sutta » sn » sn4 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.6

Sappasutta

Serpent A Serpent

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

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

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

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

Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī ekarukkhikā nāvā;
Like a huge boat made from a single tree trunk,
Its body was like a huge canoe carved from a single tree.

evamassa kāyo hoti.
so its body,

Seyyathāpi nāma mahantaṁ soṇḍikākiḷañjaṁ;
Like a large brewer’s sieve,
Its hood was like a large brewer’s sieve.

evamassa phaṇo hoti.
so its hood.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī kosalikā kaṁsapāti;
Like the large bronze dishes of Kosala,
Its eyes were like those big bronze dishes from Kosala.

evamassa akkhīni bhavanti.
so its eyes.

Seyyathāpi nāma deve gaḷagaḷāyante vijjullatā niccharanti;
Like flashes of lightning emitted when the sky thunders,
Its tongue flickered from its mouth like lightning flashes in a thunderstorm.

evamassa mukhato jivhā niccharati.
so its tongue darting out from its mouth,

Seyyathāpi nāma kammāragaggariyā dhamamānāya saddo hoti;
Like the sound of a smith’s bellows filling with air,
The sound of its breathing was like the puffing of a blacksmith’s bellows.

evamassa assāsapassāsānaṁ saddo hoti.
so the sound of its breathing in and out,

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

“Yo suññagehāni sevati,
“He who resorts to empty huts for lodging—
“A self-controlled sage frequents

Seyyā so muni attasaññato;
He is the sage, self-controlled.
empty buildings for lodging.

Vossajja careyya tattha so,
He should live there, having relinquished all:
It’s appropriate for such a person

Patirūpañhi tathāvidhassa taṁ.
That is proper for one like him.
to live there after relinquishing.

Carakā bahū bheravā bahū,
“Though many creatures crawl about,
Though there are lots of creepy crawlies,

Atho ḍaṁsasarīsapā bahū;
Many terrors, flies, serpents,
and lots of flies and snakes,

Lomampi na tattha iñjaye,
Stirs not a hair because of them.
they wouldn’t stir a hair

Suññāgāragato mahāmuni.
The great sage gone to his empty hut
of a great sage in that empty hut.

Nabhaṁ phaleyya pathavī caleyya,
“Though the sky might split, the earth quake,
Though the sky may split and the earth may quake,

Sabbepi pāṇā uda santaseyyuṁ;
And all creatures be stricken with terror,
and all creatures be stricken with fear;

Sallampi ce urasi pakappayeyyuṁ,
Though men brandish a dart at their breast,
and even if an arrow’s aimed at their breast,

Upadhīsu tāṇaṁ na karonti buddhā”ti.
The enlightened take no shelter in acquisitions. ”
the Buddhas take no shelter in attachments.”

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