalyā no titikkhasi;

is it from fear or from weakness

Suṇanto pharusaṁ vācaṁ,

that you endure such harsh words

sammukhā vepacittino’ti.

in the presence of Vepacitti?’

‘Nāhaṁ bhayā na dubbalyā,

‘It’s not out of fear or weakness

khamāmi vepacittino;

that I’m patient with Vepacitti.

Kathañhi mādiso viññū,

For how can a sensible person like me

bālena paṭisaṁyuje’ti.

get in a fight with a fool?’

‘Bhiyyo bālā pabhijjeyyuṁ,

‘Fools would vent even more

no cassa paṭisedhako;

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

Tasmā bhusena daṇḍena,

So a wise one should stop

dhīro bālaṁ nisedhaye’ti.

a fool with forceful punishment.’

‘Etadeva ahaṁ maññe,

‘I think that this is the only way

bālassa paṭisedhanaṁ;

to put a stop to a fool,

Paraṁ saṅkupitaṁ ñatvā,

when you know that the other is upset,

yo sato upasammatī’ti.

be mindful and stay calm.’

‘Etadeva titikkhāya,

‘In this mere endurance, Vāsava,

vajjaṁ passāmi vāsava;

I see a flaw.

Yadā naṁ maññati bālo,

When a fool thinks,

bhayā myāyaṁ titikkhati;

“He endures me out of fear,”

Ajjhāruhati dummedho,

the simpleton will go after you even harder,

gova bhiyyo palāyinan’ti.

like a cow chasing someone who runs away.’

‘Kāmaṁ maññatu vā mā vā,

‘Let him think this if he wishes, or not—

bhayā myāyaṁ titikkhati;

“He endures me out of fear.”

Sadatthaparamā atthā,

For the highest goal, one’s own,

khantyā bhiyyo na vijjati.

naught better than patience is found.

Yo have balavā santo,

When a strong person

dubbalassa titikkhati;

endures a weakling,

Tamāhu paramaṁ khantiṁ,

they call that the ultimate patience,

niccaṁ khamati dubbalo.

for a weakling must always be patient.

Abalaṁ taṁ balaṁ āhu,

The strength of folly

yassa bālabalaṁ balaṁ;

is really just weakness, they say.

Balassa dhammaguttassa,

But no-one can challenge a person

paṭivattā na vijjati.

who’s strong, guarded by the teaching.

Tasseva tena pāpiyo,

When you get angry at an angry person

yo kuddhaṁ paṭikujjhati;

you just make things worse for yourself.

Kuddhaṁ appaṭikujjhanto,

When you don’t get angry at an angry person

saṅgāmaṁ jeti dujjayaṁ.

you win a battle hard to win.

Ubhinnamatthaṁ carati,

When you know that the other is angry,

attano ca parassa ca;

you act for the good of both

Paraṁ saṅkupitaṁ ñatvā,

yourself and the other

yo sato upasammati.

if you’re mindful and stay calm.

Ubhinnaṁ tikicchantānaṁ,

People inexpert in the teaching

attano ca parassa ca;

consider one who heals both

Janā maññanti bāloti,

oneself and the other

ye dhammassa akovidā’ti.

to be a fool.’

So hi nāma, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo sakaṁ puññaphalaṁ upajīvamāno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kārento khantisoraccassa vaṇṇavādī bhavissati.

Since, mendicants, even that Sakka, lord of gods—while living off of the fruit of his good deeds, and ruling as sovereign lord over these gods of the thirty-three—will speak in praise of patience and gentleness,

Idha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, sobhetha yaṁ tumhe evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajitā samānā khamā ca bhaveyyātha soratā cā”ti.

you can excel at this, for you who have gone forth in such a well explained teaching and training can develop patience and gentleness.”