---
title: "Linked Discourses I: With Verses · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Sagāthāvagga"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 19 of 31
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-1/19/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Linked Discourses I: With Verses · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Sagāthāvagga, section 19. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-1/19/"
---

# Linked Discourses I: With Verses · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Sagāthāvagga

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

The first book of the Linked Discourses: dialogues in verse with gods, Māra, nuns, brahmins and kings.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 19. Māra · SN 4.21–4.25

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-1/19/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-1/19/#p-N

[¶0] SN 4.21 · Several

> Pali: SN 4.21 · Sambahulasutta

[¶1] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans near Silāvatī.

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati silāvatiyaṁ.

[¶2] Now at that time several mendicants were meditating not far from the Buddha, diligent, keen, and resolute.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato avidūre appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharanti.

[¶3] Then Māra the Wicked manifested in the form of a brahmin with a large matted dreadlock, wearing an antelope hide. He was old, bent double, wheezing, and held a staff made of cluster fig tree wood. He went up to those mendicants and said, “You’ve gone forth while young, reverends. With pristine black hair, you’re blessed with youth, in the prime of life, and you’ve never flirted with sensual pleasures. Enjoy human sensual pleasures. Don’t give up what is apparent in the present to chase after what takes effect over time.”

> Pali: Atha kho māro pāpimā brāhmaṇavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā mahantena jaṭaṇḍuvena ajinakkhipanivattho jiṇṇo gopānasivaṅko ghurughurupassāsī udumbaradaṇḍaṁ gahetvā yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū etadavoca: “daharā bhavanto pabbajitā susū kāḷakesā bhadrena yobbanena samannāgatā paṭhamena vayasā anikkīḷitāvino kāmesu. Bhuñjantu bhavanto mānusake kāme. Mā sandiṭṭhikaṁ hitvā kālikaṁ anudhāvitthā”ti.

[¶4] “Brahmin, that’s not what we’re doing. We’re giving up what takes effect over time to chase after what is apparent in the present. For the Buddha says that sensual pleasures take effect over time; they give much suffering and distress, and they are all the more full of drawbacks. But this teaching is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.”

> Pali: “Na kho mayaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sandiṭṭhikaṁ hitvā kālikaṁ anudhāvāma. Kālikañca kho mayaṁ, brāhmaṇa, hitvā sandiṭṭhikaṁ anudhāvāma. Kālikā hi, brāhmaṇa, kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo. Sandiṭṭhiko ayaṁ dhammo akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī”ti.

[¶5] When they had spoken, Māra the Wicked shook his head, waggled his tongue, raised his eyebrows until his brow puckered in three furrows, and left leaning on his staff.

> Pali: Evaṁ vutte, māro pāpimā sīsaṁ okampetvā jivhaṁ nillāletvā tivisākhaṁ nalāṭe nalāṭikaṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā daṇḍamolubbha pakkāmi.

[¶6] Then those mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. The Buddha said, “Mendicants, that was no brahmin. That was Māra the Wicked who came to pull the wool over your eyes!”

> Pali: Atha kho te bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idha mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavato avidūre appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharāma. Atha kho, bhante, aññataro brāhmaṇo mahantena jaṭaṇḍuvena ajinakkhipanivattho jiṇṇo gopānasivaṅko ghurughurupassāsī udumbaradaṇḍaṁ gahetvā yena mayaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā amhe etadavoca: ‘daharā bhavanto pabbajitā susū kāḷakesā bhadrena yobbanena samannāgatā paṭhamena vayasā anikkīḷitāvino kāmesu. Bhuñjantu bhavanto mānusake kāme. Mā sandiṭṭhikaṁ hitvā kālikaṁ anudhāvitthā’ti. Evaṁ vutte, mayaṁ, bhante, taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavocumha: ‘na kho mayaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sandiṭṭhikaṁ hitvā kālikaṁ anudhāvāma. Kālikañca kho mayaṁ, brāhmaṇa, hitvā sandiṭṭhikaṁ anudhāvāma. Kālikā hi, brāhmaṇa, kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo. Sandiṭṭhiko ayaṁ dhammo akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti. Evaṁ vutte, bhante, so brāhmaṇo sīsaṁ okampetvā jivhaṁ nillāletvā tivisākhaṁ nalāṭe nalāṭikaṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā daṇḍamolubbha pakkanto”ti. “Neso, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇo. Māro eso pāpimā tumhākaṁ vicakkhukammāya āgato”ti.

