English
4. The Connected Discourses with Māra 1. The First Chapter 1. The Discourse on Austere Practices 137. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Uruvelā, on the bank of the Nerañjarā River, at the foot of the Ajapāla Banyan Tree, having just attained full enlightenment. Then, while the Blessed One was alone in seclusion, a thought arose in his mind thus: "I am indeed freed from that painful ascetic practice. I am indeed well freed from that painful ascetic practice, which was not conducive to the goal. I am indeed well freed, having attained enlightenment." Then Māra, the Evil One, knowing with his mind the thought in the Blessed One's mind, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse: "Having turned away from ascetic practices, By which mortals are not purified; Impure, you think yourself pure, You have strayed from the path to purity." Then the Blessed One, knowing "This is Māra, the Evil One," addressed Māra, the Evil One, with verses: "Knowing that any other ascetic practice, Is not conducive to the goal, All of it leads to naught, Like a reed in a bowstring. "Cultivating virtue, concentration, and wisdom, The path to enlightenment; I have attained supreme purity, You are defeated, O Destroyer!" Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, "The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me," sad and dejected, vanished right there. 2. The Discourse on the Appearance of the King of Elephants 138. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Uruvelā, on the bank of the Nerañjarā River, at the foot of the Ajapāla Banyan Tree, having just attained full enlightenment. Now at that time, the Blessed One was sitting in the open air in the pitch-dark night, and a deva also touches one by one. Then Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and hair-raising dread in the Blessed One, created the form of a great king elephant and approached the Blessed One. Just as a great arittaka gem, so was its head. Just as pure silver, so were its tusks. Just as a great ploughshare, so was its trunk. Then the Blessed One, knowing, "This is Māra, the Evil One," addressed Māra, the Evil One, with a verse: "Wandering for a long time, making forms, fair and foul; Enough for you with that, Evil One, you are struck down, O Ender." Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, "The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me," sorrowful and dejected, vanished right there. 3. The Discourse on Fair Forms 139. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Uruvelā, on the bank of the Nerañjarā River, at the foot of the Ajapāla Banyan tree, having just attained full enlightenment. At that time, the Blessed One was sitting in the open air in the deep darkness of night, and dew was falling drop by drop. Then Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and hair-raising dread in the Blessed One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he displayed various forms, fair and foul, not far from the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, knowing, "This is Māra, the Evil One," addressed Māra, the Evil One, with verses: "Wandering for a long time, making forms, fair and foul; Enough for you with that, Evil One, you are struck down, O Ender. "Those who are well-restrained in body, speech, and mind; They are not subject to Māra's sway, they are not bound by Māra." Then Māra... vanished right there. 4. The First Discourse on Māra's Snare 140. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Bārāṇasī, in Isipatana, at the Deer Park. There the Blessed One addressed the monks He addressed them – "Monks." "Venerable Sir," those monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this – "Indeed, monks, through wise attention, through wise right effort, unsurpassed liberation has been attained by me, unsurpassed liberation has been realized. You too, monks, through wise attention, through wise right effort, should attain unsurpassed liberation, should realize unsurpassed liberation." Then Māra, the Evil One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse – "You are bound by Māra's snare, both divine and human; You are bound by Māra's bonds, you will not escape me, ascetic." "I am freed from Māra's snare, both divine and human; I am freed from Māra's bonds, you are defeated, Destroyer." Then Māra, the Evil One... (and so on)... vanished right there. 5. The Second Discourse on Māra's Snare 141. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Bārāṇasī, at Isipatana, in the Deer Park. There, the Blessed One addressed the monks – "Monks." "Venerable Sir," those monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this – "I am freed, monks, from all snares, both divine and human. You too, monks, are freed from all snares, both divine and human. Wander forth, monks, for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, for the benefit, for the happiness of gods and humans. Do not go two by one way. Teach the Dhamma, monks, which is lovely in the beginning, lovely in the middle, lovely in the end, with meaning and with letter, declare the completely perfect, utterly pure holy life. There are beings with little dust in their eyes, they are perishing through not hearing the Dhamma. There will be those who understand the Dhamma. I too, monks, will approach the Senānigama of Uruvelā for the teaching of the Dhamma." Then Māra, the Evil One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse— He spoke: "You are bound by all snares, both divine and human; You are bound by a great bond, you will not escape me, ascetic!" "I am freed from all snares, both divine and human; I am freed from the great bond, you are defeated, O Ender!" Then Māra, the Evil One... vanished right there. 6. The Snake Sutta 142. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Place. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting in the open air in the deep darkness of night, and the sky was drizzling. Then Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and horripilation in the Blessed One, created the appearance of a great royal snake and approached the Blessed One. Its body was like a great one-tree boat. Its hood was like a great brewer's mat. Its eyes were like great bronze bowls. Its tongue darted from its mouth like a flash of lightning when the sky thunders. The sound of its breathing in and out was like the sound of a blacksmith's bellows being blown. Then the Blessed One, knowing, "This is Māra, the Evil One," addressed Māra, the Evil One, with verses: "He who frequents empty dwellings, That ascetic, self-controlled, is superior; He should wander there, having let go, For that is fitting for such a one. "Many wanderers, many fearsome ones, And many biting reptiles; Not even a hair should tremble there, For the great sage gone to an empty dwelling. "Should the sky burst, should the earth quake, Should all beings be terrified; Even if they should fix a dart in his chest, The Buddhas make no refuge in attachments." Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, "The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me," sad and dejected, vanished right there. 7. The Supati Sutta 143. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place. Then the Blessed One, having walked for most of the night in the open air, at dawn washed his feet, entered the monastery, and lay down on his right side in the lion’s posture, placing one foot on the other, mindful and clearly comprehending, having fixed his mind on the thought of rising. Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse: “Why do you sleep? Why do you sleep? Why do you sleep like one unfortunate? Do you sleep in an empty house? Why do you sleep when the sun has risen?” “For whom the entangling, clinging Craving exists nowhere to lead, The Buddha, with all attachments destroyed, Sleeps. What is that to you, Māra?” Then Māra the Evil One… vanished right there. 8. Nandatisutta 144. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One: “One with sons rejoices in sons, one with cattle rejoices in cattle; For a man, rejoicing comes from attachments, he does not rejoice who is without attachments.” “One with sons grieves for sons, one with cattle grieves for cattle; For a man, grieving comes from attachments, he does not grieve who is without attachments.” Then Māra the Evil One, thinking, “The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me,” sad and dejected, vanished right there. 9. Paṭhamaāyusutta 145. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying, “Bhikkhus!” “Venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: “Short, bhikkhus, is the life of humans. The other world is to be gone to, good is to be done, the holy life is to be lived. There is no deathlessness for one who is born. Whoever, monks, lives long, lives a hundred years, or a little more. Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse – "Long is the life of humans, a good person should not despise it; One should live as if immortal, there is no coming of death." "Short is the life of humans, a good person should despise it; One should live as if one's head is aflame, there is no non-coming of death." Then Māra... (rest omitted)... vanished right there. 10.