6.
The Discourse on the Nest
252.
At Sāvatthī.
"Once in the past, monks, there was a battle between the gods and the titans that was fully engaged.
Now in that battle, monks, the titans won, the gods were defeated.
And defeated, monks, the gods retreated facing northward, and the titans pursued them.
Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed Mātali the charioteer in verse -
Avoid them with the chariot pole;
We would rather give up our lives among the titans,
Than that these twice-born birds should become nestless."
"Yes, venerable sir," monks, Mātali the charioteer, having assented to Sakka, the lord of the gods, turned back the chariot yoked with a thousand thoroughbreds. Then, monks, this occurred to the titans - "The chariot yoked with a thousand thoroughbreds of Sakka, the lord of the gods, has now turned back. For the second time the gods will fight with the titans," and frightened, they entered the city of the titans. Thus indeed, monks, there was victory to Sakka, the lord of the gods, by righteousness."