{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn11.12/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn11.12","id":"suttacentral_sn11.12","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn11.12/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"Near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove. There the Buddha said to the mendicants: \u201cMendicants, in a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was a student named Magha. That\u2019s why he\u2019s called Maghav\u0101, the Bounteous. In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he was first to give gifts. That\u2019s why he\u2019s called Purindada, the Firstgiver. In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave gifts ably. That\u2019s why he\u2019s called Sakka, the Able. In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he gave the gift of a guest house. That\u2019s why he\u2019s called V\u0101sava, the Houser. Sakka thinks of a thousand needs in an hour. That\u2019s why he\u2019s called Sahassakkha, the Thousand-Eyed. Sakka\u2019s wife is the titan maiden named Suj\u0101. That\u2019s why he\u2019s called Sujampati, Suj\u0101\u2019s Husband. Sakka rules as sovereign lord over the gods of the thirty-three. That\u2019s why he\u2019s called Dev\u0101naminda, 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 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. 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\u2019s 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.\u201d","title":"Sakka\u2019s Names","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":370}