{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn11.13/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn11.13","id":"suttacentral_sn11.13","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn11.13/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Ves\u0101l\u012b, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then Mah\u0101li the Licchavi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u201cSir, have you seen Sakka, lord of gods?\u201d \u201cI have, Mah\u0101li.\u201d \u201cBut surely, sir, you must have seen someone who looked like Sakka. For Sakka is hard to see.\u201d \u201cMah\u0101li, I understand Sakka. And I understand the things that he undertook and committed to, which enabled him to achieve the status of Sakka. 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 gave gifts ably. That\u2019s why he\u2019s called Sakka, the Able. 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 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":"With Mah\u0101li","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":453}