1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

2“Your children bring you delight!
Your cattle also bring you delight!
For attachments are a man’s delight;
without attachments there’s no delight.”

3“Your children bring you sorrow.
Your cattle also bring you sorrow.
For attachments are a man’s sorrow;
without attachments there are no sorrows.”

4Then 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 sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi: 

2"Nandati puttehi puttimā,
Gomā gobhi tatheva nandati;
Upadhīhi narassa nandanā,
Na hi so nandati yo nirūpadhī"ti.

3"Socati puttehi puttimā,
Gomā gobhi tatheva socati;
Upadhīhi narassa socanā,
Na hi so socati yo nirūpadhī"ti.

4Atha kho māro pāpimā "jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato"ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.