SN 11.8

Verocanaasurindasutta

Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā divāvihāragato hoti paṭisallīno. Atha kho sakko ca devānamindo verocano ca asurindo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā paccekaṁ dvārabāhaṁ nissāya aṭṭhaṁsu. Atha kho verocano asurindo bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Verocana, Lord of Titans

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 titans, approached the Buddha and stationed themselves one by each door-post. Then Verocana spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Vāyametheva puriso, yāva atthassa nipphadā; Nipphannasobhano attho, verocanavaco idan”ti.

“A man should make an effort until his goal is accomplished. A goal is splendid when accomplished— this is the word of Verocana!”

“Vāyametheva puriso, yāva atthassa nipphadā; Nipphannasobhano attho, khantyā bhiyyo na vijjatī”ti.

“A man should make an effort until his goal is accomplished. For the goal that’s splendid when accomplished, naught better than patience is found.”

“Sabbe sattā atthajātā, tattha tattha yathārahaṁ; Saṁyogaparamā tveva, sambhogā sabbapāṇinaṁ; Nipphannasobhano attho, verocanavaco idan”ti.

“All beings are in need, as they deserve in each case. But even so, harnessed work is the highest thing of value for all living creatures. A goal is splendid when accomplished— this is the word of Verocana!”

“Sabbe sattā atthajātā, tattha tattha yathārahaṁ; Saṁyogaparamā tveva, sambhogā sabbapāṇinaṁ; Nipphannasobhano attho, khantyā bhiyyo na vijjatī”ti.

“All beings are in need, as they deserve in each case. But rather than harnessed work being the highest thing of value for all living creatures, for the goal that’s splendid when accomplished, naught better than patience is found.”