3. Tatiyavagga

Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.25

Linked Discourses 4.25

3. Tatiyavagga

3. Māra

Māradhītusutta

Māra’s Daughters

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato santike imā nibbejanīyā gāthāyo abhāsitvā tamhā ṭhānā apakkamma bhagavato avidūre pathaviyaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno kaṭṭhena bhūmiṁ vilikhanto.

And then Māra the Wicked, after reciting these verses of disillusionment in the Buddha’s presence, left that place. He sat cross-legged on the ground not far from the Buddha, silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, scratching the ground with a stick.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to Māra the Wicked, and addressed him in verse:

“Kenāsi dummano tāta,

“Why so downhearted, dad?

purisaṁ kaṁ nu socasi;

What man are you upset about?

Mayaṁ taṁ rāgapāsena,

We’ll catch him with the snare of lust,

āraññamiva kuñjaraṁ;

like an elephant in the wild.

Bandhitvā ānayissāma,

We’ll tie him up and bring him back—

vasago te bhavissatī”ti.

he’ll fall under your sway!”

“Arahaṁ sugato loke,

“In this world he is the perfected one, the Holy One.

na rāgena suvānayo;

He’s not easily seduced by lust.

Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,

He has slipped free of Māra’s dominion;

tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan”ti.

that’s why I’m so upset.”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to the Buddha, and said to him,

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”

Atha kho bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

But the Buddha ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ:

Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side to think up a plan.

“uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā.

“Men have a diverse spectrum of tastes.

Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.

Why don’t we each manifest in the form of a hundred young maidens?”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

So that’s what they did. Then they went up to the Buddha and said to him,

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”

Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ:

Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side to think up a plan.

“uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā.

“Men have a diverse spectrum of tastes.

Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.

Why don’t we each manifest in the form of a hundred women who have never given birth?”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

So that’s what they did. Then they went up to the Buddha and said to him,

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”

Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust …

yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

each manifested in the form of a hundred women who have given birth once …

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe…

women who have given birth twice …

yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā …pe…

middle-aged women …

anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe…

old women …

anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma etadavocuṁ:

Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side and said,

“saccaṁ kira no pitā avoca:

“What our father said is true:

‘Arahaṁ sugato loke,

‘In this world he is the perfected one, the Holy One.

na rāgena suvānayo;

He’s not easily seduced by lust.

Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,

He has slipped free of Māra’s dominion;

tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan’ti.

that’s why I’m so upset.’

Yañhi mayaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā avītarāgaṁ iminā upakkamena upakkameyyāma hadayaṁ vāssa phaleyya, uṇhaṁ lohitaṁ vā mukhato uggaccheyya, ummādaṁ vā pāpuṇeyya cittakkhepaṁ vā.

For if we had come on to any ascetic or brahmin like this who was not free of lust, his heart would explode, or he’d spew hot blood from his mouth, or he’d go mad or lose his mind.

Seyyathā vā pana naḷo harito luto ussussati visussati milāyati;

He’d dry up, wither away, and shrivel up like a green reed that was mowed down.”

evameva ussusseyya visusseyya milāyeyyā”ti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to the Buddha, and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho taṇhā māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Māra’s daughter Craving addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Sokāvatiṇṇo nu vanamhi jhāyasi,

“Are you swamped by sorrow <j>that you meditate in the forest?

Vittaṁ nu jīno uda patthayāno;

Have you lost a fortune, or do you long for one?

Āguṁ nu gāmasmimakāsi kiñci,

Or perhaps you’ve committed <j>some crime in the village?

Kasmā janena na karosi sakkhiṁ;

Why don’t you get too close to people?

Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci te”ti.

And why does no-one get close to you?”

“Atthassa pattiṁ hadayassa santiṁ,

“I’ve reached the goal, peace of heart.

Jetvāna senaṁ piyasātarūpaṁ;

Having conquered the army <j>of the likable and pleasant,

Ekohaṁ jhāyaṁ sukhamanubodhiṁ,

alone, practicing absorption, I awakened to bliss.

Tasmā janena na karomi sakkhiṁ;

That’s why I don’t get too close to people,

Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci me”ti.

and no-one gets too close to me.”

Atha kho arati māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Māra’s daughter Malignancy addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Kathaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,

“How does a mendicant who has crossed five floods

Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;

usually meditate here while crossing the sixth?

Kathaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,

How do they usually practice absorption <j>so that sensual perceptions

Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.

are blocked out and don’t get hold of them?”

“Passaddhakāyo suvimuttacitto,

“With tranquil body and mind well freed,

Asaṅkharāno satimā anoko;

without making choices, mindful, homeless;

Aññāya dhammaṁ avitakkajhāyī,

understanding the teaching, <j>they practice absorption without placing the mind;

Na kuppati na sarati na thino.

they’re not shaking or drifting or rigid.

Evaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,

That’s how a mendicant who has crossed five floods

Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;

usually meditates here while crossing the sixth.

Evaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,

That’s how they usually practice absorption <j>so that sensual perceptions

Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.

are blocked out and don’t get hold of them.”

Atha kho ragā māradhītā bhagavato santike gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Māra’s daughter Lust addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Acchejja taṇhaṁ gaṇasaṅghacārī,

“He lives with his community after cutting off craving,

Addhā carissanti bahū ca saddhā;

and many of the faithful will cross over for sure.

Bahuṁ vatāyaṁ janataṁ anoko,

Alas, this homeless one will snatch many men away,

Acchejja nessati maccurājassa pāran”ti.

and lead them past the King of Death!”

“Nayanti ve mahāvīrā,

“The great heroes they lead

saddhammena tathāgatā;

by means of the true teaching.

Dhammena nayamānānaṁ,

When the Realized Ones are leading by the teaching,

kā usūyā vijānatan”ti.

how could anyone who knows be jealous?”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.

Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to Māra the Wicked.

Addasā kho māro pāpimā taṇhañca aratiñca ragañca māradhītaro dūratova āgacchantiyo.

Māra the Wicked saw them coming off in the distance,

Disvāna gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

and addressed them in verse:

“Bālā kumudanāḷehi,

“Fools! You drill into a mountain

pabbataṁ abhimatthatha;

with lotus stalks!

Giriṁ nakhena khanatha,

You dig up a hill with your nails!

ayo dantehi khādatha.

You chew iron with your teeth!

Selaṁva sirasūhacca,

You seek a footing in the abyss, as it were,

pātāle gādhamesatha;

while lifting a rock with your head!

Khāṇuṁva urasāsajja,

After attacking a stump with your breast, as it were,

nibbijjāpetha gotamā”ti.

you leave Gotama disappointed.”

“Daddallamānā āgañchuṁ,

They came dazzling—

taṇhā ca aratī ragā;

Craving, Malignancy, and Lust.

Tā tattha panudī satthā,

But the Teacher brushed them off right there,

tūlaṁ bhaṭṭhaṁva māluto”ti.

like the gale, a fallen tuft.

Tatiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sambahulā samiddhi ca,

Godhikaṁ sattavassāni;

Dhītaraṁ desitaṁ buddha,

Seṭṭhena imaṁ mārapañcakanti.

Mārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses with Māra are complete.