Sakka pays obeisance to the Buddha 2 (Dhamma) (SA-2.41)

Thus have I heard, once, the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.

At that time the World-honored One told the monks: “A long time ago Sakka Devānaṁ Inda wanted to go for a ride and enjoy his parkland. He ordered his charioteer Mātali: “Harness the thousand-horse chariot!” Soon Mātali harnessed the chariot, went to Sakka, and said to him: “The chariot is ready. We may leave whenever you please.” Thereupon Sakka left the Vejayanta Palace and with palms together paid obeisance facing south. When Mātali saw this, his mind was filled with surprise and fear, and he dropped the whip and reins.

Sakka said: “What have you seen that you are so scared?” Mātali said: “Maghavā! Husband of Sujā! When I saw you with palms together paying obeisance facing south, my mind became filled with fear and I dropped the whip and reins. All beings revere you; all the kings are under your rule. The four heavenly kings and the thirty-three gods all respectfully revere you. Who then surpasses you in power, that you stand and pay obeisance with palms together facing south?” Sakka answered: “I am revered by everyone, this may be as you say. However, all gods and human beings respectfully venerate the Dhamma. I respectfully pay obeisance to the perfect Discipline and Dhamma.” And Sakka spoke a verse:

“Those who have left home /
practice relentlessly,
enter silent meditation for a long time, /
lead the holy life perfectly,
abandon the three poisons /
and can attain the Dhamma of liberation.

To this Dhamma /
I now pay obeisance.
To all great Arahants /
who have abandoned desire
dispelled the darkness of ignorance, /
and cut off all fetters,

as well as to those lay-people who practice good conduct, /
and abstain from evil,
to all followers of the true Dhamma /
I now pay obeisance.”

Mātali said:

“You venerate the very best /
I wish to follow you in paying respect.”

When Sakka had spoken thus, he paid obeisance with palms together, mounted the chariot and departed.

The Buddha told the monks: “Sakka is powerful among men and gods. If even he pays obeisance to the Dhamma, how much more should you, monks, who have shaved off your hair and beard, left home to train in the path, how much more diligent should you be in paying obeisance to the Dhamma!”

When the Buddha had finished, the monks, having listened to what he had said, were happy and remembered it well.

Translation by Marcus Bingenheimer, 2005–8 (minor revisions 2009). First version published in Buddhist Studies Review vol. 23.1 (2006). The translations used here were revised by the translator and published in his Studies in Āgama Literature—with Special Reference to the Shorter Chinese Saṁyuktāgama, Dharma Drum Buddhist College, 2010.

Translated from the Taishō text of the CBETA-Database (Version Feb. 2006). All sutta titles added by the translator.

This series of translations were part of the project “A Digital Comparative Edition of the Bieyi za ahan jing” conducted at the Chung-hwa Institute for Buddhist Studies (中華佛學研究所) and the Dharma Drum Buddhist College (法鼓佛教研修學院), funded by the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange (蔣經國國際學術交流基金會). The full project, including parallel Chinese, Pali, and Sanskrit texts, is available online here.

Used with kind permission of the translator.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.