3. Tatiyavagga

Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.23

Linked Discourses 4.23

3. Tatiyavagga

3. Māra

Godhikasutta

With Godhika

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā godhiko isigilipasse viharati kāḷasilāyaṁ.

Now at that time Venerable Godhika was staying on the slopes of Isigili at the Black Rock.

Atha kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

Then Venerable Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Atha kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.

But then he fell away from that temporary freedom of heart.

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

For a second …

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

third …

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi.

Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto …pe… vimuttiṁ phusi.

fourth …

Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi.

Pañcamampi kho āyasmā godhiko …pe… cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

fifth …

Pañcamampi kho āyasmā …pe… vimuttiyā parihāyi.

Chaṭṭhampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

sixth time Godhika experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Chaṭṭhampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.

But for a sixth time he fell away from it.

Sattamampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

For a seventh time Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Atha kho āyasmato godhikassa etadahosi:

Then he thought,

“yāva chaṭṭhaṁ khvāhaṁ sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihīno.

“I’ve fallen away from this temporary freedom of heart no less than six times.

Yannūnāhaṁ satthaṁ āhareyyan”ti.

Why don’t I commit suicide?”

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

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

“Mahāvīra mahāpañña,

“O great hero, O greatly wise!

iddhiyā yasasā jala;

Shining with power and glory.

Sabbaverabhayātīta,

You’ve gone beyond all threats and perils,

pāde vandāmi cakkhuma.

I bow to your feet, O Clear-eyed One!

Sāvako te mahāvīra,

Great hero, master of death,

maraṇaṁ maraṇābhibhū;

your disciple longs for death,

Ākaṅkhati cetayati,

he’s planning for it.

taṁ nisedha jutindhara.

Stop him, O light-bringer!

Kathañhi bhagavā tuyhaṁ,

For Blessed One, renowned among men,

Sāvako sāsane rato;

your disciple who loves your teaching,

Appattamānaso sekkho,

a trainee who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire—

Kālaṁ kayirā janesutā”ti.

how can they kill themselves?”

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmatā godhikena satthaṁ āharitaṁ hoti.

Now at that time Venerable Godhika had already committed suicide.

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:

“Evañhi dhīrā kubbanti,

“This is how the attentive act,

nāvakaṅkhanti jīvitaṁ;

for they don’t long for life.

Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,

Having plucked out craving, root and all,

godhiko parinibbuto”ti.

Godhika is quenched.”

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,

“āyāma, bhikkhave, yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamissāma yattha godhikena kulaputtena satthaṁ āharitan”ti.

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

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

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkami.

Then the Buddha together with several mendicants went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili.

Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ godhikaṁ dūratova mañcake vivattakkhandhaṁ semānaṁ.

The Buddha saw Godhika off in the distance on his cot, lying with aggregates cast off.

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

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

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,

“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?

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

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Eso kho, bhikkhave, māro pāpimā godhikassa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ samanvesati:

“That’s Māra the Wicked searching for Godhika’s consciousness, wondering:

‘kattha godhikassa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitan’ti?

‘Where is Godhika’s consciousness established?’

Appatiṭṭhitena ca, bhikkhave, viññāṇena godhiko kulaputto parinibbuto”ti.

But since his consciousness is not established, Godhika is quenched.”

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

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

“Uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyaṁ,

“Above, below, all round,

disā anudisā svahaṁ;

in the four quarters and in-between,

Anvesaṁ nādhigacchāmi,

I’ve been searching without success:

godhiko so kuhiṁ gato”ti.

where has that Godhika got to?”

“Yo dhīro dhitisampanno,

“He was an attentive and steadfast sage,

jhāyī jhānarato sadā;

a meditator who loved absorption.

Ahorattaṁ anuyuñjaṁ,

By day and by night he applied himself,

jīvitaṁ anikāmayaṁ.

without concern for his life.

Jetvāna maccuno senaṁ,

He defeated the army of death,

anāgantvā punabbhavaṁ;

and won’t return for any future life.

Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,

Having plucked out craving, root and all

godhiko parinibbuto”ti.

Godhika is quenched.”

Tassa sokaparetassa,

So stricken with sorrow

vīṇā kacchā abhassatha;

that his harp dropped from his armpit,

Tato so dummano yakkho,

that spirit, downcast,

tatthevantaradhāyathāti.

vanished right there.