Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.25

Translators: sujato and bodhi

Linked Discourses 4.25

3. Tatiyavagga
3. Māra

Māradhītusutta

Māra’s Daughters Māra’s Daughters

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato santike imā nibbejanīyā gāthāyo abhāsitvā tamhā ṭhānā apakkamma bhagavato avidūre pathaviyaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno kaṭṭhena bhūmiṁ vilikhanto.
And then Māra the Wicked, after reciting these verses of disillusionment in the Buddha’s presence, left that place. He sat cross-legged on the ground not far from the Buddha, silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, scratching the ground with a stick.
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.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:
Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Delight, and Lust went up to Māra the Wicked, and addressed him in verse:
Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—approached Māra the Evil One and addressed him in verse:

“Kenāsi dummano tāta,
“Why so downhearted, dad?
“Why are you despondent, father?

purisaṁ kaṁ nu socasi;
What man are you upset about?
Who’s the man for whom you grieve?

Mayaṁ taṁ rāgapāsena,
We’ll catch him with the snare of lust,
We’ll catch him with the snare of lust

āraññamiva kuñjaraṁ;
like an elephant in the wild.
As they catch the forest elephant.

Bandhitvā ānayissāma,
We’ll tie him up and bring him back—
We’ll bind him tightly and bring him back,

vasago te bhavissatī”ti.
he’ll fall under your sway!”
And he’ll be under your control. ”

“Arahaṁ sugato loke,
“In this world he is the perfected one, the Holy One.
“The Arahant, the Fortunate One in the world,

na rāgena suvānayo;
He’s not easily seduced by lust.
Is not easily drawn by means of lust.

Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,
He has slipped free of Māra’s sway;
He has gone beyond Māra’s realm:

tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan”ti.
that’s why I’m so upset.”
Therefore I sorrow so bitterly. ”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Delight, and Lust went up to the Buddha, and said to him,
Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—approached the Blessed One and said to him:

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.
“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”
“We serve at your feet, ascetic. ”

Atha kho bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.
But the Buddha ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.
But the Blessed One paid no attention, as he was liberated in the unsurpassed extinction of acquisitions.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ:
Then Craving, Delight, and Lust withdrew to one side to think up a plan.
Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—went off to the side and took counsel:

“uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā.
“Men have a diverse spectrum of tastes.
“Men’s tastes are diverse.

Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.
Why don’t we each manifest in the form of a hundred young maidens?”
Suppose we each manifest ourselves in the form of a hundred maidens. ”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
So that’s what they did. Then they went up to the Buddha and said to him,
Then Māra’s three daughters, each manifesting herself in the form of a hundred maidens, approached the Blessed One and said to him:

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.
“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”
“We serve at your feet, ascetic. ”

Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.
But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.
But the Blessed One paid no attention, as he was liberated in the unsurpassed extinction of acquisitions.

“uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā.
“Men have a diverse spectrum of tastes.
“Men’s tastes are diverse.

Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.
Why don’t we each manifest in the form of a hundred women who have never given birth?”
Suppose we each manifest ourselves in the form of a hundred women who have never given birth. ”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
So that’s what they did. Then they went up to the Buddha and said to him,
Then Māra’s three daughters, each manifesting herself in the form of a hundred women who have never given birth …

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.
“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”
“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…
Then Craving, Delight, and Lust …

yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.
in the form of a hundred women who have given birth once …

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
each manifested in the form of a hundred women who have given birth once …

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.
in the form of a hundred women who have given birth twice …

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe…
women who have given birth twice …

yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.
in the form of a hundred women of middle age …

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā …pe…
middle-aged women …

anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.
in the form of a hundred old women, approached the Blessed One and said to him:

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe…
old women …

anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.
But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.
as he was liberated in the unsurpassed extinction of acquisitions.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma etadavocuṁ:
Then Craving, Delight, and Lust withdrew to one side and said,
Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—went off to the side and said:

“saccaṁ kira no pitā avoca:
“What our father said is true:
“What our father told us is true:

‘Arahaṁ sugato loke,
‘In this world he is the perfected one, the Holy One.
“‘The Arahant, the Fortunate One in the world …

na rāgena suvānayo;
He’s not easily seduced by lust.

Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,
He has slipped free of Māra’s sway;

tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan’ti.
that’s why I’m so upset.’
Therefore I sorrow so bitterly.

Yañhi mayaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā avītarāgaṁ iminā upakkamena upakkameyyāma hadayaṁ vāssa phaleyya, uṇhaṁ lohitaṁ vā mukhato uggaccheyya, ummādaṁ vā pāpuṇeyya cittakkhepaṁ vā.
For if we had come on to any ascetic or brahmin like this who was not free of lust, his heart would explode, or he’d spew hot blood from his mouth, or he’d go mad and lose his mind.
’“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, or he would have gone mad or become mentally deranged;

Seyyathā vā pana naḷo harito luto ussussati visussati milāyati;
He’d dry up, wither away, and shrivel up like a green reed that was mowed down.”
Just as a green reed that has been mowed down would dry up and wither away and become shrivelled.

evameva ussusseyya visusseyya milāyeyyā”ti.
In the same way, he would have dried up and withered away and become shrivelled.”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.
Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Delight, and Lust went up to the Buddha, and stood to one side.
Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—approached the Blessed One and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho taṇhā māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Māra’s daughter Craving addressed the Buddha in verse:
Standing to one side, Māra’s daughter Taṇhā addressed the Blessed One in verse:

“Sokāvatiṇṇo nu vanamhi jhāyasi,
“Are you swamped by sorrow <j>that you meditate in the forest?
“Is it because you are sunk in sorrow that you meditate in the woods?

Vittaṁ nu jīno uda patthayāno;
Have you lost a fortune, or do you long for one?
Because you’ve lost wealth or pine for it,

Āguṁ nu gāmasmimakāsi kiñci,
Or perhaps you’ve committed <j>some crime in the village?
Or committed some crime in the village?

Kasmā janena na karosi sakkhiṁ;
Why don’t you get too close to people?
Why don’t you make friends with people?

Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci te”ti.
And why does no-one get close to you?”
Why don’t you form any intimate ties?”

“Atthassa pattiṁ hadayassa santiṁ,
“I’ve reached the goal, peace of heart.
The attainment of the goal, the peace of the heart.

Jetvāna senaṁ piyasātarūpaṁ;
Having conquered the army <j>of the likable and pleasant,
“Having conquered the army of the pleasant and agreeable,

Ekohaṁ jhāyaṁ sukhamanubodhiṁ,
alone, practicing absorption, I awakened to bliss.
Meditating alone, I discovered bliss,

Tasmā janena na karomi sakkhiṁ;
That’s why I don’t get too close to people,
Therefore I don’t make friends with people,

Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci me”ti.
and no-one gets too close to me.”
Nor will I form any intimate ties. ”

Atha kho arati māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then Māra’s daughter Delight addressed the Buddha in verse:
Then Māra’s daughter Aratī addressed the Blessed One in verse:

“Kathaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,
“How does a mendicant who has crossed five floods
“How does a bhikkhu here often dwell

Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;
usually meditate here while crossing the sixth?
That, five floods crossed, he here has crossed the sixth?

Kathaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,
How do they usually practice absorption <j>so that sensual perceptions
How does he meditate so sensual perceptions

Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.
are blocked out and don’t get hold of them?”
Are kept at bay and fail to grip him?”

“Passaddhakāyo suvimuttacitto,
“With tranquil body and mind well freed,
“Tranquil in body, in mind well liberated,

Asaṅkharāno satimā anoko;
without making plans, mindful, homeless;
Not generating, mindful, homeless,

Aññāya dhammaṁ avitakkajhāyī,
understanding the teaching, <j>they practice absorption without placing the mind;
Knowing Dhamma, meditating thought-free,

Na kuppati na sarati na thino.
they’re not shaking or drifting or rigid.
He does not erupt, or drift, or stiffen.

Evaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,
That’s how a mendicant who has crossed five floods
“When a bhikkhu here often dwells thus,

Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;
usually meditates here while crossing the sixth.
With five floods crossed, he here has crossed the sixth.

Evaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,
That’s how they usually practice absorption <j>so that sensual perceptions
When he meditates thus, sensual perceptions

Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.
are blocked out and don’t get hold of them.”
Are kept at bay and fail to grip him. ”

Atha kho ragā māradhītā bhagavato santike gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then Māra’s daughter Lust addressed the Buddha in verse:
Then Māra’s daughter Ragā addressed the Blessed One in verse:

“Acchejja taṇhaṁ gaṇasaṅghacārī,
“He lives with his community after cutting off craving,
“He has cut off craving, faring with his group and order;

Addhā carissanti bahū ca saddhā;
and many of the faithful will cross over for sure.
Surely many other beings will cross and lead them away .

Bahuṁ vatāyaṁ janataṁ anoko,
Alas, this homeless one will snatch many men away,
Alas, this homeless one will snatch many people beyond the King of Death. ”

Acchejja nessati maccurājassa pāran”ti.
and lead them past the King of Death!”

“Nayanti ve mahāvīrā,
“The great heroes they lead
Truly, lead by the the great heroes,

saddhammena tathāgatā;
by means of the true teaching.
“and the true Dhamma, the Tathāgatas

Dhammena nayamānānaṁ,
When the Realized Ones are leading by the teaching,
are leading by means of the Dhamma,

kā usūyā vijānatan”ti.
how could anyone who knows be jealous?”
What envy can there be in those who understand?”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.
Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Delight, and Lust went up to Māra the Wicked.
Then Māra’s daughters—Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—approached Māra the Evil One.

Addasā kho māro pāpimā taṇhañca aratiñca ragañca māradhītaro dūratova āgacchantiyo.
Māra the Wicked saw them coming off in the distance,
Māra saw them coming in the distance

Disvāna gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:
and addressed them in verse:
and addressed them in verse:

“Bālā kumudanāḷehi,
“Fools! You drill into a mountain
“Fools! With the stalks of lotus flowers,

pabbataṁ abhimatthatha;
with lotus stalks!
You tried to batter a mountain

Giriṁ nakhena khanatha,
You dig up a hill with your nails!
To dig up a mountain with your nails,

ayo dantehi khādatha.
You chew iron with your teeth!
To chew iron with your teeth.

Selaṁva sirasūhacca,
You seek a footing in the deeps, as it were,
“As if, having lifted a rock with your head,

pātāle gādhamesatha;
while lifting a rock with your head!
You sought a foothold in the abyss;

Khāṇuṁva urasāsajja,
After attacking a stump with your breast, as it were,
As if you struck a stump with your breast,

nibbijjāpetha gotamā”ti.
you leave Gotama disappointed.”
You part from Gotama disappointed. ”

“Daddallamānā āgañchuṁ,
“They came in their splendor—
They had come to him glittering with beauty—

taṇhā ca aratī ragā;
Craving, Delight, and Lust.
Taṇhā, Aratī, and Ragā—

Tā tattha panudī satthā,
But the Teacher brushed them off right there,
But the Teacher swept them away right there

tūlaṁ bhaṭṭhaṁva māluto”ti.
like the gale, a fallen tuft.”
As the wind, a fallen cotton tuft.

Tatiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sambahulā samiddhi ca,

Godhikaṁ sattavassāni;

Dhītaraṁ desitaṁ buddha,

Seṭṭhena imaṁ mārapañcakanti.

Mārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.
The Linked Discourses with Māra are complete.