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Warning! 
Translations, dictionaries and commentaries
were not made by the Blessed One. 
Cross-check with Pali in 4 main nikayas. 

Pāḷi MS. Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato

  • Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.18  Linked Discourses 11.18
  • 2. Dutiyavagga  Chapter Two

Gahaṭṭhavandanāsutta 
Gahaṭṭhavandanāsutta → sakkanamassanasuttaṁ (bj); sakkanamassanasuttaṁ (1) (cck); paṭhamasakkanamassanasuttaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed); sakka-namassana (1) (pts1ed)
Who Sakka Worships

Sāvatthiyaṁ.  At Sāvatthī.

Tatra …pe… etadavoca: 

“bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:  “Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his charioteer Mātali,
‘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.’

‘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,
‘yutto kho te, mārisa, sahassayutto ājaññaratho.  ‘Good fellow, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed.
Yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.  Please go at your convenience.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vejayantapāsādā orohanto añjaliṁ katvā sudaṁ puthuddisā namassati. 
añjaliṁ katvā → pañjaliko (bj, pts1ed); pañjaliṁ katvā (mr)
Then Sakka descended from the Palace of Victory, raised his joined palms, and revered the different quarters.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:  So Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka in verse:

‘Taṁ namassanti tevijjā,  ‘Those proficient in the three Vedas worship you,
sabbe bhummā ca khattiyā;  as do all the aristocrats on earth,
Cattāro ca mahārājā,  the four great kings,
tidasā ca yasassino;  and the glorious thirty.
Atha ko nāma so yakkho,  So what’s the name of the spirit
yaṁ tvaṁ sakka namassasī’ti.  that you worship, Sakka?’

‘Maṁ namassanti tevijjā,  ‘Those proficient in the three Vedas worship me,
sabbe bhummā ca khattiyā;  as do all the aristocrats on earth,
Cattāro ca mahārājā,  the four great kings,
tidasā ca yasassino.  and the glorious thirty.

Ahañca sīlasampanne,  But I revere those accomplished in ethics,
cirarattasamāhite;  who have long trained in immersion,
Sammāpabbajite vande,  who have rightly gone forth
brahmacariyaparāyane.  committed to the spiritual life.

Ye gahaṭṭhā puññakarā,  I also worship those householders,
sīlavanto upāsakā;  the ethical lay followers
Dhammena dāraṁ posenti,  who make merit, Mātali,
te namassāmi mātalī’ti.  providing for a partner in a principled manner.’

‘Seṭṭhā hi kira lokasmiṁ,  ‘Those who you worship
ye tvaṁ sakka namassasi;  seem to be the best in the world, Sakka.
Ahampi te namassāmi,  I too will worship
ye namassasi vāsavā’ti.  those who you worship, Sakka.’

Idaṁ vatvāna maghavā,  After saying this, Maghavā the chief,
devarājā sujampati;  king of gods, Sujā’s husband,
Puthuddisā namassitvā,  having worshipped the quarters
pamukho rathamāruhī”ti.  climbed into his chariot.”

Pāḷi MS. Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato

Warning! 
Translations, dictionaries and commentaries
were not made by the Blessed One. 
Cross-check with Pali in 4 main nikayas. 


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