Sutta Pitaka
Samyutta Nikāya
Division I –– Sagātha
Book 4 –– Māra Saṃyutta
Chapter 3 –– Tatiyo vaggo (Upari-pañca) (Māra Vagga)
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
Sambahulā –– (21) Many Bhikkhus
1. Thus I heard. At one time the Blessed One was living on a rock, in the country of the Sakyas.
2. At the time, many bhikkhus were living diligently in the vicinity of the Blessed One, with aroused effort for dispelling.
3. Then Māra the evil one creating the form of an aged Brahmin bent like the beam of a roof, with a large topknot, dressed in a cloth made of strips of antelope hide, breathing heavily and with a stick in his hand approached those bhikkhus and said: “Venerable ones are young, gone forth in the prime of youth, have not enjoyed sensual pleasures. Good ones, partake sensual pleasures, do not abandon what is here and now and search in time.”
4. “Brahmin, we have not given up the here and now and do not run with time. We have given up the short lived, and search the here and now. Brahmin, the Blessed One has said that sensual pleasures are short lived with much unpleasantness and worries. Sensual pleasures have many dangers. This Teaching is here and now time does not matter to it, is inviting to come and see and leads inwards. It’s to be realized by the wise.
5. When this was said, Māra the evil one shook his head, pulled out his tongue, curved his forehead, to form three lines and went away leaning on his stick.
6. Then those bhikkhus approached the Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said thus:
7. “Venerable sir, we were living diligently in the vicinity of the Blessed One, with aroused effort for dispelling.
Then an aged Brahmin bent like the beam of a roof, with a large topknot, dressed in a cloth made of strips of antelope hide, breathing heavily and with a stick in his hand approached us and said Venerable ones are young, gone forth in the prime of youth, have not enjoyed sensual pleasures. Good ones, partake, sensual pleasures, do not abandon what is here and now and search in time
8. Then venerable sir, we said thus to that Brahmin, we have not given up the here and now and do not run with time. We have given up the short lived, and search the here and now. Brahmin, the Blessed One has said that sensual pleasures are short lived with much unpleasantness and worries. Sensual pleasures have many dangers. This Teaching is here and now time does not matter to it, is inviting to come and see and leads inwards. It’s to be realized by the wise.
9. When we said the he shook his head, pulled out his tongue, curved his forehead, to form three lines and went away leaning on his stick.
10. Bhikkhus, that is not a Brahmin, he is Māra the evil one, he had come to distract you.
11. Then the Blessed One knowing its meaning said this stānza:
(22) Samiddhi –– Venerable Samiddhi
1. At one time the Blessed One was living on a rock, in the country of the Sakyas.
2. At the time, venerable Samiddhi was living diligently in the vicinity of the Blessed One, with aroused effort for dispelling.
3. When venerable Samiddhi was in his seclusion, this thought and thought process arose to him. It is great gain, my Teacher is perfect and rightfully enlightened. It is great gain to me that I have gone forth in a dispensation so well declared. It is great gain to me that my co-associates are virtuous and good friends.
4. Māra the evil one knowing venerable Samiddhi’s thought process, approached venerable Samiddhi and made a fearful sound close to him, so to think that the earth was falling to pieces.
5. Then venerable Samiddhi approached the Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said:
6. “Venerable sir, I was living diligently in the vicinity of the Blessed One, with aroused effort for dispelling and when I was in seclusion, this thought and thought process arose to me. It is great gain my Teacher is perfect and rightfully enlightened. It is great gain to me that I have gone forth in a dispensation so well declared. It is great gain to me, that my co-associates are virtuous and good friends. Then venerable sir, I heard a fearful sound, close to me, as though, the earth was falling to pieces.”
7. “Samiddhi, it is not the earth falling to pieces, it’s Māra the evil one come to distract you. Samiddhi, go, there itself and live diligent to dispel.”
