SA-2 49（四九）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. At that time, the Buddha told the bhikṣus, "In the past, there was a time when Śakra Devānām-Indra fought with the asuras. At that time, the devas were not victorious, and the asuras were victorious. At that time, Śakra Devānām-Indra, seeing that he was not victorious, immediately turned his chariot and wanted to return to the heavenly palace. On the way, he saw a bitter sāla tree, and at that time, there was a garuḍa's nest on the tree. At that time, Śakra Devānām-Indra then ordered his charioteer, Matali, saying, 'In this nest there are two garuḍa eggs. If they are damaged, you should turn the chariot and avoid this tree.' Śakra Devānām-Indra then spoke a verse to Matali,

You should look at the nest on the tree, in the nest there
are two eggs. If the chariot goes there now, it will surely crash
into and break them. If I were to enter the asura formation with
this body, and lose my life, I would never harm the bird's eggs.

After speaking this verse, he immediately turned the chariot. At that time, the asura army saw Śakra Devānām-Indra turn back and became greatly terrified. They each said, 'Śakra Devānām-Indra pretended to retreat and scatter before. Now that he is turning back, he will surely defeat our army.' The asura army immediately retreated, and the devas pursued them, pressing them to their city." The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "Even though Śakra Devānām-Indra dwells in the position of king of the devas, he is still able to cultivate compassion and forbearance for a long time. You bhikṣus should train in this way.

The bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and practiced it.