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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Linked Discourses

Vol 1:
Verses
SN1-11
Vol 2:
Causation
SN12-21
Vol 3:
Aggregates
SN22-34
Vol 4:
Sense Bases
SN35-44
Vol 5:
Great Book
SN45-56

SN4: 4. Mārasaṁyutta: With Māra

I. Life Span — SN4.1: Mortification

1So I have heard. At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying near Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.

Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind: “I am truly freed from that grueling work! Thank goodness I’m freed from that pointless grueling work. Thank goodness that, steadfast and mindful, I have attained awakening.”

2And then Māra the Wicked, knowing what the Buddha was thinking, went up to him and addressed him in verse:

3“You’ve departed from the practice of mortification
by which humans purify themselves.
You’re impure, but think yourself pure;
you’ve strayed from the path of purity.”

4Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:

5“I realized that it’s pointless;
all that mortification in search of immortality
is as futile
as oars and rudder on dry land.

6Ethics, immersion, and wisdom:
by developing this path to awakening
I attained ultimate purity.
You’re beaten, terminator!”

7Then Māra the Wicked, thinking: “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ vihārati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho. Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: "mutto vatamhi tāya dukkarakārikāya. Sādhu mutto vatamhi tāya anatthasaṁhitāya dukkarakārikāya. Sādhu vatamhi mutto bodhiṁ samajjhagan"ti.

2Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi: 

3"Tapokammā apakkamma,
ye na sujjhanti māṇavā;
Asuddho maññasi suddho,
suddhimaggā aparaddho"ti.

4Atha kho bhagavā "māro ayaṁ pāpimā" iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi: 

5"Anatthasaṁhitaṁ ñatvā,
yaṁ kiñci amaraṁ tapaṁ;
Sabbaṁ natthāvahaṁ hoti,
phiyārittaṁva dhammani.

6Sīlaṁ samādhi paññañca,
Maggaṁ bodhāya bhāvayaṁ;
Pattosmi paramaṁ suddhiṁ,
Nihato tvamasi antakā"ti.

7Atha kho māro pāpimā "jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato"ti, dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.