Numbered Discourses 4.91

1. Titans

Titans

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world.

What four?

A titan surrounded by titans,

a titan surrounded by gods,

a god surrounded by titans, and

a god surrounded by gods.

And how is an individual a titan surrounded by titans?

It’s when an individual is unethical, of bad character, and their followers are the same.

That’s how an individual is a titan surrounded by titans.

And how is an individual a titan surrounded by gods?

It’s when an individual is unethical, of bad character, but their followers are ethical, of good character.

That’s how an individual is a titan surrounded by gods.

And how is an individual a god surrounded by titans?

It’s when an individual is ethical, of good character, but their followers are unethical, of bad character.

That’s how an individual is a god surrounded by titans.

And how is an individual a god surrounded by gods?

It’s when an individual is ethical, of good character, and their followers are the same.

That’s how an individual is a god surrounded by gods.

These are the four individuals found in the world.”