SN 4.1 · Mortification
SN 4.1 · Tapokammasutta
So I have heard. At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.
Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “I am truly freed from that grueling work! Thank goodness I’m freed from that pointless grueling work. Thank goodness I’m freed and have attained awakening.”
Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “mutto vatamhi tāya dukkarakārikāya. Sādhu mutto vatamhi tāya anatthasaṁhitāya dukkarakārikāya. Sādhu vatamhi mutto bodhiṁ samajjhagan”ti.
And then Māra the Wicked, knowing the Buddha’s train of thought, went up to him and addressed him in verse:
Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“You’ve left the practice of mortificationby which sons of men purify themselves.You’re impure, but think yourself pure;you’ve strayed from the path of purity.”
“Tapokammā apakkamma,yena sujjhanti māṇavā;Asuddho maññasi suddho,suddhimaggā aparaddho”ti.
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:
Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:
“I realized that it’s pointless;all that endless mortificationis as futileas oars and rudder on dry land.
“Anatthasaṁhitaṁ ñatvā,yaṁ kiñci amaraṁ tapaṁ;Sabbaṁ natthāvahaṁ hoti,phiyārittaṁva dhammani.
Ethics, immersion, and wisdom:by developing this path to awakeningI attained ultimate purity.You’re beaten, terminator!”
Sīlaṁ samādhi paññañca,Maggaṁ bodhāya bhāvayaṁ;Pattosmi paramaṁ suddhiṁ,Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti, dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.2 · In the Form of an Elephant King
SN 4.2 · Hatthirājavaṇṇasutta
So I have heard. At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.
Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.
Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, manifested in the form of a big elephant king and approached him. Its head was like a big block of soapstone. Its tusks were like pure silver. Its trunk was like a long plough pole.
Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo mahantaṁ hatthirājavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. Seyyathāpi nāma mahāariṭṭhako maṇi; evamassa sīsaṁ hoti. Seyyathāpi nāma suddhaṁ rūpiyaṁ; evamassa dantā honti. Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī naṅgalīsā; evamassa soṇḍo hoti.
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse:
Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“Transmigrating for such a long time,you’ve made forms beautiful and ugly.Enough of this, Wicked One!You’re beaten, terminator!”
“Saṁsaraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ,Vaṇṇaṁ katvā subhāsubhaṁ;Alaṁ te tena pāpima,Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.3 · Beautiful
SN 4.3 · Subhasutta
So I have heard. At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.
Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.
Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, approached him, and while not far away, displayed a rainbow of bright colors, both beautiful and ugly.
Atha kho māro pāpimā, bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato avidūre uccāvacā vaṇṇanibhā upadaṁseti, subhā ceva asubhā ca.
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:
Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:
“Transmigrating for such a long time,you’ve made forms beautiful and ugly.Enough of this, Wicked One!You’re beaten, terminator.
“Saṁsaraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ,vaṇṇaṁ katvā subhāsubhaṁ;Alaṁ te tena pāpima,nihato tvamasi antaka.
Those who are well restrainedin body, speech, and minddon’t fall under Māra’s sway,nor are they your footmen.”
Ye ca kāyena vācāya,manasā ca susaṁvutā;Na te māravasānugā,na te mārassa baddhagū”ti.
Then Māra … vanished right there.
Atha kho māro …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.4 · Māra’s Snares (1st)
SN 4.4 · Paṭhamamārapāsasutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.
“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Mendicants, I have attained and realized supreme freedom through rational application of mind and rational right effort. You too should attain and realize supreme freedom through rational application of mind and rational right effort.”
“Mayhaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā yoniso sammappadhānā anuttarā vimutti anuppattā, anuttarā vimutti sacchikatā. Tumhepi, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā yoniso sammappadhānā anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ anupāpuṇātha, anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ sacchikarothā”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“You’re bound by Māra’s snares,both human and heavenly.You’re bound by Māra’s bonds:you won’t escape me, ascetic!”
“Baddhosi mārapāsena,ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;Mārabandhanabaddhosi,na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.
