SN 11.5 Victory by Good Speech

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 sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

Then Vepacitti, lord of titans, said to Sakka, lord of gods,

‘hotu, devānaminda, subhāsitena jayo’ti.

‘Lord of gods, let there be victory by fine words!’

‘Hotu, vepacitti, subhāsitena jayo’ti.

‘Vepacitti, let there be victory by fine words!’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devā ca asurā ca pārisajje ṭhapesuṁ:

Then the gods and the titans appointed a panel of judges, saying,

‘ime no subhāsitadubbhāsitaṁ ājānissantī’ti.

‘These will understand our good and bad statements.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

Then Vepacitti, lord of titans, said to Sakka, lord of gods,

‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.

‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ etadavoca:

When he said this, Sakka said to him,

‘tumhe khvettha, vepacitti, pubbadevā.

‘Vepacitti, you are the elder gods here.

Bhaṇa, vepacitti, gāthan’ti.

Recite a verse.’

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

So Vepacitti spoke this verse:

‘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 an intelligent person should stop

dhīro bālaṁ nisedhaye’ti.

a fool with forceful punishment.’

Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, vepacittinā asurindena gāthāya asurā anumodiṁsu, devā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

The titans applauded Vepacitti’s verse, while the gods kept silent.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

Then Vepacitti said to Sakka,

‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.

‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

So Sakka spoke this verse:

‘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.’

Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkena devānamindena gāthāya, devā anumodiṁsu, asurā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

The gods applauded Sakka’s verse, while the titans kept silent.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ etadavoca:

Then Sakka said to Vepacitti,

‘bhaṇa, vepacitti, gāthan’ti.

‘Vepacitti, recite a verse!’

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

So Vepacitti spoke this verse:

‘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.’

Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, vepacittinā asurindena gāthāya asurā anumodiṁsu, devā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

The titans applauded Vepacitti’s verse, while the gods kept silent.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

Then Vepacitti said to Sakka,

‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.

‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

So Sakka spoke this verse:

‘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.’

Bhāsitāsu kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkena devānamindena gāthāsu, devā anumodiṁsu, asurā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

The gods applauded Sakka’s verses, while the titans kept silent.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devānañca asurānañca pārisajjā etadavocuṁ:

Then the panel of judges consisting of both gods and titans said this,

‘bhāsitā kho vepacittinā asurindena gāthāyo.

‘The verses spoken by Vepacitti

Tā ca kho sadaṇḍāvacarā sasatthāvacarā, iti bhaṇḍanaṁ iti viggaho iti kalaho.

evoke punishment and violence. That’s how you get fights, arguments, and quarrels.

Bhāsitā kho sakkena devānamindena gāthāyo.

The verses spoken by Sakka

Tā ca kho adaṇḍāvacarā asatthāvacarā, iti abhaṇḍanaṁ iti aviggaho iti akalaho.

don’t evoke punishment and violence. That’s how you stay free of fights, arguments, and quarrels.

Sakkassa devānamindassa subhāsitena jayo’ti.

Sakka, lord of gods, wins victory by fine words!’

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

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