Verse 201

Dhammapada Verse 201

The Story of the Defeat of the King of Kosala

In fighting against Ajatasattu, the King of Kosala was defeated three times. Ajatasattu was the son of King Bimbisara and Queen Vedehi, the sister of the King of Kosala. The King of Kosala was ashamed and very much depressed over his defeat. Thus his lamentation: "What a disgrace! I cannot even conquer this boy who still smells of mother's milk. It is better that I should die." Feeling depressed and very much ashamed, the king refused to take food, and kept to his bed. The news about the king's distress spread like wild fire and when the Buddha came to learn about it, he said, "Bhikkhus! In one who conquers, enmity and hatred increase; one who is defeated suffers pain and distress."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Jayam veram pasavati
dukkham seti parajito
upasanto¹ sukham seti
hitva jayaparajayam.

Verse 201: Conquest begets enmity; the conquered live in misery; the peaceful live happily having renounced conquest and defeat.