Who Does Sakka Worship?

Then, Monks, Sakka, Ruler of the Heavenly Beings, descending from the Vejayanta Palace, raised his joined hands in respectful salutation, and worshipped the different quarters. Then Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka in verse:

These all humbly worship you Those versed in the Triple Veda, All the Khattiyas reigning on earth, The Four Great Kings and the glorious Thirty So who, O Sakka, is that spirit To whom you bow in worship?

(Sakka) These all humbly worship me Those versed in the Triple Veda, All the Khattiyas reigning on earth, The Four Great Kings and the glorious Thirty But I worship those endowed with virtue, Those long trained in concentration, Those who have properly gone forth With the holy life their destination.

I worship as well, O Mātali, Those Household Practitioners making merit, The Household Practitioners possessed of virtue Who righteously maintain a wife.

(Mātali) Those whom you worship, my Ruler Sakka, Are indeed the best in the world. I too will worship them Those whom you worship, Sakka.

(The Perfectly Enlightened One) Having given this explanation, Having worshipped the different quarters, The heavenly being - King Maghavā, Sujā’s husband, The chief, climbed into his chariot.

(Reference: SN 11.18)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares that Sakka, Ruler of the Heavenly Beings, worships Household Practitioners who make merit, are practicing virtuous moral conduct, and maintain a life partner with loyalty.

Then, Mātali, a driver for a chariot says that they “are indeed the best in the world” and that he “too will worship” Household Practitioners meeting those same qualities of making merit, practicing virtuous moral conduct, and maintaining a life partner with loyalty.