sutta » sn » sn4 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.2

Hatthirājavaṇṇasutta

In the Form of an Elephant King The King Elephant

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
Thus have I heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.
At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Uruvelā on the bank of the river Nerañjarā at the foot of the Goatherd’s Banyan Tree just after he had become fully enlightened.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.
Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.
Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting out in the open air in the thick darkness of the night while it was drizzling.

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo mahantaṁ hatthirājavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.
Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, manifested in the form of a huge elephant king and approached him.
Then Māra the Evil One, wishing to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the Blessed One, manifested himself in the form of a giant king elephant and approached the Blessed One.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahāariṭṭhako maṇi;
Its head was like a huge block of soapstone.
Like a huge block of steatite;

evamassa sīsaṁ hoti.
so was his head.

Seyyathāpi nāma suddhaṁ rūpiyaṁ;
Its tusks were like pure silver.
Like pure silver;

evamassa dantā honti.
so were his tusks.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī naṅgalīsā;
Its trunk was like a long plough pole.
Like a huge plough pole,

evamassa soṇḍo hoti.
so was his trunk.

Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse:
Then the Blessed One, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One, ” addressed him in verse:

“Saṁsaraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ,
“Transmigrating for such a long time,
“You’ve wandered through the long course

Vaṇṇaṁ katvā subhāsubhaṁ;
you’ve made forms beautiful and ugly.
Creating beautiful and hideous shapes.

Alaṁ te tena pāpima,
Enough of this, Wicked One!
Enough, Evil One, with that trick of yours:

Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.
You’re beaten, terminator!”
You’re defeated, End-maker!”

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
Then Māra the Evil One, realizing, “The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me, ” sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.