Connected Discourses 11.19

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1. Linked Discourses 11.19
2. Chapter Two
3. Who Sakka Worships
4. Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.
5. “Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his charioteer Mātali,
6. ‘My dear Mātali, harness the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds. We will go to a park and see the scenery.’
7. ‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. He harnessed the chariot and informed Sakka,
8. ‘Good fellow, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed.
9. Please go at your convenience.’
10. Then Sakka descended from the Palace of Victory, raised his joined palms, and revered the Buddha.
11. So Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka in verse:
12. ‘Gods and men
13. worship you, Vāsava.
14. So what’s the name of the spirit
15. that you worship, Sakka?’
16. ‘It’s the fully awakened Buddha,
17. the Teacher of peerless name
18. in this world with its gods—
19. that’s who I worship, Mātali.
20. Those in whom greed, hate, and ignorance
21. have faded away;
22. the perfected ones with defilements ended—
23. they’re who I worship, Mātali.
24. The trainees who enjoy reducing suffering,
25. diligently pursuing the training
26. for getting rid of greed and hate,
27. and going past ignorance—
28. they’re who I worship, Mātali.’
29. ‘Those who you worship
30. seem to be the best in the world, Sakka.
31. I too will worship
32. those who you worship, Sakka.’
33. After saying this, Maghavā the chief,
34. king of gods, Sujā’s husband,
35. having worshipped the Buddha,
36. climbed into his chariot.”