sn.11.19 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Worship of the Teacher (or Sakka’s Worship (2))

As above down to:

“Then, bhikkhus, Sakka, lord of the devas, descending from the Vejayanta Palace, raised his joined hands in reverential salutation and worshipped the Blessed One. Then Matali the charioteer addressed Sakka, lord of the devas, in verse:

“‘Both devas and human beings
Humbly worship you, Vasava.
So who, O Sakka, is that spirit
To whom you bow in worship?’

Sakka:

“‘The Perfectly Enlightened One here
In this world with its devas,
The Teacher of perfect name:
He is the one whom I worship, Matali.

“‘Those for whom lust and hatred
And ignorance have been expunged,
The arahants with taints destroyed:
These are the ones whom I worship, Matali.

“‘The trainees who delight in dismantling,
Who diligently pursue the training
For the removal of lust and hatred,
For transcending ignorance:
These are the ones whom I worship, Matali.’

Matali:

“‘Those whom you worship, my lord Sakka,
Are indeed the best in the world.
I too will worship them—
Those whom you worship, Vasava.’

The Blessed One:

“Having given this explanation,
Having worshipped the Blessed One,
The deva-king Maghava, Suja’s husband,
The chief, climbed into his chariot.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Who Sakka Worships

Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.
“Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his charioteer 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 sir, 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 joined palms, and revered the Buddha.
So Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka in verse:
‘Gods and men
worship you, Vāsava.
So what’s the name of the spirit
that you worship, Sakka?’
‘It’s the fully awakened Buddha,
the Teacher of peerless name
in this world with its gods—
that’s who I worship, Mātali.
Those in whom greed, hate, and ignorance
have faded away;
the perfected ones with defilements ended—
they're who I worship, Mātali.
The trainees who take pleasure in decreasing suffering,
diligently pursuing the training
for getting rid of greed and hate,
and going past ignorance—
they’re who I worship, Mātali.’
‘Those who you worship
seem to be the best in the world, Sakka.
I too will worship
those who you worship, Sakka.’
After saying this, Maghavā the chief,
king of gods, Sujā’s husband,
having worshipped the Buddha,
climbed into his chariot.”