The Connected Discourses of the Buddha Page 22

  Then Māra the Evil One, in the presence of the Blessed One, recited these verses of disappointment:320 504 “There was a crow that walked around

  A stone that looked like a lump of fat.

  ‘Let’s find something tender here,’ [he thought,]

  ‘Perhaps there’s something nice and tasty.’

  505 But because he found nothing tasty there,

  The crow departed from that spot.

  Just like the crow that attacked the stone,

  We leave Gotama disappointed.” <273>

  25 (5) Māra’s Daughters

  Then Māra the Evil One, having spoken these verses of disappointment in the presence of the Blessed One, went away from that spot and sat down cross-legged on the ground not far from the Blessed One, silent, dismayed, with his shoulders drooping, downcast, brooding, unable to speak, scratching the ground with a stick.321

  Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—approached Māra the Evil One and addressed him in verse:322 506 “Why are you despondent, father?

  Who’s the man for whom you grieve?

  We’ll catch him with the snare of lust

  As they catch the forest elephant.

  We’ll bind him tightly and bring him back,

  And he’ll be under your control.”323

  [Māra:]507 “The Arahant, the Fortunate One in the world,

  Is not easily drawn by means of lust.

  He has gone beyond Māra’s realm:

  Therefore I sorrow so bitterly.” <274>

  Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—approached the Blessed One and said to him: “We serve at your feet, ascetic.” But the Blessed One paid no attention, as he was liberated in the unsurpassed extinction of acquisitions.324

  Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—went off to the side and took counsel: “Men’s tastes are diverse. Suppose we each manifest ourselves in the form of a hundred maidens.” [125] Then Māra’s three daughters, each manifesting herself in the form of a hundred maidens, approached the Blessed One and said to him: “We serve at your feet, ascetic.” But the Blessed One paid no attention, as he was liberated in the unsurpassed extinction of acquisitions.

  Then Māra’s daughters went off to the side and again took counsel: “Men’s tastes are diverse. Suppose we each manifest ourselves in the form of a hundred women who have never given birth.” Then Māra’s three daughters, each manifesting herself in the form of a hundred women who have never given birth … in the form of a hundred women who have given birth once … <275> … in the form of a hundred women who have given birth twice … in the form of a hundred women of middle age … in the form of a hundred old women, approached the Blessed One and said to him: “We serve at your feet, ascetic.” But the Blessed One paid no attention, as he was liberated in the unsurpassed extinction of acquisitions.

  Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—went off to the side and said: “What our father told us is true:508 “‘The Arahant, the Fortunate One in the world …

  Therefore I sorrow so bitterly.’

  “If we had assailed with such tactics any ascetic or brahmin who was not devoid of lust, either his heart would have burst, or he would have vomited hot blood from his mouth, [126] or he would have gone mad or become mentally deranged; or else he would have dried up and withered away and become shrivelled, just as a green reed that has been mowed down would dry up and wither away and become shrivelled.”

  Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—approached the Blessed One and stood to one side. <276> Standing to one side, Māra’s daughter Taṇhā addressed the Blessed One in verse:509 “Is it because you are sunk in sorrow

  That you meditate in the woods?

  Because you’ve lost wealth or pine for it,

  Or committed some crime in the village?

  Why don’t you make friends with people?

  Why don’t you form any intimate ties?”

  [The Blessed One:]510 “Having conquered the army of the pleasant and agreeable,

  Meditating alone, I discovered bliss,

  The attainment of the goal, the peace of the heart.325

  Therefore I don’t make friends with people,

  Nor will I form any intimate ties.”

  Then Māra’s daughter Aratī addressed the Blessed One in verse: <277>511 “How does a bhikkhu here often dwell

  That, five floods crossed, he here has crossed the sixth?

  How does he meditate so sensual perceptions

  Are kept at bay and fail to grip him?”326

  [The Blessed One:]512 “Tranquil in body, in mind well liberated,

  Not generating, mindful, homeless,

  Knowing Dhamma, meditating thought-free,

  He does not erupt, or drift, or stiffen.327

  513 “When a bhikkhu here often dwells thus,

  With five floods crossed, he here has crossed the sixth.

