Mahālisutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.13

Linked Discourses 11.13

2. Dutiyavagga

Chapter Two

Mahālisutta

With Mahāli

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho mahāli licchavī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahāli licchavī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Mahāli the Licchavi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“Diṭṭho kho, bhante, bhagavatā sakko devānamindo”ti?

“Sir, have you seen Sakka, lord of gods?”

“Diṭṭho kho me, mahāli, sakko devānamindo”ti.

“I have, Mahāli.”

“So hi nūna, bhante, sakkapatirūpako bhavissati.

“But surely, sir, you must have seen someone who looked like Sakka.

Duddaso hi, bhante, sakko devānamindo”ti.

For Sakka is hard to see.”

“Sakkañca khvāhaṁ, mahāli, pajānāmi sakkakaraṇe ca dhamme, yesaṁ dhammānaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā, tañca pajānāmi.

“Mahāli, I understand Sakka. And I understand the things that he undertook and committed to, which enabled him to achieve the status of Sakka.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno magho nāma māṇavo ahosi, tasmā maghavāti vuccati.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was a student named Magha. That’s why he’s called Maghavā, the Bounteous.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno sakkaccaṁ dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā sakkoti vuccati.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave gifts ably. That’s why he’s called Sakka, the Able.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno pure dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā purindadoti vuccati.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was first to give gifts. That’s why he’s called Purindada, the Firstgiver.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno āvasathaṁ adāsi, tasmā vāsavoti vuccati.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave the gift of a guest house. That’s why he’s called Vāsava, the Houser.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo sahassampi atthānaṁ muhuttena cinteti, tasmā sahassakkhoti vuccati.

Sakka thinks of a thousand needs in an hour. That’s why he’s called Sahassakkha, the Thousand-Eyed.

Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa sujā nāma asurakaññā pajāpati, tasmā sujampatīti vuccati.

Sakka’s wife is the titan maiden named Sujā. That’s why he’s called Sujampati, Sujā’s Husband.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, tasmā devānamindoti vuccati.

Sakka rules as sovereign lord over the gods of the thirty-three. That’s why he’s called Devānaminda, the Lord of Gods.

Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he undertook seven vows. And it was because of undertaking these that he achieved the status of Sakka.

Katamāni satta vatapadāni?

What seven?

Yāvajīvaṁ mātāpettibharo assaṁ,

As long as I live, may I support my parents.

yāvajīvaṁ kule jeṭṭhāpacāyī assaṁ,

As long as I live, may I honor the elders in the family.

yāvajīvaṁ saṇhavāco assaṁ,

As long as I live, may I speak gently.

yāvajīvaṁ apisuṇavāco assaṁ,

As long as I live, may I not backbite.

yāvajīvaṁ vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvaseyyaṁ muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato,

As long as I live, may I live at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.

yāvajīvaṁ saccavāco assaṁ,

As long as I live, may I speak the truth.

yāvajīvaṁ akkodhano assaṁ—sacepi me kodho uppajjeyya, khippameva naṁ paṭivineyyanti.

As long as I live, may I be free of anger, or should anger arise, may I quickly get rid of it.

Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa imāni satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagāti.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he undertook seven vows. And it was because of undertaking these that he achieved the status of Sakka.

Mātāpettibharaṁ jantuṁ,

A child who respects their parents,

kule jeṭṭhāpacāyinaṁ;

and honors the elders in the family,

Saṇhaṁ sakhilasambhāsaṁ,

whose speech is gentle and courteous,

pesuṇeyyappahāyinaṁ.

and has given up backbiting;

Maccheravinaye yuttaṁ,

who’s committed to getting rid of stinginess,

saccaṁ kodhābhibhuṁ naraṁ;

is truthful, and has mastered anger:

Taṁ ve devā tāvatiṁsā,

the gods of the thirty-three declare

āhu sappuriso itī”ti.

them to be a true person.”