9.
The Discourse on Homage to the Teacher
265.
At Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove.
"Once in the past, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed Mātali the charioteer -
'Harness, my dear Mātali, the chariot yoked with a thousand thoroughbreds. Let us go to the pleasure ground to see the beautiful grounds.'
'Yes, venerable sir,' monks, Mātali the charioteer, having assented to Sakka, the lord of the gods, having yoked the chariot harnessed to a thousand thoroughbreds, announced to Sakka, the lord of the gods -
'The chariot yoked with a thousand thoroughbreds has been harnessed for you, sir.
Now do as you think fit.'
Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, descending from the Vejayanta palace, having made salutation with joined palms, paid homage to the Blessed One.
Then, monks, Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka, the lord of the gods, in verse -
Then who is that demon whom you, Sakka, pay homage to?"
The Teacher of superior name, I pay homage to him, Mātali.
Those who have eliminated the mental corruptions, the Worthy Ones, I pay homage to them, Mātali.
Trainees delighting in diminution, diligently train themselves;
I pay homage to them, Mātali."
I too pay homage to those whom you pay homage to, Vāsava."
Having paid homage to the Blessed One, the chief one mounted the chariot."