sutta » sn » sn11 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.19

Satthāravandanāsutta

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

Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.
Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.

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

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

‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā sakkassa devānamindassa paṭivedesi:
‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. He harnessed the chariot and informed Sakka,
‘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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

avijjāsamatikkamā;
diligently pursuing the training
For transcending ignorance:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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