Satthāravandanāsutta
Who Sakka Worships
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,
‘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 bhagavantaṁ namassati.
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:
So Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka in verse:
‘Yañhi devā manussā ca, ‘Gods and men
taṁ namassanti vāsava; worship you, Vāsava.
Atha ko nāma so yakkho, So what’s the name of the spirit
yaṁ tvaṁ sakka namassasī’ti. that you worship, Sakka?’
‘Yo idha sammāsambuddho, ‘It’s the fully awakened Buddha,
asmiṁ loke sadevake; the Teacher of peerless name
Anomanāmaṁ satthāraṁ, in this world with its gods—
taṁ namassāmi mātali. that’s who I worship, Mātali.
Yesaṁ rāgo ca doso ca, Those in whom greed, hate, and ignorance
avijjā ca virājitā; have faded away;
Khīṇāsavā arahanto, the perfected ones with defilements ended—
te namassāmi mātali. they’re who I worship, Mātali.
Ye rāgadosavinayā, The trainees who enjoy reducing suffering,
avijjāsamatikkamā; diligently pursuing the training
Sekkhā apacayārāmā, for getting rid of greed and hate,
appamattānusikkhare; and going past ignorance—
Te namassāmi mātalī’ti. they’re who I worship, Mātali.’
‘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,
Bhagavantaṁ namassitvā, having worshipped the Buddha,
pamukho rathamāruhī”ti. climbed into his chariot.”
