SN 11.19

Satthāravandanāsutta

Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane. “Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi: ‘yojehi, samma mātali, sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ, uyyānabhūmiṁ gacchāma subhūmiṁ dassanāyā’ti. ‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā sakkassa devānamindassa paṭivedesi: ‘yutto kho te, mārisa, sahassayutto ājaññaratho. Yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti. Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vejayantapāsādā orohanto añjaliṁ katvā sudaṁ bhagavantaṁ namassati. Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Homage of the Teacher

Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove. “Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali, ‘My dear Mātali, harness the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds. We will go to a park and see the scenery.’ ‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. He harnessed the chariot and informed Sakka, ‘Good fellow, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed. Please go at your convenience.’ Then Sakka descended from the Palace of Victory, raised his cupped palms, and revered the Buddha. So Mātali the chariot handler addressed Sakka in verse:

‘Yañhi devā manussā ca, taṁ namassanti vāsava; Atha ko nāma so yakkho, yaṁ tvaṁ sakka namassasī’ti.

‘Gods and men worship you, Vāsava. So what’s the name of the spirit that you worship, Sakka?’

‘Yo idha sammāsambuddho, asmiṁ loke sadevake; Anomanāmaṁ satthāraṁ, taṁ namassāmi mātali.

‘It’s the fully awakened Buddha, the Teacher of peerless name in this world with its gods— that’s who I worship, Mātali.

Yesaṁ rāgo ca doso ca, avijjā ca virājitā; Khīṇāsavā arahanto, te namassāmi mātali.

Those in whom greed, hate, and ignorance have faded away; the perfected ones with defilements ended— they’re who I worship, Mātali.

Ye rāgadosavinayā, avijjāsamatikkamā; Sekkhā apacayārāmā, appamattānusikkhare; Te namassāmi mātalī’ti.

The trainees who enjoy reducing suffering, diligently pursuing the training for getting rid of greed and hate, and going past ignorance— they’re who I worship, Mātali.’

‘Seṭṭhā hi kira lokasmiṁ, ye tvaṁ sakka namassasi; Ahampi te namassāmi, ye namassasi vāsavā’ti.

‘Those who you worship seem to be the best in the world, Sakka. I too will worship those who you worship, Sakka.’

Idaṁ vatvāna maghavā, devarājā sujampati; Bhagavantaṁ namassitvā, pamukho rathamāruhī”ti.

After saying this, Maghavā the chief, king of gods, Sujā’s husband, having worshiped the Buddha, climbed into his chariot.”