Not Betray (SN11.7)

Linked Discourses 11.7

Chapter One

Not Betray

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 titans, knowing Sakka’s train of thought, approached him.¹

Sakka saw Vepacitti coming off in the distance,

and said to him,

‘Stop, Vepacitti, you’re caught!’

‘Good fellow, don’t give up the idea you just had!’

‘Swear, Vepacitti, that you won’t betray me.’

‘Whatever bad things happen to a liar,²

or to someone who slanders the noble ones,

or to someone who betrays a friend,

or to someone who’s ungrateful,

the same bad things impact

anyone who betrays you, Sujā’s husband.’”³