Tripiṭaka Sakkudānasutta
Sakka’s Heartfelt Saying
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ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahākassapo pippaliguhāyaṁ viharati, sattāhaṁ ekapallaṅkena nisinno hoti aññataraṁ samādhiṁ samāpajjitvā.
Now at that time Venerable Mahākassapa was staying in the Pipphali cave. Having entered a certain state of immersion, he sat cross-legged for seven days without moving.
Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo tassa sattāhassa accayena tamhā samādhimhā vuṭṭhāsi.
When seven days had passed, Mahākassapa emerged from that state of immersion.
Tena kho pana samayena pañcamattāni devatāsatāni ussukkaṁ āpannāni honti āyasmato mahākassapassa piṇḍapātapaṭilābhāya.
Now at that time five hundred deities were ready and eager for the chance to offer alms to Mahākassapa.
Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo tāni pañcamattāni devatāsatāni paṭikkhipitvā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
But Mahākasspa turned down those deities. In the morning, he robed up, took his bowl and robe, and entered Rājagaha for alms.
Tena kho pana samayena sakko devānamindo āyasmato mahākassapassa piṇḍapātaṁ dātukāmo hoti.
Now at that time Sakka, lord of gods, wished to give alms to Mahākassapa.
Pesakāravaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā tantaṁ vināti. Sujā asurakaññā tasaraṁ pūreti.
Having manifested in the appearance of an embroiderer, he worked the loom while the titan maiden Sujā fed the shuttle.
Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo rājagahe sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena sakkassa devānamindassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.
Then, as Mahākassapa wandered indiscriminately for almsfood in Rājagaha, he approached Sakka’s house.
Addasā kho sakko devānamindo āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.
Seeing Mahākassapa coming off in the distance,
Disvāna gharā nikkhamitvā paccuggantvā hatthato pattaṁ gahetvā gharaṁ pavisitvā ghaṭiyā odanaṁ uddharitvā pattaṁ pūretvā āyasmato mahākassapassa adāsi.
Sakka came out of his house, greeted him, and took the bowl from his hand. He re-entered the house and filled the bowl with rice from the pot.
So ahosi piṇḍapāto anekasūpo anekabyañjano anekarasabyañjano.
That almsfood had many tasty soups and sauces.
“ko nu kho ayaṁ satto yassāyaṁ evarūpo iddhānubhāvo”ti?
“Now, what being is this who has such psychic power?”
Atha kho sakko devānamindo āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā vehāsaṁ abbhuggantvā ākāse antalikkhe tikkhattuṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then Sakka bowed and respectfully circled Mahākassapa, keeping him on his right. Then he rose into the air and, sitting cross-legged in midair, expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times:
“aho dānaṁ paramadānaṁ kassape suppatiṭṭhitaṁ.
“Oh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa!
Aho dānaṁ paramadānaṁ kassape suppatiṭṭhitaṁ.
Oh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa!
Aho dānaṁ paramadānaṁ kassape suppatiṭṭhitan”ti.
Oh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa!”
Assosi kho bhagavā dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya sakkassa devānamindassa vehāsaṁ abbhuggantvā ākāse antalikkhe tikkhattuṁ udānaṁ udānentassa:
With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, the Buddha heard Sakka express this heartfelt sentiment while sitting in the sky.
“aho dānaṁ paramadānaṁ kassape suppatiṭṭhitaṁ.
Aho dānaṁ paramadānaṁ kassape suppatiṭṭhitaṁ.
Aho dānaṁ paramadānaṁ kassape suppatiṭṭhitan”ti.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
Sattamaṁ.