8. Venerable Samiddhi agreeing, got up from his seat, worshipped and circumambulated the Blessed One and went.
9. A second time, venerable Samiddhi was living diligently there itself with aroused effort for dispelling, and the second time, when venerable Samiddhi was in his seclusion, this thought and thought process arose to him. It is great gain my Teacher is perfect and rightfully enlightened. It is great gain that I have gone forth in a dispensation so well declared. It is great gain to me that my co-associates are virtuous and good friends. Māra the evil one knowing venerable Samkiddhi’s thought process, approached venerable Samiddhi, for the second time and made a fearful sound close to him, so to think that the earth was falling to pieces.
10. Venerable Samiddhi knowing, it’s Māra the evil one said this stanza to him:
11. Then Māra the evil one knowing, venerable Samiddhi knows me disappeared from there, displeased.
(23) Godhika –– Venerable Godhika
1. I heard thus. At one time, the Blessed One was living in the squirrels’ sanctuary, in the bamboo grove in Rajagaha.
2. At that time venerable Godhika was living on the Black Rock on the side of Isigili.
3. Venerable Godhika while abiding diligent to dispel touched the release of mind in concentration. Then venerable Godhika fell away from that release of mind in concentration.
4. For the second time venerable Godhika while abiding diligent to dispel touched the release of mind in concentration. For the second time venerable Godhika fell away from that release of mind in concentration.
5. For the third time venerable Godhika while abiding diligent to dispel touched the release of mind in concentration. For the third time venerable Godhika fell away from that release of mind in concentration.
6. For the fourth time venerable Godhika while abiding diligent to dispel touched the release of mind in concentration. For the fourth time venerable Godhika fell away from that release of mind in concentration.
7. For the fifth time, venerable Godhika while abiding diligent to dispel touched the release of mind in concentration. For the fifth time venerable Godhika fell away from that release of mind in concentration.
8. For the sixth time venerable Godhika while abiding diligent to dispel touched the release of mind in concentration. For the sixth time venerable Godhika fell away from that release of mind in concentration.
9. For the seventh time venerable Godhika while abiding diligent to dispel touched the release of mind in concentration. For the seventh time.
10. Then it occurred to venerable Godhika, up to the sixth time I fell away from that release of mind in concentration. What if I take my life?
11. Then Māra the evil one knowing the thought process in the mind of venerable Godhika approached the Blessed One and said this stanza to the Blessed One:
13. The Blessed One, knowing it was Māra the evil, one said this stanza to him:
14. Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, let us approach the Black Rock on the side of Isigili, there Godhika, the son of the clansman has taken his life.”
15. Those bhikkhus agreed.
16. The Blessed One, with many bhikkhus, approached the Black Rock on the side of Isigili. The Blessed One saw even in the distance, the body of venerable Godhika lying lifeless on the bed.
17. At that time a dark mist moved, to the east, then to the west, then to the north and the south, above and below and to the inter directions.
18. Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, do you see that dark mist, moving to the east, then to the west, then to the north and the south, above and below and to the inter directions?” “Yes. Venerable sir.”
19. “Bhikkhus, that’s Māra the evil one searching after the consciousness of the clansman Godhika, as to where, it is settled.”
“The clanman’s son Godhika’s consciousness is not settled anywhere, he has extinguished.”
20. Then Māra the evil one approached the Blessed One with his yellow flute and said this stanza:
(24) Sattavassāni –– For Seven Years
1. Thus I heard. At that time, the Blessed One was living in Uruwela on the bank of river Nerañjara at the root of the banyan tree.
2. For seven years, Māra the Evil One had been pursuing the Blessed One, desiring a chance to snatch a flaw in his mindfulness and had been unsuccessful.
3. Then Māra the evil one approached the Blessed One and said a stanza.
9. “Venerable sir, not far away from the village or hamlet there is a pond, and in it there is a crab. Many boys and girls from the village or hamlet come to the pond and taking the crab from the pond put it on dry land. Whenever the crab puts forth a claw, those boys and girls break them and destroy them with stones or sticks. The crab with all its claws destroyed cannot go back to the pond, in which it lived. In the same manner venerable sir, the Blessed One has broken and destroyed whatever distortions, tricks and writhings I valued, now I have no excuse to approach the Blessed One.
