At one time, the king of Magadha suddenly led his army to attack Kashi and then invaded Kosala after occupying Kashi. When the army of Kosala was attacked, King Bimbisara hastily led his troops to resist the invasion of the Magadha army.

Due to the sudden incident, King Bimbisara was unprepared and his soldiers lacked fighting spirit. Soon, the army of King Magadha defeated Bimbisara's army. Therefore, King Bimbisara led his defeated troops back to Shewei City, the capital city of Kosala.

At that time, many monks put on their robes before noon and carried their alms bowls into Shewei City for food offerings. After eating their alms food, they went to see Buddha at his residence and paid respect to him. The elders among these monks said: "World Honored One! Today when we were out for our alms round in Shewei City we saw soldiers everywhere in town; even ordinary people were helping them reinforce city walls. We heard that King Magadha had attacked and occupied Kashi; then he invaded Kosala again afterwards. Although King Bimbisara had good companionship with virtuous friends, ministers and associates around him; however due to lack of preparation against an invasion from King Magadha's forces he suffered a defeat."

Buddha said: "The king of Magadha has greedy evil allies as well as evil ministers and friends accompanying him which blinded him by greediness leading him into launching wars invading other countries' territories. While although King Bimbisara had virtuous companionship with good friends, ministers and associates around him but because his troops were not prepared enough against an invasion from King Magadha's forces he failed."

"Disciples! Tonight will be a long night for King Bimbisara. He will probably not be able to sleep well, worrying and anxious about the defeat. The victorious king and army in war will sow seeds of hatred which eventually bear fruits of resentment and revenge; while the defeated king and army will worry, lose sleep, and have trouble sleeping because of it. Only those who no longer have thoughts of success or failure, victory or defeat; only those who are free from attachment to gain or loss, worries or obsessions can be without greediness in their hearts so that afflictions and suffering do not arise within them. Such people can sleep peacefully with a clear mind." 

At this moment, the Buddha recited a verse:

"Victory begets enmity; the defeated live in pain.

Happily the peaceful live, discarding both victory and defeat."

Pali original scripture

SN.3.14/(4). Paṭhamasaṅgāmasuttaṃ

　　 125. Sāvatthinidānaṃ. Atha kho rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto caturaṅginiṃ senaṃ sannayhitvā rājānaṃ pasenadiṃ kosalaṃ abbhuyyāsi yena kāsi. Assosi kho rājā pasenadi kosalo– “rājā kira māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto caturaṅginiṃ senaṃ sannayhitvā mamaṃ abbhuyyāto yena kāsī”ti. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo caturaṅginiṃ senaṃ sannayhitvā rājānaṃ māgadhaṃ ajātasattuṃ vedehiputtaṃ paccuyyāsi yena kāsi. Atha kho rājā ca māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto rājā ca pasenadi kosalo saṅgāmesuṃ. Tasmiṃ kho pana saṅgāme rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto rājānaṃ pasenadiṃ kosalaṃ parājesi. Parājito ca rājā pasenadi kosalo sakameva rājadhāniṃ sāvatthiṃ paccuyyāsi.

　　 Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṃ piṇḍāya pavisiṃsu. Sāvatthiyaṃ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṃ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṃsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdiṃsu. Ekamantaṃ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṃ etadavocuṃ–

　　 “Idha, bhante, rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto caturaṅginiṃ senaṃ sannayhitvā rājānaṃ pasenadiṃ kosalaṃ abbhuyyāsi yena kāsi. Assosi kho, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo– ‘rājā kira māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto caturaṅginiṃ senaṃ sannayhitvā mamaṃ abbhuyyāto yena kāsī’ti. Atha kho, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo caturaṅginiṃ senaṃ sannayhitvā rājānaṃ māgadhaṃ ajātasattuṃ vedehiputtaṃ paccuyyāsi yena kāsi. Atha kho, bhante, rājā ca māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto rājā ca pasenadi kosalo saṅgāmesuṃ. Tasmiṃ kho pana, bhante, saṅgāme rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto rājānaṃ pasenadiṃ kosalaṃ parājesi. Parājito ca, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo sakameva rājadhāniṃ sāvatthiṃ paccuyyāsī”ti.

　　 “Rājā, bhikkhave, māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto pāpamitto pāpasahāyo pāpasampavaṅko; rājā ca kho, bhikkhave, pasenadi kosalo kalyāṇamitto kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko. Ajjeva, bhikkhave rājā pasenadi kosalo imaṃ rattiṃ dukkhaṃ seti parājito”ti. Idamavoca …pe…

　　 “Jayaṃ veraṃ pasavati, dukkhaṃ seti parājito;

　　 Upasanto sukhaṃ seti, hitvā jayaparājayan”ti.