sutta » sn » sn11 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.19

Satthāravandanāsutta

The Worship of the Teacher or Sakka's Worship Who Sakka Worships

Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.
Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:
“Bhikkhus, once in the past Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed his charioteer Mātali thus:
“Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his charioteer Mātali,

‘yojehi, samma mātali, sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ, uyyānabhūmiṁ gacchāma subhūmiṁ dassanāyā’ti.
‘Harness the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds, friend Mātali. Let us go to the park grounds to see the beautiful scenery.’
‘My dear Mātali, harness the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds. We will go to a park and see the scenery.’

‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā sakkassa devānamindassa paṭivedesi:
‘Yes, your lordship,’ Mātali the charioteer replied. Then he hamessed the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds and announced to Sakka, lord of the devas:
‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. He harnessed the chariot and informed Sakka,

‘yutto kho te, mārisa, sahassayutto ājaññaratho.
‘The chariot has been harnessed, dear sir.
‘Good sir, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed.

Yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.
You may come at your own convenience.’
Please go at your convenience.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vejayantapāsādā orohanto añjaliṁ katvā sudaṁ bhagavantaṁ namassati.
“Then, bhikkhus, Sakka, lord of the devas, descending from the Vejayanta Palace, raised his joined hands in reverential salutation and worshipped the Blessed One.
Then Sakka descended from the Palace of Victory, raised his joined palms, and revered the Buddha.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then Matali the charioteer addressed Sakka, lord of the devas, in verse:
So Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka in verse:

‘Yañhi devā manussā ca,
‘Both devas and human beings
‘Gods and men

taṁ namassanti vāsava;
Humbly worship you, Vasava.
worship you, Vāsava.

Atha ko nāma so yakkho,
So who O Sakka,
So what’s the name of the spirit

yaṁ tvaṁ sakka namassasī’ti.
is that spirit To whom you bow in worship?’
that you worship, Sakka?’

‘Yo idha sammāsambuddho,
‘The Perfectly Enlightened One here
‘It’s the fully awakened Buddha,

asmiṁ loke sadevake;
In this world with its devas,
the Teacher of peerless name

Anomanāmaṁ satthāraṁ,
The Teacher of perfect name:
in this world with its gods—

taṁ namassāmi mātali.
He is the one whom I worship, Matali.
that’s who I worship, Mātali.

Yesaṁ rāgo ca doso ca,
Those for whom lust and hatred And ignorance
Those in whom greed, hate, and ignorance

avijjā ca virājitā;
have been expunged,
have faded away;

Khīṇāsavā arahanto,
The arahants with taints destroyed:
the perfected ones with defilements ended—

te namassāmi mātali.
These are the ones whom I worship, Matali.
they're who I worship, Mātali.

Ye rāgadosavinayā,
For the removal of lust and hatred,
The trainees who enjoy reducing suffering,

avijjāsamatikkamā;
For transcending ignorance:
diligently pursuing the training

Sekkhā apacayārāmā,
The trainees who delight in dismantling,
for getting rid of greed and hate,

appamattānusikkhare;
Who diligently pursue the training;
and going past ignorance—

Te namassāmi mātalī’ti.
These are the ones whom I worship, Matali’
they’re who I worship, Mātali.’

‘Seṭṭhā hi kira lokasmiṁ,
‘Those are indeed the best in the world,
‘Those who you worship

ye tvaṁ sakka namassasi;
my lord Sakka, Those whom you worship,
seem to be the best in the world, Sakka.

Ahampi te namassāmi,
I too will worship them—
I too will worship

ye namassasi vāsavā’ti.
Those whom you worship, Vasava.’
those who you worship, Sakka.’

Idaṁ vatvāna maghavā,
Maghava, having given this explanation,
After saying this, Maghavā the chief,

devarājā sujampati;
The deva-king Suja's husband,
king of gods, Sujā’s husband,

Bhagavantaṁ namassitvā,
Having worshipped the Blessed One,
having worshipped the Buddha,

pamukho rathamāruhī”ti.
The chief, climbed into his chariot.”
climbed into his chariot.”