1.1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.“Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.

1.3Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:Then Vepacitti, lord of titans, said to Sakka, lord of gods,1.4‘hotu, devānaminda, subhāsitena jayo’ti.‘Lord of gods, let there be victory by fine words!’

1.5‘Hotu, vepacitti, subhāsitena jayo’ti.‘Vepacitti, let there be victory by fine words!’

1.6Atha kho, bhikkhave, devā ca asurā ca pārisajje ṭhapesuṁ:Then the gods and the titans appointed a panel of judges, saying,1.7‘ime no subhāsitadubbhāsitaṁ ājānissantī’ti.‘These will understand our good and bad statements.’

1.8Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:Then Vepacitti, lord of titans, said to Sakka, lord of gods,1.9‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’

1.10Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ etadavoca:When he said this, Sakka said to him,1.11‘tumhe khvettha, vepacitti, pubbadevā.‘Vepacitti, you are the elder gods here.¹1.12Bhaṇa, vepacitti, gāthan’ti.Recite a verse.’

1.13Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:So Vepacitti spoke this verse:²

2.1‘Bhiyyo bālā pabhijjeyyuṁ,‘Fools would vent even more2.2no cassa paṭisedhako;if there’s no one to put a stop to them.2.3Tasmā bhusena daṇḍena,So an intelligent person should stop2.4dhīro bālaṁ nisedhaye’ti.a fool with forceful punishment.’

3.1Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, vepacittinā asurindena gāthāya asurā anumodiṁsu, devā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.The titans applauded Vepacitti’s verse, while the gods kept silent.

3.2Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:Then Vepacitti said to Sakka,3.3‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’3.4Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:So Sakka spoke this verse:

4.1‘Etadeva ahaṁ maññe,‘I think that this is the only way4.2bālassa paṭisedhanaṁ;to put a stop to a fool,4.3Paraṁ saṅkupitaṁ ñatvā,when you know that the other is upset,4.4yo sato upasammatī’ti.be mindful and stay calm.’

5.1Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkena devānamindena gāthāya, devā anumodiṁsu, asurā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.The gods applauded Sakka’s verse, while the titans kept silent.

5.2Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vepacittiṁ asurindaṁ etadavoca:Then Sakka said to Vepacitti,5.3‘bhaṇa, vepacitti, gāthan’ti.‘Vepacitti, recite a verse!’5.4Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:So Vepacitti spoke this verse:

6.1‘Etadeva titikkhāya,‘In this mere endurance, Vāsava,6.2vajjaṁ passāmi vāsava;I see a flaw.6.3Yadā naṁ maññati bālo,When a fool thinks,6.4bhayā myāyaṁ titikkhati;“He endures me out of fear,”6.5Ajjhāruhati dummedho,the simpleton will go after you even harder,6.6gova bhiyyo palāyinan’ti.like a cow chasing someone who runs away.’

7.1Bhāsitāya kho pana, bhikkhave, vepacittinā asurindena gāthāya asurā anumodiṁsu, devā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.The titans applauded Vepacitti’s verse, while the gods kept silent.

7.2Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:Then Vepacitti said to Sakka,7.3‘bhaṇa, devānaminda, gāthan’ti.‘Lord of gods, recite a verse!’7.4Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo imā gāthāyo abhāsi:So Sakka spoke this verse:

8.1‘Kāmaṁ maññatu vā mā vā,‘Let him think this if he wishes, or not—8.2bhayā myāyaṁ titikkhati;“He endures me out of fear.”8.3Sadatthaparamā atthā,For the highest goal, one’s own,8.4khantyā bhiyyo na vijjati.naught better than patience is found.

9.1Yo have balavā santo,∥When a strong person9.2dubbalassa titikkhati;endures a weakling,9.3Tamāhu paramaṁ khantiṁ,they call that the ultimate patience,9.4niccaṁ khamati dubbalo.for a weakling must always be patient.

10.1Abalaṁ taṁ balaṁ āhu,∥The strength of folly10.2yassa bālabalaṁ balaṁ;is really just weakness, they say.10.3Balassa dhammaguttassa,But no one can challenge a person10.4paṭivattā na vijjati.who’s strong, guarded by the teaching.

11.1Tasseva tena pāpiyo,∥When you get angry at an angry person11.2yo kuddhaṁ paṭikujjhati;you just make things worse for yourself.11.3Kuddhaṁ appaṭikujjhanto,When you don’t get angry at an angry person11.4saṅgāmaṁ jeti dujjayaṁ.you win a battle hard to win.

12.1Ubhinnamatthaṁ carati,∥When you know that the other is angry,12.2attano ca parassa ca;you act for the good of both12.3Paraṁ saṅkupitaṁ ñatvā,yourself and the other12.4yo sato upasammati.if you’re mindful and stay calm.

13.1Ubhinnaṁ tikicchantānaṁ,∥People inexpert in the teaching13.2attano ca parassa ca;consider one who heals both13.3Janā maññanti bāloti,oneself and the other13.4ye dhammassa akovidā’ti.to be a fool.’

14.1Bhāsitāsu kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkena devānamindena gāthāsu, devā anumodiṁsu, asurā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.The gods applauded Sakka’s verses, while the titans kept silent.

14.2Atha kho, bhikkhave, devānañca asurānañca pārisajjā etadavocuṁ:Then the panel of judges consisting of both gods and titans said this,14.3‘bhāsitā kho vepacittinā asurindena gāthāyo.‘The verses spoken by Vepacitti14.4Tā ca kho sadaṇḍāvacarā sasatthāvacarā, iti bhaṇḍanaṁ iti viggaho iti kalaho.evoke punishment and violence. That’s how you get fights, arguments, and quarrels.14.5Bhāsitā kho sakkena devānamindena gāthāyo.The verses spoken by Sakka14.6Tā 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.

14.7Sakkassa devānamindassa subhāsitena jayo’ti.Sakka, lord of gods, wins victory by fine words!’

14.8Iti kho, bhikkhave, sakkassa devānamindassa subhāsitena jayo ahosī”ti.And that’s how Sakka came to win victory by fine words.”