#1. The First Chapter

In the past, when battle between the gods and demons loomed, some seers sought out the demon lord Sambara to beg for protection. But due to their devotion to Sakka, he rejected them, so they cursed him.At Sāvatthī. “Once upon a time, mendicants, several hermits who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts by the ocean. Now at that time a battle was fought between the gods and the demons. [Read More]

In days gone by, Sakka, lord of gods, and Vepacitti, lord of demons, visited a hermitage of seers. But Vepacitti behaves rudely, while Sakka honors them. However, the seers beg Sakka to leave, on account of the stink of their unwashed bodies. But he says he loves their smell.At Sāvatthī. “Once upon a time, mendicants, several hermits who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts in a wilderness region. [Read More]

Sakka, lord of gods, and Verocana, lord of demons, approach the Buddha’s hut and speak in praise of effort.Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove. Now at that time the Buddha had gone into retreat for the day’s meditation. Then Sakka, lord of gods, and Verocana, lord of demons, approached the Buddha and stationed themselves one by each door-post. Then Verocana recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “A man should make an effort until his goal is accomplished. [Read More]

Sakka reflects that one should not harm even one’s enemy. Knowing this, Vepacitti immediately takes advantage of it.At Sāvatthī. “Once upon a time, mendicants, as Sakka, lord of gods, was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, ‘I should never betray even a sworn enemy.’ And then Vepacitti, lord of demons, knowing what Sakka was thinking, approached him. Sakka saw Vepacitti coming off in the distance, and said to him, ‘Stop, Vepacitti, you’re caught! [Read More]

Fleeing the demon host, Sakka’s chariot risks endangering the nests of little birds in the forest. Rather than render the birds homeless, Sakka instructs his charioteer to turn back, even at the cost of his life.At Sāvatthī. “Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons. In that battle the demons won and the gods lost. Defeated, the gods fled north with the demons in pursuit. [Read More]

The demon lord Vepacitti proposes to Sakka that they engage in a battle of wits in debate rather than war. Vepacitti speaks in praise of forceful punishment, while Sakka stands up for patience and forgiveness.At Sāvatthī. “Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons. Then Vepacitti, lord of demons, said to Sakka, lord of gods, ‘Lord of gods, let there be victory by fine words! [Read More]

In a battle between the gods and the demons, and the demon lord Vepacitti is captured and brought in chains to Sakka’s hall. Vepacitti abuses Sakka, who endures his harsh words in patience. The charioteer Mātali asks whether he is silent out of weakness or fear, but Sakka says there is no point is wasting words arguing with a fool.At Sāvatthī. “Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons. [Read More]

Sakka rallies his troops with the sight of his banner. But the Buddha points out that the deities, powerful as they are, are not free of fear, but he is. He encourages the mendicants to recollect the Triple Gem to abandon fear.At Sāvatthī. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: “Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons. [Read More]

When Sakka, the Lord of Gods, tries to organize a conterattack against the demons, he is frustrated by his lazy general Susīma. Sakka asks Suvīra how one might get what one wants without effort; but Suvīra apparently believes Sakka can grant any wish he wants. The Buddha emphasizes that if effort is valuable among the gods, how much more so for mendicants.At Sāvatthī. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. [Read More]

When Sakka, the Lord of Gods, tries to organize a counterattack against the demons, he is frustrated by his lazy general Suvīra. Sakka asks Suvīra how one might get what one wants without effort; but Suvīra apparently believes Sakka can grant any wish he wants. The Buddha emphasizes that if effort is valuable among the gods, how much more so for mendicants.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. [Read More]