[¶7] Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha spoke this verse:

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

[¶8] “When a personage has seen where suffering comes from
how could they incline toward sensual pleasures?
Realizing that attachment is a chain in the world,
a personage would train to remove it.”

> Pali: “Yo dukkhamaddakkhi yatonidānaṁ,
Kāmesu so jantu kathaṁ nameyya;
Upadhiṁ viditvā saṅgoti loke,
Tasseva jantu vinayāya sikkhe”ti.

[¶9] SN 4.22 · With Samiddhi

> Pali: SN 4.22 · Samiddhisutta

[¶10] At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans near Silāvatī.

> Pali: Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati silāvatiyaṁ.

[¶11] Now at that time Venerable Samiddhi was meditating not far from the Buddha, diligent, keen, and resolute. Then as Venerable Samiddhi was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, to have a teacher who is a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha! I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, to have gone forth in a teaching and training so well explained! I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, to have spiritual companions who are ethical and of good character.”

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato avidūre appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharati. Atha kho āyasmato samiddhissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me satthā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me sabrahmacārino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā”ti.

[¶12] And then Māra the Wicked, knowing Samiddhi’s train of thought, went up to him and made a terrifyingly loud noise close by him. It seemed as if the earth was shattering.

> Pali: Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato samiddhissa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yenāyasmā samiddhi tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmato samiddhissa avidūre mahantaṁ bhayabheravaṁ saddamakāsi, apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyati.

[¶13] Then Samiddhi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. The Buddha said, “Samiddhi, that’s not the earth shattering. That’s Māra the Wicked come to pull the wool over your eyes! Go back to that same place, Samiddhi, and meditate, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno āyasmā samiddhi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idhāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato avidūre appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me satthā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me sabrahmacārino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, avidūre mahābhayabheravasaddo ahosi, apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyatī”ti. “Nesā, samiddhi, pathavī undrīyati. Māro eso pāpimā tuyhaṁ vicakkhukammāya āgato. Gaccha tvaṁ, samiddhi, tattheva appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharāhī”ti.

[¶14] “Yes, sir,” replied Samiddhi. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

[¶15] And for a second time Samiddhi was meditating in that same place, diligent, ardent, and resolute. And for a second time he had the same thought … and Māra made an earth-shattering noise.

> Pali: Dutiyampi kho āyasmā samiddhi tattheva appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihāsi. Dutiyampi kho āyasmato samiddhissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa …pe… dutiyampi kho māro pāpimā āyasmato samiddhissa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya …pe… apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyati.

[¶16] Then Samiddhi addressed Māra the Wicked in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

[¶17] “I went forth out of faith
from the lay life to homelessness.
My mindfulness and wisdom are mature,
my mind is serene in immersion.
Make whatever illusions you want,
it won’t bother me.”

> Pali: “Saddhāyāhaṁ pabbajito,
agārasmā anagāriyaṁ;
Sati paññā ca me buddhā,
cittañca susamāhitaṁ;
Kāmaṁ karassu rūpāni,
neva maṁ byādhayissasī”ti.

[¶18] Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The mendicant Samiddhi knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.

> Pali: Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ samiddhi bhikkhū”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

[¶19] SN 4.23 · With Godhika

> Pali: SN 4.23 · Godhikasutta

[¶20] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

[¶21] Now at that time Venerable Godhika was staying on the slopes of Isigili at the Black Rock. Then Venerable Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart. But then he fell away from that temporary freedom of heart. For a second … third … fourth … fifth … sixth time Godhika experienced temporary freedom of heart. But for a sixth time he fell away from it. For a seventh time Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā godhiko isigilipasse viharati kāḷasilāyaṁ. Atha kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi. Atha kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi. Dutiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi. Dutiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi. Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi. Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi. Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto …pe… vimuttiṁ phusi. Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi. Pañcamampi kho āyasmā godhiko …pe… cetovimuttiṁ phusi. Pañcamampi kho āyasmā …pe… vimuttiyā parihāyi. Chaṭṭhampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi. Chaṭṭhampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi. Sattamampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

[¶22] Then he thought, “I’ve fallen away from this temporary freedom of heart no less than six times. Why don’t I commit suicide?”