“I’m freed from Māra’s snares,both human and heavenly.I’m freed from Māra’s bonds.You’re beaten, terminator!”
“Muttāhaṁ mārapāsena,Ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;Mārabandhanamuttomhi,Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.
Then Māra … vanished right there.
Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.5 · Māra’s Snares (2nd)
SN 4.5 · Dutiyamārapāsasutta
At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!”
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.
“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Mendicants, I am freed from all snares, both human and heavenly. You are also freed from all snares, both human and heavenly.
“Muttāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbapāsehi ye dibbā ye ca mānusā. Tumhepi, bhikkhave, muttā sabbapāsehi ye dibbā ye ca mānusā.
Wander forth, mendicants, for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. Let not two go by one road.
Caratha, bhikkhave, cārikaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Mā ekena dve agamittha.
Teach the Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They’re in decline because they haven’t heard the teaching. There will be those who understand the teaching!
Desetha, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsetha. Santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā, assavanatā dhammassa parihāyanti. Bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro.
I will travel to the town of Senā in Uruvelā in order to teach the Dhamma.”
Ahampi, bhikkhave, yena uruvelā senānigamo tenupasaṅkamissāmi dhammadesanāyā”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“You’re bound by all snares,both human and heavenly.You’re bound by the great bond:you won’t escape me, ascetic!”
“Baddhosi sabbapāsehi,ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;Mahābandhanabaddhosi,na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.
“I’m freed from all snares,both human and heavenly.I’m freed from the great bonds;You’re beaten, terminator!”
“Muttāhaṁ sabbapāsehi,Ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;Mahābandhanamuttomhi,Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.
Then Māra … vanished right there.
Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.6 · A Cobra
SN 4.6 · Sappasutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.
Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, manifested in the form of a big cobra king and approached him. Its body was like a big canoe carved from a single tree. Its hood was like a large brewer’s sieve. Its eyes were like big bronze cups from Kosala. Its tongue flickered from its mouth like lightning flashes in a thunderstorm. The sound of its breathing was like the puffing of a blacksmith’s bellows.
Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo mahantaṁ sapparājavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī ekarukkhikā nāvā; evamassa kāyo hoti. Seyyathāpi nāma mahantaṁ soṇḍikākiḷañjaṁ; evamassa phaṇo hoti. Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī kosalikā kaṁsapāti; evamassa akkhīni bhavanti. Seyyathāpi nāma deve gaḷagaḷāyante vijjullatā niccharanti; evamassa mukhato jivhā niccharati. Seyyathāpi nāma kammāragaggariyā dhamamānāya saddo hoti; evamassa assāsapassāsānaṁ saddo hoti.
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:
Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:
“One who frequents empty buildingsfor lodging—that sage is self-restrained.It’s appropriate for that sortto live there after relinquishing.
“Yo suññagehāni sevati,Seyyā so muni attasaññato;Vossajja careyya tattha so,Patirūpañhi tathāvidhassa taṁ.
Though there are lots of creepy crawlies,and lots of flies and reptiles,they wouldn’t stir a hairof a great sage in that empty hut.
Carakā bahū bheravā bahū,Atho ḍaṁsasarīsapā bahū;Lomampi na tattha iñjaye,Suññāgāragato mahāmuni.
Though the firmament may split <j>and the earth may quake,and all creatures be stricken with fear;and even if an arrow’s aimed at their breast,the Buddhas take no shelter in attachments.”
Nabhaṁ phaleyya pathavī caleyya,Sabbepi pāṇā uda santaseyyuṁ;Sallampi ce urasi pakappayeyyuṁ,Upadhīsu tāṇaṁ na karonti buddhā”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.7 · Sleeping
SN 4.7 · Supatisutta
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
He spent much of the night walking mindfully in the open. At the crack of dawn he washed his feet and entered his dwelling. He laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.
Atha kho bhagavā bahudevarattiṁ abbhokāse caṅkamitvā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ pāde pakkhāletvā vihāraṁ pavisitvā dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappesi pāde pādaṁ accādhāya sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā.
Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“What, you’re asleep? <j>Really, you’re asleep?You sleep like a loser—<j>what’s up with that?You sleep, thinking that the hut is empty.You sleep when the sun has come up—<j>what’s up with that?”
“Kiṁ soppasi kiṁ nu soppasi,Kimidaṁ soppasi dubbhago viya;Suññamagāranti soppasi,Kimidaṁ soppasi sūriye uggate”ti.
“For them there is no craving—the weaver, the clinger—<j>to track them anywhere.With the ending of all attachments <j>the awakened Buddha sleeps.What’s that got to do with you, Māra?”
“Yassa jālinī visattikā,Taṇhā natthi kuhiñci netave;Sabbūpadhiparikkhayā buddho,Soppati kiṁ tavettha mārā”ti.
Then Māra … vanished right there.
Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.8 · Delighting
SN 4.8 · Nandatisutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:
Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
“Children bring you delight!Cattle also bring you delight!For attachments are a man’s delight;without attachments there’s no delight.”
“Nandati puttehi puttimā,Gomā gobhi tatheva nandati;Upadhīhi narassa nandanā,Na hi so nandati yo nirūpadhī”ti.
“Your children bring you sorrow.Your cattle also bring you sorrow.For attachments are a man’s sorrow;without attachments there are no sorrows.”
“Socati puttehi puttimā,Gomā gobhi tatheva socati;Upadhīhi narassa socanā,Na hi so socati yo nirūpadhī”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.9 · Lifespan (1st)
SN 4.9 · Paṭhamaāyusutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.
“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Mendicants, the lifespan of humans is short. We are headed for lives to come. So we must do what is skillful, we must practice the spiritual life. No one born is immortal. A long life is a hundred years or a little more.”
“Appamidaṁ, bhikkhave, manussānaṁ āyu. Gamanīyo samparāyo, kattabbaṁ kusalaṁ, caritabbaṁ brahmacariyaṁ. Natthi jātassa amaraṇaṁ. Yo, bhikkhave, ciraṁ jīvati, so vassasataṁ appaṁ vā bhiyyo”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“The life of humans is long!A true person wouldn’t scorn it.Live like a suckling babe,for Death has not come for you.”
“Dīghamāyu manussānaṁ,na naṁ hīḷe suporiso;Careyya khīramattova,natthi maccussa āgamo”ti.
“The life of humans is short,and a true person scorns it.They should live as though their head was on fire,for Death comes for everyone.”
“Appamāyu manussānaṁ,hīḷeyya naṁ suporiso;Careyyādittasīsova,natthi maccussa nāgamo”ti.
Then Māra … vanished right there.
Atha kho māro …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.
SN 4.10 · Lifespan (2nd)
SN 4.10 · Dutiyaāyusutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. There the Buddha … said:
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Tatra kho bhagavā …pe… etadavoca:
“Mendicants, the lifespan of humans is short. We are headed for lives to come. We must do what is skillful, we must practice the spiritual life. No one born is immortal. A long life is a hundred years or a little more.”
“Appamidaṁ, bhikkhave, manussānaṁ āyu. Gamanīyo samparāyo, kattabbaṁ kusalaṁ, caritabbaṁ brahmacariyaṁ. Natthi jātassa amaraṇaṁ. Yo, bhikkhave, ciraṁ jīvati, so vassasataṁ appaṁ vā bhiyyo”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“The days and nights don’t rush by,and life isn’t cut short.The life of mortals keeps rolling on,like a chariot’s rim around the hub.”
“Nāccayanti ahorattā,Jīvitaṁ nūparujjhati;Āyu anupariyāyati maccānaṁ,Nemīva rathakubbaran”ti.
“The days and nights rush by,and then life is cut short.The life of mortals wastes away,like the water in tiny streams.”
“Accayanti ahorattā,jīvitaṁ uparujjhati;Āyu khīyati maccānaṁ,kunnadīnaṁva odakan”ti.
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.
Paṭhamo vaggo.
Tassuddānaṁ
Tapokammañca nāgo ca,subhaṁ pāsena te duve;Sappo supati nandanaṁ,āyunā apare duveti.