Satthāravandanāsutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.19

Linked Discourses 11.19

2. Dutiyavagga

Chapter Two

Satthāravandanāsutta

Homage of the Teacher

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 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 bhagavantaṁ namassati.

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

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

So Mātali the chariot handler 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 worshiped the Buddha,

pamukho rathamāruhī”ti.

climbed into his chariot.”