Homage to the Buddha

SN 11.17 · Buddhavandanāsutta

Fresh saplings growing beneath the spreading canopy of an old fig tree.

Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.

Now at that time the Buddha had gone into retreat for the day’s meditation. Then Sakka, lord of gods, and the divinity Sahampati approached the Buddha and stationed themselves one by each door-post.

Then Sakka spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Rise, hero! Victor in battle, with burden put down, wander the world free of debt. Your mind is fully liberated, like the moon on the fifteenth night.”

“Lord of gods, that’s not how to pay homage to the Realized Ones. This is how it should be done:

‘Rise, hero! Victor in battle, caravan leader, wander the world free of debt. Let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! There will be those who understand!’”

Connections

Collection & context

Saṃyutta NikāyaThe collection containing this text
The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting

Books

The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saṃyutta NikāyaBhikkhu Bodhi; Bhikkhu Bodhi (translator) · Complete collection edition

About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.