  When he meditates thus, sensual perceptions

  Are kept at bay and fail to grip him.” [127]

  Then Māra’s daughter Ragā addressed the Blessed One in verse: <278>514 “He has cut off craving, faring with his group and order;

  Surely many other beings will cross.

  Alas, this homeless one will snatch many people

  And lead them away beyond the King of Death.”328

  [The Blessed One:]515 “Truly the Tathāgatas, the great heroes,

  Lead by means of the true Dhamma.

  When they are leading by means of the Dhamma,

  What envy can there be in those who understand?”329

  Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—approached Māra the Evil One. Māra saw them coming in the distance and addressed them in verses:330 516 “Fools! You tried to batter a mountain

  With the stalks of lotus flowers,

  To dig up a mountain with your nails,

  To chew iron with your teeth. <279>

  517 “As if, having lifted a rock with your head,

  You sought a foothold in the abyss;

  As if you struck a stump with your breast,

  You part from Gotama disappointed.”

  518 They had come to him glittering with beauty—

  Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—

  But the Teacher swept them away right there

  As the wind, a fallen cotton tuft. <280>

  [128] <281>

  Chapter V

  5 Bhikkhunīsaṃyutta Connected Discourses with Bhikkhunīs

  1 Āḷavikā

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

  Then, in the morning, the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.331 When she had walked for alms in Sāvatthī and had returned from her alms round, after her meal she went to the Blind Men’s Grove seeking seclusion. 332

  Then Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā, desiring to make her fall away from seclusion, approached her and addressed her in verse:519 “There is no escape in the world,

  So what will you do with seclusion?

  Enjoy the delights of sensual pleasure:

  Don’t be remorseful later!”

  Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā: “Now who is it that recited the verse—a human being or a nonhuman being?” Then <282> it occurred to her: “This is Māra the Evil One, who has recited the verse desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in me, desiring to make me fall away from seclusion.”

  Then the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One,” replied to him in verses:520 “There is an escape in the world

  Which I have closely touched with wisdom.

  O Evil One, kinsman of the negligent,

  You do not know that state.333

  521 “Sensual pleasures are like swords and stakes;

  The aggrega
tes like their chopping block.

  What you call sensual delight

  Has become for me nondelight.”334 [129]

  Then Māra the Evil One, realizing, “The bhikkhunī Āḷavikā knows me,” sad and disappointed, disappeared right there. <283>

  2 Somā

  At Sāvatthī. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhunī Somā dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.335 When she had walked for alms in Sāvatthī and had returned from her alms round, after her meal she went to the Blind Men’s Grove for the day’s abiding. Having plunged into the Blind Men’s Grove, she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day’s abiding.

  Then Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the bhikkhunī Somā, desiring to make her fall away from concentration, approached her and addressed her in verse:522 “That state so hard to achieve

  Which is to be attained by the seers,

  Can’t be attained by a woman

  With her two-fingered wisdom.”336

  Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Somā: “Now who is this that recited the verse—a human being or a nonhuman being?” Then it occurred to her: “This is Māra the Evil One, who has recited the verse desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in me, desiring to make me fall away from concentration.”

  Then the bhikkhunī Somā, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One,” replied to him in verses: <284>523 “What does womanhood matter at all

  When the mind is concentrated well,

  When knowledge flows on steadily

  As one sees correctly into Dhamma.337

  524 “One to whom it might occur,

  ‘I’m a woman’ or ‘I’m a manʹ

  Or ‘I’m anything at all’—

  Is fit for Māra to address.”338

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

  3 Gotamī

  At Sāvatthī. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.339 When she had walked for alms in Sāvatthī and had returned from her alms round, [130] after her meal she went to the Blind Men’s Grove for the day’s abiding. Having plunged into the Blind Men’s Grove, she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day’s abiding. <285>

  Then Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī, desiring to make her fall away from concentration, approached her and addressed her in verse:525 “Why now, when your son is dead,

  Do you sit alone with tearful face?

  Having entered the woods all alone,

  Are you on the lookout for a man?”

  Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī: “Now who is this that recited the verse—a human being or a nonhuman being?” Then it occurred to her: “This is Māra the Evil One, who has recited the verse desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in me, desiring to make me fall away from concentration.”

  Then the bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One,” replied to him in verses:526 “I’ve gotten past the death of sons;

  With this, the search for men has ended.

  I do not sorrow, I do not weep,

  Nor do I fear you, friend .340

  527 “Delight everywhere has been destroyed,

  The mass of darkness has been sundered. <286>

  Having conquered the army of Death,

  I dwell without defiling taints.”341

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

  4 Vijayā

  At Sāvatthī. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhunī Vijayā dressed … she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day’s abiding.342

  Then Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the bhikkhunī Vijayā, desiring to make her fall away from concentration, approached her and addressed her in verse: [131]528 “You are so young and beautiful,

  And I too am a youth in my prime.

  Come, noble lady, let us rejoice

  With the music of a fivefold ensemble.”343

  Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Vijayā: “Now who is this…? This is Māra the Evil One … desiring to make me fall away from concentration.” <287>

  Then the bhikkhunī Vijayā, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One,” replied to him in verses:529 “Forms, sounds, tastes, odours,

  And delightful tactile objects—

  I offer them right back to you,

  For I, O Māra, do not need them.

  530 “I am repelled and humiliated

  By this foul, putrid body,

  Subject to break up, fragile:

  I’ve uprooted sensual craving.344

  531 “As to those beings who fare amidst form,

  And those who abide in the formless,

  And those peaceful attainments too:

  Everywhere darkness has been destroyed.”345

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

  5 Uppalavaṇṇā

  <288> At Sāvatthī. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā dressed … she stood at the foot of a sal tree in full flower.346

  Then Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā, desiring to make her fall away from concentration, approached her and addressed her in verse:532 “Having gone to a sal tree with flowering top,

  You stand at its foot all alone, bhikkhunī.

  There is none whose beauty rivals yours:

  Foolish girl, aren’t you afraid of rogues?”347

  Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā: [132] “Now who is this…? This is Māra the Evil One … desiring to make me fall away from concentration.” <289>

  Then the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One,” replied to him in verses:533 “Though a hundred thousand rogues

  Just like you might come here,

  I stir not a hair, I feel no terror;

  Even alone, Māra, I don’t fear you.348

  534 “I can make myself disappear

  Or I can enter inside your belly.

  I can stand between your eyebrows

  Yet you won’t catch a glimpse of me.

  535 “I am the master of my mind,

  The bases of power are well developed;

  I am freed from all bondage,

  Therefore I don’t fear you, friend.”349 <290>

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

  6 Cālā

  At Sāvatthī. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhunī Cālā dressed … she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day’s abiding.350

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the bhikkhunī Cālā and said to her: “What don’t you approve of, bhikkhunī?”

  “I don’t approve of birth, friend.”

  536 “Why don’t you approve of birth?

  Once born, one enjoys sensual pleasures.

  Who now has persuaded you of this:

  ‘Bhikkhunī, don’t approve of birth’?”

  [The bhikkhunī Cālā:]537 “For one who is born there is death;

  Once born, one encounters sufferings—

  Bondage, murder, affliction—

  Hence one shouldn’t approve of birth.351

  538 “The Buddha has taught the Dhamma, <291>

  The transcendence of birth;

  For the abandoning of all suffering

  He has settled me in the truth. [133]

  539 “As to those beings who fare amidst form,

  And those who abide in the formless—

  Not having understood cessation,

  They come again to renewed existence.”352

  Then Māra the Evil One, realizing, �
��The bhikkhunī Cālā knows me,” sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.

  7 Upacālā

  At Sāvatthī. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhunī Upacālā dressed … she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day’s abiding.

  Then Māra the Evil One approached the bhikkhunī Upacālā and said to her: “Where do you wish to be reborn, bhikkhunī?”

  “I do not wish to be reborn anywhere, friend.”

  540 “There are Tāvatiṃsa and Yāma devas,

  And devatās of the Tusita realm,

  Devas who take delight in creating, <292>