[243] "Alone (eko) am I, O Sakka, [before] the great flood": as to "alone" — there is no person who is a second (companion) to me, nor is there any dhamma that is a second to me, relying on which person or relying on which dhamma I might cross, cross up out of, cross over, transcend, and pass beyond the great flood (ogha) of sensuality, the flood of existence, the flood of views, and the flood of ignorance — hence "alone."¹
As to "Sakka": [he is] Sakka. The Blessed One has gone forth from the Sakyan clan; for this reason too he is "Sakka." Or else, he is rich,² of great wealth, possessed of wealth; for this reason too he is "Sakka." These are his riches, namely: the wealth of faith, the wealth of virtue, the wealth of moral shame (hiri), the wealth of moral dread (ottappa), the wealth of learning, the wealth of generosity, the wealth of wisdom, the wealth of the establishment of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna) … the wealth of Nibbāna. Rich with these manifold treasure-riches, of great wealth, possessed of wealth; for this reason too he is "Sakka." Or else, "Sakka" [means]: he is able, capable, adequate, heroic, valiant, courageous, fearless, undaunted, untrembling, one who does not flee, one who has abandoned fear and dread, free from horripilation; for this reason too he is "Sakka." Hence: "Alone am I, O Sakka, [before] the great flood."
As to "So said the venerable Upasīva (iccāyasmā Upasīvo)": the word "icca" is a verbal connective. "Āyasmā (venerable)" is a term of affection. "Upasīva" is that brahmin's name … a form of address. Hence: "So said the venerable Upasīva."
¹ M (variant edition): this reading is absent.
² M: reads "aḍḍho" throughout.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.