On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi at Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika 's monastery. There he addressed the monks, "Monks!"
"Yes, lord," the monks responded.
The Blessed One said, "Once in the past the devas & asuras [1] were arrayed for battle. Then Vepacitti the asura-king said to Sakka the deva-king: 'Let there be victory through what is well spoken.'
"'Yes, Vepacitti, let there be victory through what is well spoken.'
"So the devas & asuras appointed a panel of judges, [thinking,] 'These will decide for us what is well spoken & poorly spoken.'
"Then Vepacitti the asura-king said to Sakka the deva-king, 'Say a verse, deva-king!'
"When this was said, Sakka the deva-king said to Vepacitti the asura-king, 'But you are the senior deity here, Vepacitti. You say a verse.'
"When this was said, Vepacitti recited this verse:
"When Vepacitti had said this verse, the asuras applauded but the devas were silent. So Vepacitti said to Sakka, 'Say a verse, deva-king!'
"When this was said, Sakka recited this verse:
"When Sakka had said this verse, the devas applauded but the asuras were silent. So Sakka said to Vepacitti, 'Say a verse, Vepacitti!'
"When this was said, Vepacitti recited this verse:
"When Vepacitti had said this verse, the asuras applauded but the devas were silent. So Vepacitti said to Sakka, 'Say a verse, deva-king!'
"When this was said, Sakka recited this verse:
"When Sakka had said this verse, the devas applauded but the asuras were silent. Then the deva & asura panel of judges said, 'The verses said by Vepacitti the asura-king lie in the sphere of swords & weapons — thence arguments, quarrels, & strife. Whereas the verses said by Sakka the deva-king lies outside the sphere of swords & weapons — thence no arguments, no quarrels, no strife. The victory through what is well spoken goes to Sakka the deva-king.'
"And that, monks, is how the victory through what was well spoken went to Sakka the deva-king."