Slain

Linked Discourses 11.21

Chapter Three

Slain

Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.

And then Sakka, lord of gods, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,

and addressed him in verse:

“When what is slain do you sleep at ease?

When what is slain is there no sorrow?

What is the one thing

whose killing you approve?”

“When anger’s slain you sleep at ease.

When anger’s slain there is no sorrow.

Anger has a poisonous root

and a sweet tip, O Vāsava.

The noble ones praise its killing,

for when it’s slain there is no sorrow.”