4.
The Discourse on Vepacitti
250.
At Sāvatthī.
"Once in the past, monks, there was a battle between the gods and the titans that was fully engaged.
Then, monks, Vepacitti, the lord of titans, addressed the titans -
'If, sirs, in the battle between the gods and titans that is fully engaged, the titans should win and the gods should be defeated, then bind Sakka, the lord of the gods, with bonds including the neck as the fifth, and bring him to my presence in the titan city.'
Sakka too, monks, the lord of the gods, addressed the gods of the Thirty-three -
'If, sirs, in the battle between the gods and titans that is fully engaged, the gods should win and the titans should be defeated, then bind Vepacitti, the lord of titans, with bonds including the neck as the fifth, and bring him to my presence in the Sudhamma assembly hall.'
Now in that battle, monks, the gods won, the titans were defeated.
Then, monks, the gods of the Thirty-three, having bound Vepacitti, the lord of titans, with bonds including the neck as the fifth, brought him to the presence of Sakka, the lord of the gods, in the Sudhamma assembly hall.
There, monks, Vepacitti, the lord of titans, bound with bonds including the neck as the fifth, reviled and abused Sakka, the lord of the gods, with vulgar and harsh speech as he was entering and leaving the Sudhamma assembly hall.
Then, monks, Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka, the lord of the gods, in verses -
Hearing the harsh speech of Vepacitti face to face?"
For how indeed could one wise like me engage with a fool?"
Therefore with a strong punishment the wise man should restrain the fool."
Who, knowing the other to be enraged, mindfully remains calm."
When the fool thinks, 'He endures me out of fear,'
The imprudent one attacks even more, as a bull does one who flees."
Among benefits, one's own welfare is paramount, nothing greater than patience is found.
That they call the supreme patience; the weak one always forbears.
For one who is strong, protected by the Teaching, there is no one to speak against him.
Not responding with anger to one who is angry, one wins a battle hard to win.
Who, knowing the other to be enraged, mindfully remains calm."
The people who consider him a fool are unskilled in the Teaching.”
"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 patience and meekness. Here indeed, monks, it would be fitting for you, that having gone forth in such a well-proclaimed Teaching and discipline, you should be patient and meek."