Saṁghavandanāsutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.20

Linked Discourses 11.20

2. Dutiyavagga

Chapter Two

Saṅghavandanāsutta

Homage of the Saṅgha

Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.

Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.

Tatra kho …pe… etadavoca:

“bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:

“Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali,

‘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.’

‘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,

‘yutto kho te, mārisa, sahassayutto ājaññaratho,

‘Good fellow, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed.

yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.

Please go at your convenience.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo vejayantapāsādā orohanto añjaliṁ katvā sudaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ namassati.

Then Sakka descended from the Palace of Victory, raised his cupped palms, and revered the mendicant Saṅgha.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

So Mātali the chariot handler addressed Sakka in verse:

‘Tañhi ete namasseyyuṁ,

‘It’s these who should worship you,

pūtidehasayā narā;

namely the humans stuck in their putrid bodies,

Nimuggā kuṇapamhete,

sunk in a carcass,

khuppipāsasamappitā.

stricken by hunger and thirst.

Kiṁ nu tesaṁ pihayasi,

Why then do you envy those

anāgārāna vāsava;

who are homeless, Vāsava?

Ācāraṁ isinaṁ brūhi,

Relate the seers’ way of life,

taṁ suṇoma vaco tavā’ti.

let us hear what you say.’

‘Etaṁ tesaṁ pihayāmi,

‘This is why I envy the

anāgārāna mātali;

homeless, Mātali.

Yamhā gāmā pakkamanti,

When they leave a village,

anapekkhā vajanti te.

they proceed without concern.

Na tesaṁ koṭṭhe openti,

They hoard no goods in storerooms,

na kumbhi na kaḷopiyaṁ;

nor in pots or baskets.

Paraniṭṭhitamesānā,

They seek food prepared by others,

tena yāpenti subbatā.

and, true to their vows, live on that.

Sumantamantino dhīrā,

The attentive, whose words are full of wisdom,

tuṇhībhūtā samañcarā;

live peacefully and quietly.

Devā viruddhā asurehi,

Gods fight with titans,

puthu maccā ca mātali.

and mortals fight each other, Mātali.

Aviruddhā viruddhesu,

Not fighting among those who fight,

attadaṇḍesu nibbutā;

quenched among those who have taken up arms,

Sādānesu anādānā,

not grasping among those who grasp:

te namassāmi mātalī’ti.

they’re who I worship, Mātali.’

‘Seṭṭhā hi kira lokasmiṁ,

‘Those who you worship

ye tvaṁ sakka namassasi;

seem to be the best in the world, Sakka.

Ahampi te namassāmi,

I too will worship

ye namassasi vāsavā’”ti.

those who you worship, Vāsava.’

Idaṁ vatvāna maghavā,

After saying this, Maghavā the chief,

devarājā sujampati;

king of gods, Sujā’s husband,

Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ namassitvā,

having worshiped the mendicant Saṅgha,

pamukho rathamāruhīti.

climbed into his chariot.”

Dutiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Devā pana tayo vuttā,

daliddañca rāmaṇeyyakaṁ;

Yajamānañca vandanā,

tayo sakkanamassanāti.