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he reappeared in a good destination, a heavenly world, in the company of the Tāvatiṃsa gods. He outshines the other gods in beauty and in fame.’” Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, conciliating the Tāvatiṃsa gods, on that occasion recited these verses: “One whose faith in the Tathāgata is unshaken, well-established; And whose virtue is good, dear to the noble ones, praised. One who has confidence in the Saṅgha, and whose vision is straight; They call him not poor, his life is not in vain. Therefore, faith and virtue, confidence and vision of the Dhamma; The wise one should cultivate, remembering the Buddhas’ teaching.” 5. The Sutta on Delightful Places 261. At Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove. Then Sakka, the lord of the gods, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One. and stood to one side. Standing to one side, Sakka, the lord of devas, said to the Blessed One: “What, indeed, Venerable Sir, is a delightful spot of ground?” “Shrines in groves, shrines in forests, well-made lotus ponds; compared to human delight, are not worth a sixteenth part. “In a village or in a forest, in a valley or on a plain; where Arahants dwell, that is a delightful spot of ground.” 6. The Discourse on the Sacrificer 262. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, on Vulture Peak mountain. Then Sakka, the lord of devas, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, Sakka, the lord of devas, addressed the Blessed One with a verse: “For humans who make offerings, for beings seeking merit; who perform meritorious deeds that lead to rebirth, where is a gift given of great fruit?” “Four are on the path, four are established in the fruits; this Sangha is upright, endowed with wisdom and virtue. “For humans who make offerings, for beings seeking merit; who perform meritorious deeds that lead to rebirth, a gift given to the Sangha is of great fruit.” 7. The Discourse on Homage to the Buddha 263. In Sāvatthī, at Jetavana. Now at that time the Blessed One was gone for a day's abiding, secluded. Then Sakka, the lord of devas, and Brahmā Sahampati approached the Blessed One; having approached, they each stood leaning against a doorpost. Then Sakka, the lord of devas, recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One: “Arise, hero, victor in battle, one who has laid down the burden, unindebted, wander in the world; your mind is well-liberated, like the moon on the fifteenth night.” “Indeed, lord of devas, Tathāgatas should not be paid homage to in this way. Rather, lord of devas, Tathāgatas should be paid homage to in this way – “Arise, hero, victor in battle, caravan leader, unindebted, wander in the world; may the Blessed One teach the Dhamma, there will be those who understand.” 8. The Discourse on Homage by Householders 264. In Sāvatthī. There… (the rest is omitted)… he said this: “Formerly, monks, Sakka, lord of devas, addressed Mātali, the charioteer: ‘Harness, good Mātali, the thousand-yoked noble chariot. Let us go to the pleasure ground, to see the beautiful land.’ ‘Yes, venerable sir,’ monks, Mātali the charioteer, having assented to Sakka, lord of devas, harnessed the thousand-yoked noble chariot, and informed Sakka, lord of devas: ‘Your thousand-yoked noble chariot is harnessed, sir. Do now as you deem fit.’” Then, monks, Sakka, lord of devas, descending from the Vejayanta palace, made an añjali, and indeed bowed in all directions. Then, monks, Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka, lord of devas, with a verse: “The three-knowledge holders bow to him, all earthly khattiyas; The four great kings, and the glorious thirty-three devas; Then who is this yakkha, whom you, Sakka, bow to?” “The three-knowledge holders bow to me, all earthly khattiyas; The four great kings, and the glorious thirty-three devas. “But I bow to those endowed with virtue, long-established in concentration, rightly gone forth, devoted to the holy life. “Those householders who do good deeds, virtuous lay followers; Who support their wives righteously, them I bow to, Mātali.” “Indeed, they are the best in the world, whom you, Sakka, bow to; I too bow to them, whom you, Vāsava, bow to.” “Having said this, Maghavā, king of devas, husband of Sujā, Having bowed in all directions, mounted the chariot at the front.” 9. The Sutta on Bowing to the Teacher 265. At Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove. “Formerly, monks, Sakka, lord of devas, addressed Mātali, the charioteer: ‘Harness, good Mātali, the thousand-yoked noble chariot, let us go to the pleasure ground, to see the beautiful land.’ ‘Yes, venerable sir,’ monks, Mātali the charioteer, having assented to Sakka, lord of devas, the thousand… Having yoked the thoroughbred chariot with its team, he reported to Sakka, lord of devas: 'Your thousand-yoked thoroughbred chariot is yoked, sir. Now you may do as you think fit.' Then, monks, Sakka, lord of devas, descending from the Vejayanta palace, having made an añjali, paid homage to the Blessed One. Then, monks, Mātali, the charioteer, addressed Sakka, lord of devas, in verse: "Indeed, whom devas and humans pay homage to, Vāsava; Then who is that being whom you, Sakka, pay homage to?" "He who is perfectly enlightened here, in this world with its devas; The Teacher of peerless name, him I pay homage to, Mātali. "Those whose lust and hatred, and ignorance are dispelled; The Arahants, with defilements destroyed, them I pay homage to, Mātali. "Those who have disciplined lust and hatred, who have overcome ignorance; The trainees, delighting in reduction, diligently train themselves; Them I pay homage to, Mātali." "Indeed, they are the best in the world, whom you, Sakka, pay homage to; I too pay homage to them, whom you pay homage to, Vāsava." Having said this, Maghavā, the king of devas, lord of Sujā; having paid homage to the Blessed One, mounted the chariot, facing forward. 10. Homage to the Saṅgha Sutta 266. At Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove. There... etc. ... he said this: "Formerly, monks, Sakka, lord of devas, addressed Mātali, the charioteer: 'Yoke, friend Mātali, the thousand-yoked thoroughbred chariot, let us go to the pleasure ground to see the beautiful land.' 'Yes, venerable sir,' monks, Mātali, the charioteer, having assented to Sakka, lord of devas, having yoked the thousand-yoked thoroughbred chariot, reported to Sakka, lord of devas: 'Your thousand-yoked thoroughbred chariot is yoked, sir, now you may do as you think fit.'" Then, monks, Sakka, lord of devas, descending from the Vejayanta palace, having made an añjali, paid homage to the Sangha of bhikkhus. Then, monks, Mātali, the charioteer, addressed Sakka, lord of devas, in verse: i – These indeed would they revere, men lying in putrid bodies; Submerged in this corpse, afflicted by hunger and thirst. “Why do you long for them, O Vāsava, for the homeless ones? Tell us the conduct of the sages, we will listen to your words.” “I long for them, O Mātali, for the homeless ones; From whatever village they depart, they go without looking back. “They do not store in granaries, nor in pots, nor in baskets; Seeking what is already prepared, by that they sustain themselves, the virtuous ones. “Wise ones of deep thought, silent, they wander about; Gods are at odds with Asuras, and mortals are many, O Mātali. “Harmless among the harmful, calm among the violent; Non-grasping among the grasping, them I revere, O Mātali.” “Indeed, they are the best in the world, those whom you, Sakka, revere; I too revere them, whom you revere, O Vāsava.” Having said this, Maghavā, the king of gods, husband of Sujā; Having revered the assembly of bhikkhus, he mounted the chariot at the front. The Second Chapter. Summary of it – Three gods were spoken of, and the poor, and the delightful; And the sacrificer, and veneration, three acts of reverence by Sakka. 3. The Third Chapter 1. Cutting Off Sutta 267. At Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove. Then Sakka, the king of gods, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, Sakka, the king of gods, addressed the Blessed One with a verse – “What, having cut off, does one sleep happily? What, having cut off, does one not grieve? Of what single thing, do you approve the destruction, Gotama?” “Having cut off anger, one sleeps happily; Having cut off anger, one does not grieve; Of anger, whose root is poison, whose tip is sweet, O Vāsava; The destruction the noble ones praise, for having cut that off, one does not grieve.” 2. The Ugly Sutta 268. At Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove. There indeed… (as before)… he said this: “Formerly, bhikkhus, a certain…” The yaksha, ugly and deformed, was seated on the throne of Sakka, lord of devas. There, monks, the Tāvatiṃsa devas grumbled, complained, and protested: "Oh, how amazing, oh, how wondrous! This yaksha, ugly and deformed, is seated on the throne of Sakka, lord of devas!" The more, monks, the Tāvatiṃsa devas grumbled, complained, and protested, the more handsome, the more pleasant to behold, and the more charming that yaksha became. Then, monks, the Tāvatiṃsa devas approached Sakka, lord of devas. Having approached, they said to Sakka, lord of devas: "Here, dear sir, a certain yaksha, ugly and deformed, is seated on the throne of Sakka, lord of devas. There, dear sir, the Tāvatiṃsa devas grumble, complain, and protest: 'Oh, how amazing, oh, how wondrous! This yaksha, ugly and deformed, is seated on the throne of Sakka, lord of devas!' The more, dear sir, the devas grumble, complain, and protest, the more handsome, the more pleasant to behold, and the more charming that yaksha becomes. He must be, dear sir, a yaksha who feeds on anger." Then, monks, Sakka, lord of devas, approached that yaksha who feeds on anger. Having approached, he arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, knelt with his right knee on the ground,