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmato godhikassa etadahosi: “yāva chaṭṭhaṁ khvāhaṁ sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihīno. Yannūnāhaṁ satthaṁ āhareyyan”ti.

[¶23] And then Māra the Wicked, knowing Godhika’s train of thought, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato godhikassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

[¶24] “O great hero, O greatly wise!
Shining with power and glory.
You’ve gone beyond all enmities and fears,
I bow to your feet, O Clear-eyed One!

> Pali: “Mahāvīra mahāpañña,
iddhiyā yasasā jala;
Sabbaverabhayātīta,
pāde vandāmi cakkhuma.

[¶25] Great hero, master of death,
your disciple longs for death,
he’s planning for it.
Stop him, O light-bringer!

> Pali: Sāvako te mahāvīra,
maraṇaṁ maraṇābhibhū;
Ākaṅkhati cetayati,
taṁ nisedha jutindhara.

[¶26] For Blessed One, renowned among men,
your disciple who loves your teaching,
a trainee who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire—
how can they kill themselves?”

> Pali: Kathañhi bhagavā tuyhaṁ,
Sāvako sāsane rato;
Appattamānaso sekkho,
Kālaṁ kayirā janesutā”ti.

[¶27] Now at that time Venerable Godhika had already committed suicide.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena āyasmatā godhikena satthaṁ āharitaṁ hoti.

[¶28] Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

[¶29] “This is how the attentive act,
for they don’t long for life.
Having plucked out craving, root and all,
Godhika is quenched.”

> Pali: “Evañhi dhīrā kubbanti,
nāvakaṅkhanti jīvitaṁ;
Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,
godhiko parinibbuto”ti.

[¶30] Then the Buddha said to the mendicants, “Come, mendicants, let’s go to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili where Godhika, who came from a good family, committed suicide.”

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “āyāma, bhikkhave, yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamissāma yattha godhikena kulaputtena satthaṁ āharitan”ti.

[¶31] “Yes, sir,” they replied.

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

[¶32] Then the Buddha together with several mendicants went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili. The Buddha saw Godhika off in the distance on his cot, lying with aggregates cast off.

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkami. Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ godhikaṁ dūratova mañcake vivattakkhandhaṁ semānaṁ.

[¶33] Now at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ, gacchati adho, gacchati anudisaṁ.

[¶34] Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

[¶35] “Mendicants, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?”

> Pali: “passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ, gacchati adho, gacchati anudisan”ti?

[¶36] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶37] “That’s Māra the Wicked searching for Godhika’s consciousness, wondering: ‘Where is Godhika’s consciousness established?’ But since his consciousness is not established, Godhika is quenched.”

> Pali: “Eso kho, bhikkhave, māro pāpimā godhikassa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ samanvesati: ‘kattha godhikassa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitan’ti? Appatiṭṭhitena ca, bhikkhave, viññāṇena godhiko kulaputto parinibbuto”ti.

[¶38] Then Māra, carrying his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood-apple, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho māro pāpimā beluvapaṇḍuvīṇaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

[¶39] “Above, below, all round,
in the four quarters and in-between,
I’ve been searching without success:
where has that Godhika got to?”

> Pali: “Uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyaṁ,
disā anudisā svahaṁ;
Anvesaṁ nādhigacchāmi,
godhiko so kuhiṁ gato”ti.

[¶40] “He was an attentive and steadfast sage,
a meditator who loved absorption.
By day and by night he applied himself,
without concern for his life.

> Pali: “Yo dhīro dhitisampanno,
jhāyī jhānarato sadā;
Ahorattaṁ anuyuñjaṁ,
jīvitaṁ anikāmayaṁ.

[¶41] He defeated the army of death,
and won’t return for any future life.
Having plucked out craving, root and all
Godhika is quenched.”

> Pali: Jetvāna maccuno senaṁ,
anāgantvā punabbhavaṁ;
Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,
godhiko parinibbuto”ti.

[¶42] So stricken with sorrow
that his harp dropped from his armpit,
that spirit, downcast,
vanished right there.

> Pali: Tassa sokaparetassa,
vīṇā kacchā abhassatha;
Tato so dummano yakkho,
tatthevantaradhāyathāti.

[¶43] SN 4.24 · Seven Years of Pursuit

> Pali: SN 4.24 · Sattavassānubandhasutta

[¶44] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhe.

