Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.
Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.
Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū etadavoca:
There the Buddha said to the mendicants:
“sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno magho nāma māṇavo ahosi, tasmā maghavāti vuccati.
“Mendicants, in a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was a student named Magha. That’s why he’s called Maghavā, the Bounteous One.
Sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno pure dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā purindadoti vuccati.
In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was first to give gifts. That’s why he’s called Purindada, the Firstgiver.
Sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno sakkaccaṁ dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā sakkoti vuccati.
In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave gifts ably. That’s why he’s called Sakka, the Able.
Sakko, bhikkhave, 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, bhikkhave, devānamindo sahassampi atthānaṁ muhuttena cinteti, tasmā sahassakkhoti vuccati.
Sakka thinks of a thousand needs in an hour. That’s why he’s called Sahassakkha, the Thousand-Eyed.
Sakkassa, bhikkhave, devānamindassa sujā nāma asurakaññā pajāpati, tasmā sujampatīti vuccati.
Sakka’s wife is the titan maiden named Sujā. That’s why he’s called Sujampati, Sujā’s Husband.
Sakko, bhikkhave, 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, the Lord of Gods.
Sakkassa, bhikkhave, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā.
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.
Katamāni satta vatapadāni?
What seven?
Yāvajīvaṁ mātāpettibharo assaṁ,
As long as I live, may I support my parents.
yāvajīvaṁ kule jeṭṭhāpacāyī assaṁ,
As long as I live, may I honor the elders in the family.
yāvajīvaṁ saṇhavāco assaṁ,
As long as I live, may I speak gently.
yāvajīvaṁ apisuṇavāco assaṁ,
As long as I live, may I not backbite.
yāvajīvaṁ vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvaseyyaṁ muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato,
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.
yāvajīvaṁ saccavāco assaṁ,
As long as I live, may I speak the truth.
yāvajīvaṁ akkodhano assaṁ—sacepi me kodho uppajjeyya, khippameva naṁ paṭivineyyanti.
As long as I live, may I be free of anger, or should anger arise, may I quickly get rid of it.
Sakkassa, bhikkhave, 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,
A child who respects their parents,
kule jeṭṭhāpacāyinaṁ;
and honors the elders in the family,
Saṇhaṁ sakhilasambhāsaṁ,
whose speech is gentle and courteous,
pesuṇeyyappahāyinaṁ.
and has given up backbiting;
Maccheravinaye yuttaṁ,
who’s committed to getting rid of stinginess,
saccaṁ kodhābhibhuṁ naraṁ;
is truthful, and has mastered anger:
Taṁ ve devā tāvatiṁsā,
the gods of the thirty-three declare
āhu sappuriso itī”ti.
them to be a true person.”
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.
There the Buddha said to the mendicants:
“Mendicants, in a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was a student named Magha. That’s why he’s called Maghavā, the Bounteous One.
In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was first to give gifts. That’s why he’s called Purindada, the Firstgiver.
In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave gifts ably. That’s why he’s called Sakka, the Able.
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.
Sakka thinks of a thousand needs in an hour. That’s why he’s called Sahassakkha, the Thousand-Eyed.
Sakka’s wife is the titan maiden named Sujā. That’s why he’s called Sujampati, Sujā’s Husband.
Sakka rules as sovereign lord over the gods of the thirty-three. That’s why he’s called Devānaminda, the Lord of Gods.
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?
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 backbite.
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.
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.
A child who respects their parents,
and honors the elders in the family,
whose speech is gentle and courteous,
and has given up backbiting;
who’s committed to getting rid of stinginess,
is truthful, and has mastered anger:
the gods of the thirty-three declare
them to be a true person.”
Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.
Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū etadavoca:
“sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno magho nāma māṇavo ahosi, tasmā maghavāti vuccati.
Sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno pure dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā purindadoti vuccati.
Sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno sakkaccaṁ dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā sakkoti vuccati.
Sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno āvasathaṁ adāsi, tasmā vāsavoti vuccati.
Sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo sahassampi atthānaṁ muhuttena cinteti, tasmā sahassakkhoti vuccati.
Sakkassa, bhikkhave, devānamindassa sujā nāma asurakaññā pajāpati, tasmā sujampatīti vuccati.
Sakko, bhikkhave, devānamindo devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, tasmā devānamindoti vuccati.
Sakkassa, bhikkhave, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā.
Katamāni satta vatapadāni?
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.
Sakkassa, bhikkhave, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa imāni satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagāti.
Mātāpettibharaṁ jantuṁ,
kule jeṭṭhāpacāyinaṁ;
Saṇhaṁ sakhilasambhāsaṁ,
pesuṇeyyappahāyinaṁ.
Maccheravinaye yuttaṁ,
saccaṁ kodhābhibhuṁ naraṁ;
Taṁ ve devā tāvatiṁsā,
āhu sappuriso itī”ti.