Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.13

The Related Suttas Collection 11.13

2. Dutiyavagga

Chapter Two

Mahālisutta

With Mahāli

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho mahāli licchavī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahāli licchavī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Diṭṭho kho, bhante, bhagavatā sakko devānamindo”ti?

Then Mahāli the Licchavi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, have you seen Sakka, lord of gods?”

“Diṭṭho kho me, mahāli, sakko devānamindo”ti.

“I have, Mahāli.”

“So hi nūna, bhante, sakkapatirūpako bhavissati. Duddaso hi, bhante, sakko devānamindo”ti.

“But surely, sir, you must have seen someone who looked like Sakka. For Sakka is hard to see.”

“Sakkañca khvāhaṁ, mahāli, pajānāmi sakkakaraṇe ca dhamme, yesaṁ dhammānaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā, tañca pajānāmi.

“Mahāli, I understand Sakka. And I understand the things that he undertook and committed to, which enabled him to achieve the status of Sakka.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno magho nāma māṇavo ahosi, tasmā maghavāti vuccati.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was a brahmanical student named Magha. That’s why he’s called Maghavā.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno sakkaccaṁ dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā sakkoti vuccati.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave gifts carefully. That’s why he’s called Sakka, the careful.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno pure dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā purindadoti vuccati.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave gifts in stronghold after stronghold. That’s why he’s called Purindada, the stronghold-giver.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno āvasathaṁ adāsi, tasmā vāsavoti vuccati.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave the gift of a guest house. That’s why he’s called Vāsava, the houser.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo sahassampi atthānaṁ muhuttena cinteti, tasmā sahassakkhoti vuccati.

Sakka thinks of a thousand things in a moment. That’s why he’s called Sahassakkha, Thousand-Eye.

Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa sujā nāma asurakaññā pajāpati, tasmā sujampatīti vuccati.

Sakka’s wife is the demon maiden named Sujā. That’s why he’s called Sujampati, Sujā’s husband.

Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, tasmā devānamindoti vuccati.

Sakka rules as sovereign lord over the gods of the Thirty-Three. That’s why he’s called Devānaminda, lord of gods.

Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā. Katamāni satta vatapadāni?

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he undertook seven vows. And it was because of undertaking these that he achieved the status of Sakka. What seven?

Yāvajīvaṁ mātāpettibharo assaṁ, yāvajīvaṁ kule jeṭṭhāpacāyī assaṁ, yāvajīvaṁ saṇhavāco assaṁ, yāvajīvaṁ apisuṇavāco assaṁ, yāvajīvaṁ vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvaseyyaṁ muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato, yāvajīvaṁ saccavāco assaṁ, yāvajīvaṁ akkodhano assaṁ—sacepi me kodho uppajjeyya, khippameva naṁ paṭivineyyanti.

As long as I live, may I support my parents. As long as I live, may I honor the elders in the family. As long as I live, may I speak gently. As long as I live, may I not speak divisively. As long as I live, may I live at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. As long as I live, may I speak the truth. As long as I live, may I be free of anger, or should anger arise, may I quickly get rid of it.

Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa imāni satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagāti.

In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he undertook seven vows. And it was because of undertaking these that he achieved the status of Sakka.

Mātāpettibharaṁ jantuṁ, kule jeṭṭhāpacāyinaṁ; Saṇhaṁ sakhilasambhāsaṁ, pesuṇeyyappahāyinaṁ.

A person who respects their parents, and honors the elders in the family, whose speech is gentle and courteous, and has given up divisiveness;

Maccheravinaye yuttaṁ, saccaṁ kodhābhibhuṁ naraṁ; Taṁ ve devā tāvatiṁsā, āhu sappuriso itī”ti.

who’s committed to getting rid of stinginess, is truthful, and has mastered anger: the gods of the Thirty-Three call them truly a good person.”