[¶45] Now at that time Māra the Wicked had been pursuing the Buddha for seven years hoping to find a vulnerability without success.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena māro pāpimā sattavassāni bhagavantaṁ anubandho hoti otārāpekkho otāraṁ alabhamāno.

[¶46] Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

[¶47] “Are you swamped by sorrow <j>that you meditate in the forest?
Have you lost a fortune, or do you long for one?
Or perhaps you’ve committed <j>some crime in the village?
Why don’t you get too close to people?
And why does no one get close to you?”

> Pali: “Sokāvatiṇṇo nu vanamhi jhāyasi,
Vittaṁ nu jīno uda patthayāno;
Āguṁ nu gāmasmimakāsi kiñci,
Kasmā janena na karosi sakkhiṁ;
Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci te”ti.

[¶48] “I’ve dug out the root of sorrow completely.
I practice absorption free of guilt or sorrow.
I’ve cut off all greed and muttered prayer for future lives.
Undefiled, I practice absorption, <j>O kinsman of the negligent!”

> Pali: “Sokassa mūlaṁ palikhāya sabbaṁ,
Anāgu jhāyāmi asocamāno;
Chetvāna sabbaṁ bhavalobhajappaṁ,
Anāsavo jhāyāmi pamattabandhū”ti.

[¶49] “The things they call ‘mine’,
and those who say ‘it’s mine’:
if your mind remains there,
you won’t escape me, ascetic!”

> Pali: “Yaṁ vadanti mama yidanti,
ye vadanti mamanti ca;
Ettha ce te mano atthi,
na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.

[¶50] “The things they speak of aren’t mine;
I’m not someone who speaks like that.
So know this, Wicked One:
you won’t even see the path I take.”

> Pali: “Yaṁ vadanti na taṁ mayhaṁ,
ye vadanti na te ahaṁ;
Evaṁ pāpima jānāhi,
na me maggampi dakkhasī”ti.

[¶51] “If you’ve discovered the path
that’s safe, and leads to freedom from death,
go and walk that path alone—
why teach it to anyone else?”

> Pali: “Sace maggaṁ anubuddhaṁ,
khemaṁ amatagāminaṁ;
Apehi gaccha tvameveko,
kimaññamanusāsasī”ti.

[¶52] “Those crossing to the far shore
ask what’s beyond the domain of Death.
When I’m asked, I explain to them
the truth without attachments.”

> Pali: “Amaccudheyyaṁ pucchanti,
ye janā pāragāmino;
Tesāhaṁ puṭṭho akkhāmi,
yaṁ saccaṁ taṁ nirūpadhin”ti.

[¶53] “Sir, suppose there was a lotus pond not far from a town or village, and a crab lived there. Then several boys or girls would leave the town or village and go to the pond, where they’d pull out the crab and put it on solid ground. Whenever that crab extended a claw, those boys or girls would snap, crack, and break it off with a stick or a stone. And when that crab’s claws had all been snapped, cracked, and broken off it wouldn’t be able to return down into that lotus pond.

> Pali: “Seyyathāpi, bhante, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre pokkharaṇī. Tatrassa kakkaṭako. Atha kho, bhante, sambahulā kumārakā vā kumārikāyo vā tamhā gāmā vā nigamā vā nikkhamitvā yena sā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkameyyuṁ; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ kakkaṭakaṁ udakā uddharitvā thale patiṭṭhapeyyuṁ. Yaṁ yadeva hi so, bhante, kakkaṭako aḷaṁ abhininnāmeyya taṁ tadeva te kumārakā vā kumārikāyo vā kaṭṭhena vā kathalāya vā sañchindeyyuṁ sambhañjeyyuṁ sampalibhañjeyyuṁ. Evañhi so, bhante, kakkaṭako sabbehi aḷehi sañchinnehi sambhaggehi sampalibhaggehi abhabbo taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ otarituṁ.

[¶54] In the same way, sir, the Buddha has snapped, cracked, and broken off all my twists, ducks, and dodges. Now I’m not able to approach the Buddha again in hopes of finding a vulnerability.”

> Pali: Evameva kho, bhante, yāni kānici visūkāyikāni visevitāni vipphanditāni, sabbāni tāni bhagavatā sañchinnāni sambhaggāni sampalibhaggāni. Abhabbo dānāhaṁ, bhante, puna bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamituṁ yadidaṁ otārāpekkho”ti.

