Gahaṭṭhavandanāsutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.18

Linked Discourses 11.18

2. Dutiyavagga

Chapter Two

Gahaṭṭhavandanāsutta

Homage of Householders

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Tatra …pe… etadavoca:

“bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:

“Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler 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.

Then Sakka descended from the Palace of Victory, raised his cupped palms, and revered the various quarters.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

So Mātali the chariot handler 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 host of 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 host of 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.

for the culmination of 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 worshiped the various quarters

pamukho rathamāruhī”ti.

climbed into his chariot.”