Homage of the SaṅghaSaṅghavandanāsutta

Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali,“bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi: ‘My dear Mātali, harness the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds. We will go to a park and see the scenery.’‘yojehi, samma mātali, sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ, uyyānabhūmiṁ gacchāma subhūmiṁ dassanāyā’ti.

‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. He harnessed the chariot and informed Sakka,‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā, sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā sakkassa devānamindassa paṭivedesi: ‘Good fellow, the chariot with its team of a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed.‘yutto kho te, mārisa, sahassayutto ājaññaratho, Please go at your convenience.’yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.

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

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

‘It’s these who should worship you,‘Tañhi ete namasseyyuṁ, namely the humans stuck in their putrid bodies,pūtidehasayā narā; sunk in a carcass,Nimuggā kuṇapamhete, stricken by hunger and thirst.khuppipāsasamappitā.

Why then do you envy thoseKiṁ nu tesaṁ pihayasi, who are homeless, Vāsava?anāgārāna vāsava; Relate the seers’ way of life,Ācāraṁ isinaṁ brūhi, let us hear what you say.’taṁ suṇoma vaco tavā’ti.

‘This is why I envy the‘Etaṁ tesaṁ pihayāmi, homeless, Mātali.anāgārāna mātali; When they leave a village,Yamhā gāmā pakkamanti, they proceed without concern.anapekkhā vajanti te.

They hoard no goods in storerooms,Na tesaṁ koṭṭhe openti, nor in pots or baskets.na kumbhi na kaḷopiyaṁ; They seek food prepared by others,Paraniṭṭhitamesānā, and, true to their vows, live on that.tena yāpenti subbatā.

The attentive, whose words are full of wisdom,Sumantamantino dhīrā, live peacefully and quietly.tuṇhībhūtā samañcarā; Gods fight with titans,Devā viruddhā asurehi, and mortals fight each other, Mātali.puthu maccā ca mātali.

Not fighting among those who fight,Aviruddhā viruddhesu, quenched among those who have taken up arms,attadaṇḍesu nibbutā; not grasping among those who grasp:Sādānesu anādānā, they’re who I worship, Mātali.’te namassāmi mātalī’ti.

‘Those who you worship‘Seṭṭhā hi kira lokasmiṁ, seem to be the best in the world, Sakka.ye tvaṁ sakka namassasi; I too will worshipAhampi te namassāmi, those who you worship, Vāsava.’ye namassasi vāsavā’”ti.

After saying this, Maghavā the chief,Idaṁ vatvāna maghavā, king of gods, Sujā’s husband,devarājā sujampati; having worshiped the mendicant Saṅgha,Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ namassitvā, climbed into his chariot.”pamukho rathamāruhīti.