[¶55] Then Māra the Wicked recited these verses of disappointment in the Buddha’s presence:

> Pali: Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato santike imā nibbejanīyā gāthāyo abhāsi:

[¶56] “A crow once circled a stone
that looked like a lump of fat.
‘Perhaps I’ll find something tender,’ it thought,
‘perhaps there’s something tasty.’

> Pali: “Medavaṇṇañca pāsāṇaṁ,
vāyaso anupariyagā;
Apettha muduṁ vindema,
api assādanā siyā.

[¶57] But finding nothing tasty,
the crow left that place.
Like the crow that pecked the stone,
I leave Gotama disappointed.”

> Pali: Aladdhā tattha assādaṁ,
vāyasetto apakkame;
Kākova selamāsajja,
nibbijjāpema gotamā”ti.

[¶58] SN 4.25 · Māra’s Daughters

> Pali: SN 4.25 · Māradhītusutta

[¶59] And then Māra the Wicked, after reciting these verses of disillusionment in the Buddha’s presence, left that place. He sat cross-legged on the ground not far from the Buddha, silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, scratching the ground with a stick.

> Pali: Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato santike imā nibbejanīyā gāthāyo abhāsitvā tamhā ṭhānā apakkamma bhagavato avidūre pathaviyaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno kaṭṭhena bhūmiṁ vilikhanto.

[¶60] Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to Māra the Wicked, and addressed him in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

[¶61] “Why so downhearted, dad?
What man are you upset about?
We’ll catch him with the snare of lust,
like an elephant in the wild.
We’ll tie him up and bring him back—
he’ll fall under your sway!”

> Pali: “Kenāsi dummano tāta,
purisaṁ kaṁ nu socasi;
Mayaṁ taṁ rāgapāsena,
āraññamiva kuñjaraṁ;
Bandhitvā ānayissāma,
vasago te bhavissatī”ti.

[¶62] “In this world he is the perfected one, the Holy One.
He’s not easily seduced by lust.
He has slipped free of Māra’s dominion;
that’s why I’m so upset.”

> Pali: “Arahaṁ sugato loke,
na rāgena suvānayo;
Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,
tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan”ti.

[¶63] Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to the Buddha, and said to him, “We serve at your feet, ascetic.” But the Buddha ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti. Atha kho bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

[¶64] Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side to think up a plan. “Men have a diverse spectrum of tastes. Why don’t we each manifest in the form of a hundred young maidens?”

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ: “uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā. Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.

[¶65] So that’s what they did. Then they went up to the Buddha and said to him, “We serve at your feet, ascetic.” But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti. Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

[¶66] Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side to think up a plan. “Men have a diverse spectrum of tastes. Why don’t we each manifest in the form of a hundred women who have never given birth?” So that’s what they did. Then they went up to the Buddha and said to him, “We serve at your feet, ascetic.” But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ: “uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā. Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti. Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti. Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

[¶67] Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust … each manifested in the form of a hundred women who have given birth once … women who have given birth twice … middle-aged women … old women … But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti. Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe… yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā …pe… anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe… anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

[¶68] Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side and said, “What our father said is true:

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma etadavocuṁ: “saccaṁ kira no pitā avoca:

[¶69] ‘In this world he is the perfected one, the Holy One.
He’s not easily seduced by lust.
He has slipped free of Māra’s dominion;
that’s why I’m so upset.’

> Pali: ‘Arahaṁ sugato loke,
na rāgena suvānayo;
Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,
tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan’ti.

[¶70] For if we had come on to any ascetic or brahmin like this who was not free of lust, his heart would explode, or he’d spew hot blood from his mouth, or he’d go mad or lose his mind. He’d dry up, wither away, and shrivel up like a green reed that was mowed down.”

> Pali: Yañhi mayaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā avītarāgaṁ iminā upakkamena upakkameyyāma hadayaṁ vāssa phaleyya, uṇhaṁ lohitaṁ vā mukhato uggaccheyya, ummādaṁ vā pāpuṇeyya cittakkhepaṁ vā. Seyyathā vā pana naḷo harito luto ussussati visussati milāyati; evameva ussusseyya visusseyya milāyeyyā”ti.

[¶71] Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to the Buddha, and stood to one side. Māra’s daughter Craving addressed the Buddha in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho taṇhā māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

[¶72] “Are you swamped by sorrow <j>that you meditate in the forest?
Have you lost a fortune, or do you long for one?
Or perhaps you’ve committed <j>some crime in the village?
Why don’t you get too close to people?
And why does no one get close to you?”

