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  “Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

  “Bhikkhus, by careful attention, by careful right striving, I have arrived at unsurpassed liberation, I have realized unsurpassed liberation. You too, bhikkhus, by careful attention, by careful right striving, must arrive at unsurpassed liberation, must realize unsurpassed liberation.”270

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:271 452 “You are bound by Māra’s snare

  Both celestial and human;

  You are bound by Māra’s bondage:

  You won’t escape me, ascetic!”272

  [The Blessed One:]453 “I am freed from Māra’s snare

  Both celestial and human;

  I am freed from Māra’s bondage: <236>

  You’re defeated, End-maker!”

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  5 (5) Māra’s Snare (2)

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Bhikkhus!”

  “Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

  “Bhikkhus, I am freed from all snares, both celestial and human. You too, bhikkhus, are freed from all snares, both celestial and human. Wander forth, O bhikkhus, for the welfare of the multitude, for the happiness of the multitude, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of devas and humans. Let not two go the same way. Teach, O bhikkhus, the Dhamma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing. Reveal the perfectly complete and purified holy life. There are beings with little dust in their eyes who are falling away because they do not hear the Dhamma. [106] There will be those who will understand the Dhamma. I too, bhikkhus, will go to Senānigama in Uruvelā in order to teach the Dhamma.”273 <237>

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:274 454 “You are bound by all the snares

  Both celestial and human;

  You are bound by the great bondage:

  You won’t escape me, ascetic!”

  [The Blessed One:]455 “I am freed from all the snares

  Both celestial and human;

  I am freed from the great bondage:

  You’re defeated, End-maker!”

  6 (6) Serpent

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting out in the open in the thick darkness of the night while it was drizzling. Then Māra the Evil One … manifested himself in the form of a giant king serpent and approached the Blessed One. <238> Its body was like a huge boat made from a single tree trunk; its hood, like a large brewer’s sieve; its eyes, like the large bronze dishes of Kosala; its tongue darting out from its mouth, like flashes of lightning emitted when the sky thunders; the sound of its breathing in and out, like the sound of a smith’s bellows filling with air.

  Then the Blessed One, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One,” addressed Māra the Evil One in verses:456 “He who resorts to empty huts for lodging—

  He is the sage, self-controlled.

  He should live there, having relinquished all:

  That is proper for one like him.275

  457 “Though many creatures crawl about,

  Many terrors, flies, serpents, [107] <239>

  The great sage gone to his empty hut

  Stirs not a hair because of them.

  458 “Though the sky might split, the earth quake,

  And all creatures be stricken with terror,

  Though men brandish a dart at their breast,

  The enlightened take no shelter in acquisitions.”276

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  7 (7) Sleep

  On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Then, when the night was fading, the Blessed One, having spent much of the night walking back and forth in the open, washed his feet, entered his dwelling, and lay down on his right side in the lion’s posture, with one leg overlapping the other, mindful and clearly comprehending, having attended to the idea of rising.

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse: <240>459 “What, you sleep? Why do you sleep?

  What’s this, you sleep like a wretch?277

  Thinking ‘The hut’s empty’ you sleep:

  What’s this, you sleep when the sun has risen?”

  [The Blessed One:]460 “Within him craving no longer lurks,

  Entangling and binding, to lead him anywhere;

  With the destruction of all acquisitions

  The Awakened One sleeps:

  Why should this concern you, Māra?”278

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  8 (8) He Delights

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:461 “One who has sons delights in sons,

  One with cattle delights in cattle. [108] <241>

  Acquisitions truly are a man’s delight;

  Without acquisitions one does not delight.”

  [The Blessed One:]462 “One who has sons sorrows over sons,

  One with cattle sorrows over cattle.

  Acquisitions truly are a man’s sorrow;

  Without acquisitions one does not sorrow.”

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  9 (9) Life Span (1)

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Bhikkhus!”

  “Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

  “Bhikkhus, this life span of human beings is short. One has to go on to the future life. One should do what is wholesome and lead the holy life; for one who has taken birth there is no avoiding death. One who lives long, bhikkhus, lives a hundred years or a little longer.”

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:463 “Long is the life span of human beings,

  The good man should not disdain it.

  One should live like a milk-sucking baby:

  Death has not made its arrival.”279 <242>

  [The Blessed One:]464 “Short is the life span of human beings,

  The good man should disdain it.

  One should live like one with head aflame:

  There is no avoiding Death’s arrival.”

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  10 (10) Life Span (2)

  (Opening as in preceding sutta:)

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse: [109]465 “The days and nights do not fly by,

  Life does not come to a stop.

  The life span of mortals rolls along

  Like the chariot’s felly round the hub.”280 <243>

  [The Blessed One:]466 “The days and nights go flying by,

  Life comes to a stop.

  The life span of mortals is depleted

  Like the water in rivulets.”

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  II. THE SECOND SUBCHAPTER (RULERSHIP)

  11 (1) The Boulder

  On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting out in the open in the thick darkness of the night while it was drizzling. <244> Then Māra the Evil One, wishing to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the Blessed One, shattered a number of huge boulders not far away from him.

  Then the Blessed One, having understood, “This is
Māra the Evil One,” addressed Māra the Evil One in verse:467 “Even if you make this Vulture Peak

  Quake all over in its entirety,

  The enlightened are not perturbed,

  For they are are fully liberated.”

  Then Māra the Evil One, realizing, “The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me,” sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.

  12 (2) Lion

  On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was teaching the Dhamma while surrounded by a large assembly. [110]

  Then it occurred to Māra the Evil One: “This ascetic Gotama is teaching the Dhamma while surrounded by a large assembly. <245> Let me approach the ascetic Gotama in order to confound them.”281

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:468 “Why now do you roar like a lion,

  Confident in the assembly?

