Samyuktagama 2.33
Samyukta Āgama (2) 33
Sakka Saṃyutta Seven Practices
Thus have I heard, once, the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.
At that time the Buddha told the monks: “Steadfastly maintaining the seven practices one is bound to be reborn as a Sakka king of gods. Why so? In former times, when any Sakka was a human being, he set out to cultivate these beginner’s practices. He was obedient to his parents and respectful to the elders of the extended clan-family. His speech was gentle. He did not slander others. He was generous, not stingy. He always told the truth, never betrayed others. He did not let anger arise, and whenever hatred arose in him, he strove to extinguish it quickly.”
At that time the World-honored One spoke a verse:
“Whoever towards their parents / displays filial obedience, towards their elders / heartfelt deep respect, always speaks in a manner gentle and friendly, / kindly and good, abandoning slander, / greed, and hatred, of such a one the thirty-three gods / have this to say:
Such a practitioner / is our better. He should dwell apart / as king of the gods.”
When the Buddha had finished speaking, the monks, having heard what he had said, were happy and remembered it well.