Linked Discourses
1. Chapter One

Bird Nests

Saṁyutta Nikāya
1. Paṭhamavagga
Kulāvakasutta
Linked Discourses
1. Chapter One
Bird Nests
Saṁyutta Nikāya
1. Paṭhamavagga
Kulāvakasutta

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.

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At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthiyaṁ.

At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthiyaṁ.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans. In that battle the titans won and the gods lost. Defeated, the gods fled north with the titans in pursuit.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi. Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, saṅgāme asurā jiniṁsu, devā parājiniṁsu. Parājitā ca kho, bhikkhave, devā apāyaṁsveva uttarenamukhā, abhiyaṁsveva ne asurā.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.
“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.
In that battle the titans won and the gods lost.
Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, saṅgāme asurā jiniṁsu, devā parājiniṁsu.
Defeated, the gods fled north with the titans in pursuit.
Parājitā ca kho, bhikkhave, devā apāyaṁsveva uttarenamukhā, abhiyaṁsveva ne asurā.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans. “Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi. In that battle the titans won and the gods lost. Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, saṅgāme asurā jiniṁsu, devā parājiniṁsu. Defeated, the gods fled north with the titans in pursuit. Parājitā ca kho, bhikkhave, devā apāyaṁsveva uttarenamukhā, abhiyaṁsveva ne asurā.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali in verse:

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātali saṅgāhakaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali in verse:
Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātali saṅgāhakaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali in verse: Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātali saṅgāhakaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

‘Mātali, don’t ram the bird nests*This verse is also in Ja 31. This delightful story shows the complete transformation of Indra from the war god who revels in slaughter (Atharva Veda 8.8). Indra showed a comparable development in Hinduism, too, for he is said to have saved a wise parrot in his nest when the tree was poisoned (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsanaparva 5). in the Red Silk-Cotton Woods with your draft-pole. I’d rather give up our lives to the titans than deprive these birds of their nests.’

‘Kulāvakā mātali simbalismiṁ, Īsāmukhena parivajjayassu; Kāmaṁ cajāma asuresu pāṇaṁ, Māyime dijā vikulāvakā ahesun’ti.*vikulāvakā → vikulāvā (sya-all, km, mr)

‘Mātali, don’t ram the bird nests*This verse is also in Ja 31. This delightful story shows the complete transformation of Indra from the war god who revels in slaughter (Atharva Veda 8.8). Indra showed a comparable development in Hinduism, too, for he is said to have saved a wise parrot in his nest when the tree was poisoned (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsanaparva 5).
‘Kulāvakā mātali simbalismiṁ,
in the Red Silk-Cotton Woods with your draft-pole.
Īsāmukhena parivajjayassu;
I’d rather give up our lives to the titans
Kāmaṁ cajāma asuresu pāṇaṁ,
than deprive these birds of their nests.’
Māyime dijā vikulāvakā ahesun’ti.*vikulāvakā → vikulāvā (sya-all, km, mr)

‘Mātali, don’t ram the bird nests*This verse is also in Ja 31. This delightful story shows the complete transformation of Indra from the war god who revels in slaughter (Atharva Veda 8.8). Indra showed a comparable development in Hinduism, too, for he is said to have saved a wise parrot in his nest when the tree was poisoned (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsanaparva 5).‘Kulāvakā mātali simbalismiṁ, in the Red Silk-Cotton Woods with your draft-pole. Īsāmukhena parivajjayassu; I’d rather give up our lives to the titans Kāmaṁ cajāma asuresu pāṇaṁ, than deprive these birds of their nests.’ Māyime dijā vikulāvakā ahesun’ti.*vikulāvakā → vikulāvā (sya-all, km, mr)

‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. And he turned the chariot back around, with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds.

‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ paccudāvattesi.

‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. And he turned the chariot back around, with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds.
‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ paccudāvattesi.

‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. And he turned the chariot back around, with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds. ‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ paccudāvattesi.

Then the titans thought, ‘Now Sakka’s chariot has turned back. The titans will have to fight the gods a second time!’ Terrified, they retreated right away to the citadel of the titans.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, asurānaṁ etadahosi: ‘paccudāvatto kho dāni sakkassa devānamindassa sahassayutto ājaññaratho. Dutiyampi kho devā asurehi saṅgāmessantī’ti bhītā asurapurameva pāvisiṁsu.

Then the titans thought,
Atha kho, bhikkhave, asurānaṁ etadahosi:
‘Now Sakka’s chariot has turned back.
‘paccudāvatto kho dāni sakkassa devānamindassa sahassayutto ājaññaratho.
The titans will have to fight the gods a second time!’ Terrified, they retreated right away to the citadel of the titans.
Dutiyampi kho devā asurehi saṅgāmessantī’ti bhītā asurapurameva pāvisiṁsu.

Then the titans thought, Atha kho, bhikkhave, asurānaṁ etadahosi: ‘Now Sakka’s chariot has turned back. ‘paccudāvatto kho dāni sakkassa devānamindassa sahassayutto ājaññaratho. The titans will have to fight the gods a second time!’ Terrified, they retreated right away to the citadel of the titans. Dutiyampi kho devā asurehi saṅgāmessantī’ti bhītā asurapurameva pāvisiṁsu.

And that’s how Sakka came to win victory by principle.”

Iti kho, bhikkhave, sakkassa devānamindassa dhammena jayo ahosī”ti.

And that’s how Sakka came to win victory by principle.”
Iti kho, bhikkhave, sakkassa devānamindassa dhammena jayo ahosī”ti.

And that’s how Sakka came to win victory by principle.” Iti kho, bhikkhave, sakkassa devānamindassa dhammena jayo ahosī”ti.