[879] When this was said, bhikkhus, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, spoke this verse:
'Fools would rage all the more, were there no one to restrain them;
therefore with severe punishment the wise one should restrain the fool.'
And when the verse had been spoken by Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, bhikkhus, the asuras applauded, but the devas remained silent. Then, bhikkhus, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, said this to Sakka, lord of the devas: 'Speak a verse, lord of the devas.'
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.