SN 11.6 Bird Nests

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

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

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

In that battle the titans won and the gods lost.

Parājitā ca kho, bhikkhave, devā apāyaṁsveva uttarenamukhā, abhiyaṁsveva ne asurā.

Defeated, the gods fled north with the titans in pursuit.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātali saṅgāhakaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali in verse:

‘Kulāvakā mātali simbalismiṁ,

‘Mātali, don’t ram the bird nests

Īsāmukhena parivajjayassu;

in the Red Silk-Cotton Woods with your draft-pole.

Kāmaṁ cajāma asuresu pāṇaṁ,

I’d rather give up our lives to the titans

Māyime dijā vikulāvakā ahesun’ti.

than deprive these birds of their nests.’

‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ paccudāvattesi.

‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. And he turned the chariot back around, with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, asurānaṁ etadahosi:

Then the titans thought,

‘paccudāvatto kho dāni sakkassa devānamindassa sahassayutto ājaññaratho.

‘Now Sakka’s chariot has turned back.

Dutiyampi kho devā asurehi saṅgāmessantī’ti bhītā asurapurameva pāvisiṁsu.

The titans will have to fight the gods a second time!’ Terrified, they retreated right away to the citadel of the titans.

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

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