> Pali: “Sokāvatiṇṇo nu vanamhi jhāyasi,
Vittaṁ nu jīno uda patthayāno;
Āguṁ nu gāmasmimakāsi kiñci,
Kasmā janena na karosi sakkhiṁ;
Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci te”ti.

[¶73] “I’ve reached the goal, peace of heart.
Having conquered the army <j>of the likable and pleasant,
alone, practicing absorption, I awakened to bliss.
That’s why I don’t get too close to people,
and no one gets too close to me.”

> Pali: “Atthassa pattiṁ hadayassa santiṁ,
Jetvāna senaṁ piyasātarūpaṁ;
Ekohaṁ jhāyaṁ sukhamanubodhiṁ,
Tasmā janena na karomi sakkhiṁ;
Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci me”ti.

[¶74] Then Māra’s daughter Malignancy addressed the Buddha in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho arati māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

[¶75] “How does a mendicant who has crossed five floods
usually meditate here while crossing the sixth?
How do they usually practice absorption <j>so that sensual perceptions
are blocked out and don’t get hold of them?”

> Pali: “Kathaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,
Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;
Kathaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,
Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.

[¶76] “With tranquil body and mind well freed,
without making choices, mindful, homeless;
understanding the teaching, <j>they practice absorption without placing the mind;
they’re not shaking or drifting or rigid.

> Pali: “Passaddhakāyo suvimuttacitto,
Asaṅkharāno satimā anoko;
Aññāya dhammaṁ avitakkajhāyī,
Na kuppati na sarati na thino.

[¶77] That’s how a mendicant who has crossed five floods
usually meditates here while crossing the sixth.
That’s how they usually practice absorption <j>so that sensual perceptions
are blocked out and don’t get hold of them.”

> Pali: Evaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,
Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;
Evaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,
Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.

[¶78] Then Māra’s daughter Lust addressed the Buddha in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho ragā māradhītā bhagavato santike gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

[¶79] “He lives with his community after cutting off craving,
and many of the faithful will cross over for sure.
Alas, this homeless one will snatch many men away,
and lead them past the King of Death!”

> Pali: “Acchejja taṇhaṁ gaṇasaṅghacārī,
Addhā carissanti bahū ca saddhā;
Bahuṁ vatāyaṁ janataṁ anoko,
Acchejja nessati maccurājassa pāran”ti.

[¶80] “The great heroes they lead
by means of the true teaching.
When the Realized Ones are leading by the teaching,
how could anyone who knows be jealous?”

> Pali: “Nayanti ve mahāvīrā,
saddhammena tathāgatā;
Dhammena nayamānānaṁ,
kā usūyā vijānatan”ti.

[¶81] Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to Māra the Wicked. Māra the Wicked saw them coming off in the distance, and addressed them in verse:

> Pali: Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu. Addasā kho māro pāpimā taṇhañca aratiñca ragañca māradhītaro dūratova āgacchantiyo. Disvāna gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

[¶82] “Fools! You drill into a mountain
with lotus stalks!
You dig up a hill with your nails!
You chew iron with your teeth!

> Pali: “Bālā kumudanāḷehi,
pabbataṁ abhimatthatha;
Giriṁ nakhena khanatha,
ayo dantehi khādatha.

[¶83] You seek a footing in the abyss, as it were,
while lifting a rock with your head!
After attacking a stump with your breast, as it were,
you leave Gotama disappointed.”

> Pali: Selaṁva sirasūhacca,
pātāle gādhamesatha;
Khāṇuṁva urasāsajja,
nibbijjāpetha gotamā”ti.

[¶84] They came dazzling—
Craving, Malignancy, and Lust.
But the Teacher brushed them off right there,
like the gale, a fallen tuft.

> Pali: “Daddallamānā āgañchuṁ,
taṇhā ca aratī ragā;
Tā tattha panudī satthā,
tūlaṁ bhaṭṭhaṁva māluto”ti.

[¶85] > Pali: Tatiyo vaggo.

[¶86] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ

[¶87] > Pali: Sambahulā samiddhi ca,
Godhikaṁ sattavassāni;
Dhītaraṁ desitaṁ buddha,
Seṭṭhena imaṁ mārapañcakanti.

[¶88] The Linked Discourses with Māra are complete.

> Pali: Mārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.