English
” But the Blessed One paid no attention to that either, as he was liberated in the unsurpassed destruction of all attachments. Then Craving, Discontent, and Lust, Mara’s daughters, withdrew to one side and thought thus: “Diverse indeed are the desires of men. What if we were to create one hundred, one hundred forms of women who have not yet given birth?” Then Craving, Discontent, and Lust, Mara’s daughters, created one hundred, one hundred forms of women who have not yet given birth and approached the Blessed One; having approached, they said to the Blessed One: “We will attend to your feet, ascetic.” But the Blessed One paid no attention to that either, as he was liberated in the unsurpassed destruction of all attachments. Then Craving… and what if we were to create one hundred, one hundred forms of women who have given birth once? Then Craving… having created one hundred, one hundred forms of women who have given birth once, they approached the Blessed One; having approached, they said to the Blessed One: “We will attend to your feet, ascetic.” But the Blessed One paid no attention to that either, as he was liberated in the unsurpassed destruction of all attachments. Then Craving… “Surely we should create a hundred, a hundred, a hundred forms of brahmin women.” Then Craving and... (etc.)... having created a hundred forms of brahmin women, went to the Blessed One... (etc.)... as he was liberated in the unsurpassed destruction of all attachments. Then Craving and... (etc.)... “Surely we should create a hundred forms of middle-aged women.” Then Craving and... (etc.)... having created a hundred forms of middle-aged women... (etc.)... he was liberated in the unsurpassed destruction of all attachments. Then Craving and... (etc.)... “Surely we should create a hundred forms of elderly women.” Then Craving and... (etc.)... having created a hundred forms of elderly women, went to the Blessed One... (etc.)... he was liberated in the unsurpassed destruction of all attachments. Then Craving, Discontent, and Passion, the daughters of Māra, withdrew to one side and said this: “Indeed, our father spoke truly – “The Arahant, the Fortunate One in the world, Is not easily led by passion; He has overcome Māra's domain, Therefore I grieve intensely.” “If we were to approach any ascetic or brahmin who is not free from passion with this method, his heart would surely burst, or hot blood would gush from his mouth, or he would fall into madness, or his mind would become deranged. Just as a fresh, cut reed withers, dries up, and fades; Even so would he wither, dry up, and fade.” Then Craving, Discontent, and Passion, the daughters of Māra, approached the Blessed One; having approached, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, Craving, Māra's daughter, addressed the Blessed One with a verse – “Are you plunged in sorrow, meditating in the forest, Or have you lost wealth, or are you desiring it? Have you committed some offense in the village? Why do you not make friends with people? No one becomes your friend.” “Having attained the goal, the peace of heart, Having conquered the army of delightful forms, Meditating alone, I have realized happiness, Therefore I do not make friends with people; No one becomes my friend.” Then Discontent, Māra's daughter... addressed the Blessed One with a verse – “How does a bhikkhu dwell often here, Having crossed the five floods, and the sixth here? How, meditating often, do sense-desire thoughts, Become external, not having obtained him?” “With body calmed, with mind well-freed, Unconditioned, mindful, homeless; Having known the Dhamma, meditating without thought, He is not agitated, does not fret, is not sluggish. “Thus dwelling often here, a bhikkhu, Having crossed the five floods, and the sixth here; Thus meditating often, sense-desire thoughts, Become external, not having obtained him.” Then Raga, Māra's daughter, addressed the Blessed One with a verse – “Having cut off craving, the wanderer in groups, Surely many faithful ones will fare; This homeless one, much people, Having cut off, will lead to the far shore of the king of death.” “Indeed, great heroes lead, Tathāgatas by the true Dhamma; For those who lead by the Dhamma, what envy is there for those who know?” Then Taṇhā, Arati, and Ragā, Māra's daughters, approached Māra the Evil One. Māra the Evil One saw Taṇhā, Arati, and Ragā, Māra's daughters, coming from afar. Having seen them, he addressed them with verses – “Fools, with lotus stalks, You churn a mountain; You dig a mountain with your nails, You chew iron with your teeth. “Like a rock, having lifted it with your head, You seek a foothold in the abyss; Like a tree stump, having struck it with your chest, You make Gotama weary.” “Shining brightly they came, Taṇhā, Arati, and Ragā; The Teacher drove them away there, Like cotton fluff by the wind.” The Third Chapter. Its summary – Many, and Samiddhi, Godhika, seven years; The Daughters, the Buddha's teaching, this Māra-pentad. The Connected Discourses with Māra are concluded.