1.1Sāvatthiyaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2Tatra …pe… etadavoca:

1.3“bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:“Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali,1.4‘yojehi, samma mātali, sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ. Uyyānabhūmiṁ gacchāma subhūmiṁ dassanāyā’ti.‘My dear Mātali, harness the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds. We will go to a park and see the scenery.’¹

1.5‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā sakkassa devānamindassa paṭivedesi:‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. He harnessed the chariot and informed Sakka,1.6‘yutto kho te, mārisa, sahassayutto ājaññaratho.‘Good fellow, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed.1.7Yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.Please go at your convenience.’

1.8Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vejayantapāsādā orohanto añjaliṁ katvā sudaṁ puthuddisā namassati.Then Sakka descended from the Palace of Victory, raised his cupped palms, and revered the various quarters.²

1.9Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:So Mātali the chariot handler addressed Sakka in verse:

2.1‘Taṁ namassanti tevijjā,‘Those proficient in the three Vedas worship you,2.2sabbe bhummā ca khattiyā;as do all the aristocrats on earth,2.3Cattāro ca mahārājā,the four great kings,2.4tidasā ca yasassino;and the glorious host of Thirty.2.5Atha ko nāma so yakkho,So what’s the name of the spirit2.6yaṁ tvaṁ sakka namassasī’ti.that you worship, Sakka?’

3.1‘Maṁ namassanti tevijjā,‘Those proficient in the three Vedas worship me,3.2sabbe bhummā ca khattiyā;as do all the aristocrats on earth,3.3Cattāro ca mahārājā,the four great kings,3.4tidasā ca yasassino.and the glorious host of Thirty.

4.1Ahañca sīlasampanne,But I revere those accomplished in ethics,4.2cirarattasamāhite;who have long trained in immersion,4.3Sammāpabbajite vande,who have rightly gone forth4.4brahmacariyaparāyane.for the culmination of spiritual life.

5.1Ye gahaṭṭhā puññakarā,I also worship those householders,5.2sīlavanto upāsakā;the ethical lay followers5.3Dhammena dāraṁ posenti,who make merit, Mātali,5.4te namassāmi mātalī’ti.providing for a partner in a principled manner.’

6.1‘Seṭṭhā hi kira lokasmiṁ,‘Those who you worship6.2ye tvaṁ sakka namassasi;seem to be the best in the world, Sakka.6.3Ahampi te namassāmi,I too will worship6.4ye namassasi vāsavā’ti.those who you worship, Sakka.’

7.1Idaṁ vatvāna maghavā,After saying this, Maghavā the chief,7.2devarājā sujampati;king of gods, Sujā’s husband,7.3Puthuddisā namassitvā,having worshiped the various quarters7.4pamukho rathamāruhī”ti.climbed into his chariot.”