1. Paṭhamavagga — Tripiṭaka Reader

0.1

Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.2

Linked Discourses 4.2

0.2

1. Paṭhamavagga

1. Lifespan

0.3

Hatthirājavaṇṇasutta

In the Form of an Elephant King

1.1

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

1.2

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.

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.

1.3

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.

Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.

1.4

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo mahantaṁ hatthirājavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, manifested in the form of a huge elephant king and approached him.

1.5

Seyyathāpi nāma mahāariṭṭhako maṇi;

Its head was like a huge block of soapstone.

1.6

evamassa sīsaṁ hoti.

1.7

Seyyathāpi nāma suddhaṁ rūpiyaṁ;

Its tusks were like pure silver.

1.8

evamassa dantā honti.

1.9

Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī naṅgalīsā;

Its trunk was like a long plough pole.

1.10

evamassa soṇḍo hoti.

1.11

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

Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse:

2.1

“Saṁsaraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ,

“Transmigrating for such a long time,

2.2

Vaṇṇaṁ katvā subhāsubhaṁ;

you’ve made forms beautiful and ugly.

2.3

Alaṁ te tena pāpima,

Enough of this, Wicked One!

2.4

Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

You’re beaten, terminator!”

3.1

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.