So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

Then Mahāli the Licchavi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, Atha kho mahāli licchavī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahāli licchavī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, have you seen Sakka, lord of gods?” “Diṭṭho kho, bhante, bhagavatā sakko devānamindo”ti?

“I have, Mahāli.” “Diṭṭho kho me, mahāli, sakko devānamindo”ti.

“But surely, sir, you must have seen someone who looked like Sakka. “So hi nūna, bhante, sakkapatirūpako bhavissati. For Sakka is hard to see.” Duddaso hi, bhante, sakko devānamindo”ti.

“Mahāli, I understand Sakka. And I understand the things that he undertook and committed to, which enabled him to achieve the status of Sakka. “Sakkañca khvāhaṁ, mahāli, pajānāmi sakkakaraṇe ca dhamme, yesaṁ dhammānaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā, tañca pajānāmi.

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. Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno magho nāma māṇavo ahosi, tasmā maghavāti 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, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno sakkaccaṁ dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā sakkoti 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, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno pure dānaṁ adāsi, tasmā purindadoti 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, mahāli, devānamindo pubbe manussabhūto samāno āvasathaṁ adāsi, tasmā vāsavoti vuccati.

Sakka thinks of a thousand things in an hour. That’s why he’s called Sahassakkha, the Thousand-Eyed. Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo sahassampi atthānaṁ muhuttena cinteti, tasmā sahassakkhoti vuccati.

Sakka’s wife is the titan maiden named Sujā. That’s why he’s called Sujampati, Sujā’s Husband. Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa sujā nāma asurakaññā pajāpati, tasmā sujampatīti vuccati.

Sakka rules as sovereign lord over the gods of the thirty-three. That’s why he’s called Devānaminda, the Lord of Gods. Sakko, mahāli, devānamindo devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, tasmā devānamindoti vuccati.

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. Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagā. What seven? Katamāni satta vatapadāni?

As long as I live, may I support my parents. Yāvajīvaṁ mātāpettibharo assaṁ, As long as I live, may I honor the elders in the family. yāvajīvaṁ kule jeṭṭhāpacāyī assaṁ, As long as I live, may I speak gently. yāvajīvaṁ saṇhavāco assaṁ, As long as I live, may I not backbite. yāvajīvaṁ apisuṇavāco assaṁ, 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 vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvaseyyaṁ muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato, As long as I live, may I speak the truth. yāvajīvaṁ saccavāco assaṁ, As long as I live, may I be free of anger, or should anger arise, may I quickly get rid of it. yāvajīvaṁ akkodhano assaṁ—sacepi me kodho uppajjeyya, khippameva naṁ paṭivineyyanti.

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. Sakkassa, mahāli, devānamindassa pubbe manussabhūtassa imāni satta vatapadāni samattāni samādinnāni ahesuṁ, yesaṁ samādinnattā sakko sakkattaṁ ajjhagāti.

A child who respects their parents, Mātāpettibharaṁ jantuṁ, and honors the elders in the family, kule jeṭṭhāpacāyinaṁ; whose speech is gentle and courteous, Saṇhaṁ sakhilasambhāsaṁ, and has given up backbiting; pesuṇeyyappahāyinaṁ.

who’s committed to getting rid of stinginess, Maccheravinaye yuttaṁ, is truthful, and has mastered anger: saccaṁ kodhābhibhuṁ naraṁ; the gods of the thirty-three declare Taṁ ve devā tāvatiṁsā, them to be a true person.” āhu sappuriso itī”ti.