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SN 11.17PTS (1st ed) SN 1.2331 min read

Homage to the Buddha

Buddhavandanāsutta

Sakka and Brahmā Sahampati come to the Buddha’s hut and speak in his praise.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.17Linked Discourses 11.17
  • 0.22. DutiyavaggaChapter Two

0.3BuddhavandanāsuttaHomage to the Buddha

1.1Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.

1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā divāvihāragato hoti paṭisallīno.Now at that time the Buddha had gone into retreat for the day’s meditation.1.3Atha kho sakko ca devānamindo brahmā ca sahampati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā paccekaṁ dvārabāhaṁ nissāya aṭṭhaṁsu.Then Sakka, lord of gods, and the divinity Sahampati approached the Buddha and stationed themselves one by each door-post.1

1.4Atha kho sakko devānamindo bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then Sakka spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

2.1“Uṭṭhehi vīra vijitasaṅgāma,“Rise, hero! Victor in battle, with burden put down,2.2Pannabhāra anaṇa vicara loke;wander the world free of debt.2.3Cittañca te suvimuttaṁ,Your mind is fully liberated,2.4Cando yathā pannarasāya rattin”ti.like the moon on the fifteenth night.”2

3.1“Na kho, devānaminda, tathāgatā evaṁ vanditabbā.“Lord of gods, that’s not how to pay homage to the Realized Ones.3.2Evañca kho, devānaminda, tathāgatā vanditabbā:This is how it should be done:

4.1‘Uṭṭhehi vīra vijitasaṅgāma,‘Rise, hero! Victor in battle, caravan leader,4.2Satthavāha anaṇa vicara loke;wander the world free of debt.4.3Desassu bhagavā dhammaṁ,Let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma!4.4Aññātāro bhavissantī’”ti.There will be those who understand!’”3

Translator’s notes

  1. The form of this discourse echoes that of SN 11.8, with Sakka and Sahampati in the roles of Verocana and Sakka. This time it is Sakka who gives the inferior verse that is trumped by Sahampati.

    ↩ sn11.17:1.3

  2. Sakka speaks to the personal liberation of the Buddha.

    ↩ sn11.17:2.4

  3. Sahampati encourages the Buddha to teach for the liberation of all beings, as he did after the Buddha’s awakening (SN 6.1:8.1).

    ↩ sn11.17:4.4