sutta » sn » sn4 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.15

Mānasasutta

A Mental Snare Mental

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

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.

Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:

“Antalikkhacaro pāso,
“There’s a mental snare
“There is a snare moving in the sky,

yvāyaṁ carati mānaso;
wandering the sky.
Something mental which moves about

Tena taṁ bādhayissāmi,
I’ll bind you with it—
By means of which I’ll catch you yet:

na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.
you won’t escape me, ascetic!”
You won’t escape me, ascetic!”

“Rūpā saddā rasā gandhā,
“Sights, sounds, tastes, smells,
[The Blessed One: ] “Forms, sounds, tastes, odours,

Phoṭṭhabbā ca manoramā;
and touches so delightful:
And delightful tactile objects—

Ettha me vigato chando,
desire for these is gone from me.
Desire for these has vanished in me:

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 … disappeared right there.