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Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.18
Linked Discourses 11.18
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2. Dutiyavagga
Chapter Two
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Gahaṭṭhavandanāsutta
Who Sakka Worships
1.1
Sāvatthiyaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
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Tatra …pe… etadavoca:
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“bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:
“Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali,
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‘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.’
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‘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,
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‘yutto kho te, mārisa, sahassayutto ājaññaratho.
‘Good fellow, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed.
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Yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.
Please go at your convenience.’
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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.
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Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
So Mātali the chariot handler addressed Sakka in verse:
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‘Taṁ namassanti tevijjā,
‘Those proficient in the three Vedas worship you,
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sabbe bhummā ca khattiyā;
as do all the aristocrats on earth,
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Cattāro ca mahārājā,
the four great kings,
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tidasā ca yasassino;
and the glorious host of Thirty.
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Atha ko nāma so yakkho,
So what’s the name of the spirit
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yaṁ tvaṁ sakka namassasī’ti.
that you worship, Sakka?’
3.1
‘Maṁ namassanti tevijjā,
‘Those proficient in the three Vedas worship me,
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sabbe bhummā ca khattiyā;
as do all the aristocrats on earth,
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Cattāro ca mahārājā,
the four great kings,
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tidasā ca yasassino.
and the glorious host of Thirty.
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Ahañca sīlasampanne,
But I revere those accomplished in ethics,
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cirarattasamāhite;
who have long trained in immersion,
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Sammāpabbajite vande,
who have rightly gone forth
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brahmacariyaparāyane.
for the culmination of spiritual life.
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Ye gahaṭṭhā puññakarā,
I also worship those householders,
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sīlavanto upāsakā;
the ethical lay followers
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Dhammena dāraṁ posenti,
who make merit, Mātali,
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te namassāmi mātalī’ti.
providing for a partner in a principled manner.’
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‘Seṭṭhā hi kira lokasmiṁ,
‘Those who you worship
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ye tvaṁ sakka namassasi;
seem to be the best in the world, Sakka.
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Ahampi te namassāmi,
I too will worship
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ye namassasi vāsavā’ti.
those who you worship, Sakka.’
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Idaṁ vatvāna maghavā,
After saying this, Maghavā the chief,
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devarājā sujampati;
king of gods, Sujā’s husband,
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Puthuddisā namassitvā,
having worshiped the various quarters
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pamukho rathamāruhī”ti.
climbed into his chariot.”