VowsVatapadasutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthiyaṁ.

“Mendicants, 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.“Sakkassa, bhikkhave, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā. What seven?Katamāni satta vatapadāni?

As long as I live, may I support my parents.Yāvajīvaṁ mātāpettibharo assaṁ, As long as I live, may I honor the elders in the family.yāvajīvaṁ kule jeṭṭhāpacāyī assaṁ, As long as I live, may I speak gently.yāvajīvaṁ saṇhavāco assaṁ, As long as I live, may I not backbite.yāvajīvaṁ apisuṇavāco assaṁ, As long as I live, may I live at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.yāvajīvaṁ vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvaseyyaṁ muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato, As long as I live, may I speak the truth.yāvajīvaṁ saccavāco assaṁ, As long as I live, may I be free of anger, or should anger arise, may I quickly get rid of it.yāvajīvaṁ akkodhano assaṁ—sacepi me kodho uppajjeyya, khippameva naṁ paṭivineyyanti.

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

A child who respects their parents,Mātāpettibharaṁ jantuṁ, and honors the elders in the family,kule jeṭṭhāpacāyinaṁ; whose speech is gentle and courteous,Saṇhaṁ sakhilasambhāsaṁ, and has given up backbiting;pesuṇeyyappahāyinaṁ.

who’s committed to getting rid of stinginess,Maccheravinaye yuttaṁ, is truthful, and has mastered anger:saccaṁ kodhābhibhuṁ naraṁ; the gods of the thirty-three declareTaṁ ve devā tāvatiṁsā, them to be a true person.”āhu sappuriso itī”ti.