In the Samyutta Nikaya, the Buddha tells of an ancient battle between devas and asuras during which the devas were victorious and the asura king Vepacitti was captured and imprisoned. When the deva lord, Sakka visited Vepacitti in prison, Vepacitti "abused and reviled him with rude, harsh words," to which Sakka did not respond in kind.
The story from the Samyutta Nikaya illustrates a conflict between celestial beings and demonic beings, with the devas ultimately prevailing. It emphasizes the importance of restraint and composure even when faced with provocation or insults.