1.
The Discourse on Suvīra
247.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks thus:
"Monks."
"Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"Once in the past, monks, the titans went against the gods. Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed Suvīra the young god - 'These titans, dear Suvīra, are going against the gods. Go, dear Suvīra, drive back the titans.' 'Yes, venerable sir,' monks, Suvīra the young god, having assented to Sakka, the lord of the gods, fell into negligence. For the second time, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed Suvīra the young god - 'These titans, dear Suvīra, are going against the gods. Go, dear Suvīra, drive back the titans.' 'Yes, venerable sir,' monks, Suvīra the young god, having assented to Sakka, the lord of the gods, fell into negligence for the second time. For the third time, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed Suvīra the young god - 'These titans, dear Suvīra, are going against the gods. Go, dear Suvīra, drive back the titans.' 'Yes, venerable sir,' monks, Suvīra the young god, having assented to Sakka, the lord of the gods, fell into negligence for the third time. Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed Suvīra the young god in verse -
Suvīra, go there, and bring me there too."
Endowed with all sensual pleasures, show me that excellent place, Sakka."
Suvīra, go there, and bring me there too."
Sorrowless, without anguish, show me that excellent place, Sakka."
For that is the path to Nibbāna, Suvīra, go there;
And bring me there too."
"If indeed, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, living on the fruit of his own merit, exercising sovereign lordship over the kingdom of the gods of the Thirty-three, will be one who speaks in praise of industriousness and energy. Here indeed, monks, it would be fitting for you, that having gone forth in such a well-proclaimed Teaching and discipline, you should exert yourselves, strive, and endeavour for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised."