With Māgha

At Sāvatthī.

Then, late at night, the glorious godling Māgha, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, ^[1]

and addressed the Buddha in verse:

“When what is slain do you sleep at ease? ^[2]

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 Smiter of the Constrictor. ^[3]

The noble ones praise its killing,

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