10. Then Māra the evil one said these stanzas of his rejection, in the presence of the Blessed one:
11. Māra the evil one, saying these stanzas in the presence of the Blessed One left the Blessed One and not far away from the Blessed One sat on the ground, legs crossed. He was silent, confused, crest fallen and face turned downwards, unable to reply. He was digging the ground with stick.
(25) Dhītaro –– Daughters of Māra
1. At Uruvela.
Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion, the three daughters of Māra, approached him and said this stanza:
3. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion, the three daughters of Māra, approached the Blessed One and said:
“Recluse, we will attend to you, at your feet.” The Blessed One did not care for those words and sat as though released with the destruction of endearments.
4. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra went to a side and discussed, the intentions of man rise and fall, what if each one of us, create the forms of one hundred young women.
5. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra, each one of them, created the forms of one hundred young women, approached the Blessed One and said:
“Recluse, we will attend to you, at your feet.” The Blessed One did not care for those words, he sat as though released with the destruction of endearments.
6. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra went to a side and discussed, the intentions of man rise and fall, what if each one of us, create the forms of one hundred young women who have not given birth.
7. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra, each one of them, created the forms of one hundred young women, who had not given birth and approached the Blessed One and said:
“Recluse, we will attend to you, at your feet.” The Blessed One did not care for those words he sat as though released with the destruction of endearments.
8. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra went to a side and discussed, the intentions of man rise and fall, what if each one of us, create the forms of one hundred young women who have given birth.
Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra, each one of them, created the forms of one hundred young women, who had given birth and approached the Blessed One and said:
“Recluse, we will attend to you, at your feet.” The Blessed One did not care for those words he sat as though released with the destruction of endearments.
9. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra went to a side and discussed, the intentions of man rise and fall, what if each one of us, create the forms of one hundred young women who have given birth twice
Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra, each one of them, created the forms of one hundred young women, who had not given birth twice and approached the Blessed One and said:
“Recluse, we will attend to you, at your feet.” The Blessed One did not care for those words he sat as though released with the destruction of endearments.
10. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra went to a side and discussed, the intentions of man rise and fall, what if each one of us, create the forms of one hundred middle aged women.
Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra, each one of them, created the forms of one hundred middle aged women, and approached the Blessed One and said:
“Recluse, we will attend to you, at your feet.” The Blessed One did not care for those words he sat as though released with the destruction of endearments.
11. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra went to a side and discussed, the intentions of man rise and fall, what if each one of us, create the forms of one hundred aged women.
Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra, each one of them, created the forms of one hundred aged women and approached the Blessed One and said:
“Recluse, we will attend to you, at your feet.” The Blessed One did not care for those words he sat as though released with the destruction of endearments.
12. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra went to a side and discussed, what our father say is true.
13. If we had attacked a recluse or Brahmin free of greed in this manner, his heart would have split and he would have vomited warm blood, or else he would have gone off his mind, or his mind would have been deranged. It would be like a green reed that had withered, dried and died. In the same manner the recluse or Brahmin would wither, dry and become pale.
14. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion the three daughters of Māra approached the Blessed One and stood on a side.
15. Then Craving the daughter of Māra said these stanzas to the Blessed One:
17. Then Disinterest the daughter of Māra said a stanza to the Blessed One:
19. Then Passion the daughter of Māra said a stanza of appeasement in the presence of the Blessed One:
21. Then Craving, Disinterest and Passion, the three daughters of Māra approached Māra the evil one.
22. Māra, the evil one saw Craving, Disinterest and Passion, the daughters of the evil one, coming in the distance and said this stanza:
23. Craving, Disinterest and Passion came blazing, to push away the Teacher. He pushed them away like the wind pushing away the measure.