  For there is one who’s a match for you,

  So why think yourself the victor?”

  [The Blessed One:]469 “The great heroes roar their lion’s roar

  Confident in the assemblies—

  The Tathāgatas endowed with the powers

  Have crossed over attachment to the world.”282

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  13 (3) The Splinter

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Maddakucchi Deer Park. Now on that occasion the Blessed One’s foot had been cut by a stone splinter. Severe pains assailed the Blessed One—bodily feelings that were painful, racking, <246> sharp, piercing, harrowing, disagreeable. But the Blessed One endured them, mindful and clearly comprehending, without becoming distressed. Then the Blessed One had his outer robe folded in four, and he lay down on his right side in the lion posture with one leg overlapping the other, mindful and clearly comprehending.283

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:470 “Do you lie down in a daze or drunk on poetry?

  Don’t you have sufficient goals to meet?

  Alone in a secluded lodging

  Why do you sleep with a drowsy face?”284

  [The Blessed One:]471 “I do not lie in a daze or drunk on poetry;

  Having reached the goal, I am rid of sorrow.

  Alone in a secluded lodging

  I lie down full of compassion for all beings.

  472 “Even those with a dart stuck in the breast <247>

  Piercing their heart moment by moment—

  Even these here, stricken, get to sleep; [111]

  So why should I not get to sleep

  When my dart has been drawn out?285

  473 “I do not lie awake in dread,

  Nor am I afraid to sleep.

  The nights and days do not afflict me,

  I see for myself no decline in the world.

  Therefore I can sleep in peace,

  Full of compassion for all beings.”

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  14 (4) Suitable

  On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans at the brahmin village of Ekasālā. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was teaching the Dhamma surrounded by a large assembly of laypeople.

  Then it occurred to Māra the Evil One: “This ascetic Gotama is teaching the Dhamma while surrounded by a large assembly of laypeople. <248> Let me approach the ascetic Gotama in order to confound them.”

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:474 “This is not suitable for you,

  That you instruct others.

  When so engaged don’t get caught

  In attraction and repulsion.”286

  [The Blessed One:]475 “Compassionate for their welfare,

  The Buddha instructs others.

  The Tathāgata is fully released

  From attraction and repulsion.”

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  15 (5) Mental

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:287 476 “There is a snare moving in the sky, <249>

  Something mental which moves about288

  By means of which I’ll catch you yet:

  You won’t escape me, ascetic!”

  [The Blessed One:]477 “Forms, sounds, tastes, odours,

  And delightful tactile objects—

  Desire for these has vanished in me:

  You’re defeated, End-maker!”

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there. [112]

  16 (6) Almsbowls

  At Sāvatthī. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was instructing, exhorting, inspiring, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk concerning the five aggregates subject to clinging. And those bhikkhus were listening to the Dhamma with eager ears, attending to it as a matter of vital concern, applying their whole minds to it.

  Then it occurred to Māra the Evil One: “This ascetic Gotama is instructing, exhorting, inspiring, and gladdening the bhikkhus … <250> who are applying their whole minds to it. Let me approach the ascetic Gotama in order to confound them.”

  Now on that occasion a number of almsbowls had been put out in the open. Then Māra the Evil One manifested himself in the form of an ox and approached those almsbowls. Then one bhikkhu said to another: “Bhikkhu, bhikkhu! That ox may break the almsbowls.” When this was said, the Blessed One said to that bhikkhu: “That is not an ox, bhikkhu. That is Māra the Evil One, who has come here in order to confound you.”

  Then the Blessed One, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One,” addressed Māra the Evil One in verses:478 “Form, feeling, and perception,

  Consciousness, and formations—

  ‘I am not this, this isn’t mine,’

  Thus one is detached from it.289

  479 “Though they seek him everywhere,

  Māra and his army do not find him:

  The one thus detached, secure,

  Who has gone beyond all ʹfetters.”290 <251>

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  17 (7) Six Bases for Contact

  On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. [113] Now on that occasion the Blessed One was instructing, exhorting, inspiring, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk concerning the six bases for contact. And those bhikkhus were listening to the Dhamma with eager ears, attending to it as a matter of vital concern, applying their whole minds to it.

  Then it occurred to Māra the Evil One: “This ascetic Gotama is instructing, exhorting, inspiring, and gladdening the bhikkhus … who are applying their whole minds to it. Let me approach the ascetic Gotama in order to confound them.”

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and, not far from him, made a loud noise, frightful and terrifying, as though the earth were splitting open.291 Then one bhikkhu said to another: “Bhikkhu, bhikkhu! It seems as though the earth is splitting open.” When this was said, the Blessed One said to that bhikkhu: <252> “The earth is not splitting open, bhikkhu. That is Māra the Evil One, who has come here in order to confound you.”

  Then the Blessed One, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One,” addressed Māra the Evil One in verses: 480 “Forms, sounds, tastes, odours,

  Tactiles, and all mental objects:

  This is the terrible bait of the world

  With which the world is infatuated.

  481 “But when he has transcended this,

  The mindful disciple of the Buddha

  Shines radiantly like the sun,

  Having surmounted Māra’s realm.”292

  Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.

  18 (8) Alms

  On
one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Magadhans at the brahmin village of Pañcasālā. [114] Now on that occasion the gift-festival of the young people was being held at the brahmin village of Pañcasālā.293 <253> Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Pañcasālā for alms. Now on that occasion Māra the Evil One had taken possession of the brahmin householders of Pañcasālā, [inciting in them the thought,] “Don’t let the ascetic Gotama get alms.”