[878] The Blessed One said this: "Bhikkhus, once in the past a battle between the devas and the asuras was set in array. Then, bhikkhus, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, said this to Sakka, lord of the devas: 'Lord of the devas, let there be victory by what is well spoken.'
"'Vepacitti, let there be victory by what is well spoken.'
"Then, bhikkhus, the devas and the asuras appointed a panel of judges, thinking: 'These will ascertain for us what is well spoken and what is ill spoken.'
"Then, bhikkhus, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, said this to Sakka, lord of the devas: 'Speak a verse, lord of the devas.' When this was said, bhikkhus, Sakka, lord of the devas, said this to Vepacitti, lord of the asuras: 'You here, Vepacitti, are the devas of old; speak a verse, Vepacitti.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.