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

1.2“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:“Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali,1.3‘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.’

1.4‘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,1.5‘yutto kho te, mārisa, sahassayutto ājaññaratho.‘Good fellow, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed.1.6Yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.Please go at your convenience.’

1.7Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vejayantapāsādā orohanto añjaliṁ katvā sudaṁ bhagavantaṁ namassati.Then Sakka descended from the Palace of Victory, raised his cupped palms, and revered the Buddha.

1.8Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:So Mātali the chariot handler addressed Sakka in verse:

2.1‘Yañhi devā manussā ca,‘Gods and men2.2taṁ namassanti vāsava;worship you, Vāsava.2.3Atha ko nāma so yakkho,So what’s the name of the spirit2.4yaṁ tvaṁ sakka namassasī’ti.that you worship, Sakka?’

3.1‘Yo idha sammāsambuddho,‘It’s the fully awakened Buddha,3.2asmiṁ loke sadevake;the Teacher of peerless name3.3Anomanāmaṁ satthāraṁ,in this world with its gods—3.4taṁ namassāmi mātali.that’s who I worship, Mātali.

4.1Yesaṁ rāgo ca doso ca,∥Those in whom greed, hate, and ignorance4.2avijjā ca virājitā;have faded away;4.3Khīṇāsavā arahanto,the perfected ones with defilements ended—4.4te namassāmi mātali.they’re who I worship, Mātali.

5.1Ye rāgadosavinayā,The trainees who enjoy reducing suffering,¹5.2avijjāsamatikkamā;diligently pursuing the training5.3Sekkhā apacayārāmā,for getting rid of greed and hate,5.4appamattānusikkhare;and going past ignorance—5.5Te namassāmi mātalī’ti.they’re who I worship, Mātali.’

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,7.3Bhagavantaṁ namassitvā,having worshiped the Buddha,7.4pamukho rathamāruhī”ti.climbed into his chariot.”