[881] When this was said, bhikkhus, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, spoke this verse:
"It is just this fault in forbearance
that I see, Vāsava:
when the fool thinks of him,
'This one endures me out of fear,'
the dullard bears down upon him all the more,
as a bull upon one who flees."
Now when this verse had been spoken by Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, bhikkhus, the asuras applauded, but the devas were 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English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.