MN 50 The Rebuke of Māra – Māratajjanīyasutta

Medium Discourses Collection 50 – Majjhima Nikāya 50

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was staying in the land of the Bhaggas on Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood.

ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye.

2.1

At that time Moggallāna was walking mindfully in the open air.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahāmoggallāno abbhokāse caṅkamati.

2.2

Now at that time Māra the Wicked had got inside Moggallāna’s belly.

Tena kho pana samayena māro pāpimā āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa kucchigato hoti koṭṭhamanupaviṭṭho.

2.3

Moggallāna thought,

Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi:

2.4

“Why now is my belly so very heavy,

“kiṁ nu kho me kucchi garugaro viya?

2.5

like I’ve just eaten a load of beans?”

Māsācitaṁ maññe”ti.

2.6

Then he stepped down from the walking path, entered his dwelling, sat down on the seat spread out,

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno caṅkamā orohitvā vihāraṁ pavisitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

3.1

and investigated inside himself.

Nisajja kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno paccattaṁ yoniso manasākāsi.

3.2

He saw that Māra the Wicked had got inside his belly.

Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno māraṁ pāpimantaṁ kucchigataṁ koṭṭhamanupaviṭṭhaṁ.

3.3

So he said to Māra,

Disvāna māraṁ pāpimantaṁ etadavoca:

3.4

“Come out, Wicked One,

“nikkhama, pāpima;

3.5

come out!

nikkhama, pāpima.

3.6

Do not harass the Realized One or his disciple.

Mā tathāgataṁ vihesesi, mā tathāgatasāvakaṁ.

3.7

Don’t create lasting harm and suffering for yourself!”

Mā te ahosi dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāyā”ti.

4.1

Then Māra thought,

Atha kho mārassa pāpimato etadahosi:

4.2

“This ascetic doesn’t really know me or see me when he tells me to come out.

“ajānameva kho maṁ ayaṁ samaṇo apassaṁ evamāha:

4.3

‘nikkhama, pāpima;

4.4

nikkhama, pāpima.

4.5

Mā tathāgataṁ vihesesi, mā tathāgatasāvakaṁ.

4.6

Mā te ahosi dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāyā’ti.

4.7

Not even the Teacher could recognize me so quickly, so how could a disciple?”

Yopissa so satthā sopi maṁ neva khippaṁ jāneyya, kuto pana maṁ ayaṁ sāvako jānissatī”ti?

5.1

Then Moggallāna said to Māra,

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno māraṁ pāpimantaṁ etadavoca:

5.2

“I know you even when you’re like this, Wicked One. Do not think,

“evampi kho tāhaṁ, pāpima, jānāmi, mā tvaṁ maññittho:

5.3

‘He doesn’t know me.’

‘na maṁ jānātī’ti.

5.4

You are Māra the Wicked.

Māro tvamasi, pāpima;

5.5

And you think,

tuyhañhi, pāpima, evaṁ hoti:

5.6

‘This ascetic doesn’t really know me or see me when he tells me to come out.

‘ajānameva kho maṁ ayaṁ samaṇo apassaṁ evamāha—

5.7

nikkhama, pāpima;

5.8

nikkhama, pāpima.

5.9

Mā tathāgataṁ vihesesi, mā tathāgatasāvakaṁ.

5.10

Mā te ahosi dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāyāti.

5.11

Not even the Teacher could recognize me so quickly, so how could a disciple?’”

Yopissa so satthā sopi maṁ neva khippaṁ jāneyya, kuto pana maṁ ayaṁ sāvako jānissatī’”ti?

6.1

Then Māra thought,

Atha kho mārassa pāpimato etadahosi:

6.2

“This ascetic really does know me and see me when he tells me to come out.”

“jānameva kho maṁ ayaṁ samaṇo passaṁ evamāha:

6.3

‘nikkhama, pāpima;

6.4

nikkhama, pāpima.

6.5

Mā tathāgataṁ vihesesi, mā tathāgatasāvakaṁ.

6.6

Mā te ahosi dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāyā’”ti.

6.7

Then Māra came up out of Moggallāna’s mouth and stood against the door bar.

Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa mukhato uggantvā paccaggaḷe aṭṭhāsi.

7.1

Moggallāna saw him there

Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno māraṁ pāpimantaṁ paccaggaḷe ṭhitaṁ;

7.2

and said,

disvāna māraṁ pāpimantaṁ etadavoca:

7.3

“I see you even there, Wicked One. Do not think,

“etthāpi kho tāhaṁ, pāpima, passāmi; mā tvaṁ maññittho

7.4

‘He doesn’t see me.’

‘na maṁ passatī’ti.

7.5

That’s you, Wicked One, standing against the door bar.

Eso tvaṁ, pāpima, paccaggaḷe ṭhito.

8.1

Once upon a time, Wicked One, I was a Māra named Dūsī, and I had a sister named Kāḷī.

Bhūtapubbāhaṁ, pāpima, dūsī nāma māro ahosiṁ, tassa me kāḷī nāma bhaginī.

8.2

You were her son,

Tassā tvaṁ putto.

8.3

which made you my nephew.

So me tvaṁ bhāgineyyo ahosi.

9.1

At that time Kakusandha, the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha arose in the world.

Tena kho pana, pāpima, samayena kakusandho bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho loke uppanno hoti.

9.2

Kakusandha had a fine pair of chief disciples named Vidhura and Sañjīva.

Kakusandhassa kho pana, pāpima, bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa vidhurasañjīvaṁ nāma sāvakayugaṁ ahosi aggaṁ bhaddayugaṁ.

9.3

Of all the disciples of the Buddha Kakusandha,

Yāvatā kho pana, pāpima, kakusandhassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa sāvakā.

9.4

none were the equal of Venerable Vidhura in teaching Dhamma.

Tesu na ca koci āyasmatā vidhurena samasamo hoti yadidaṁ dhammadesanāya.

9.5

And that’s how he came to be known as Vidhura.

Iminā kho evaṁ, pāpima, pariyāyena āyasmato vidhurassa vidhuroteva samaññā udapādi.

10.1

But when Venerable Sañjīva had gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, he easily attained the cessation of perception and feeling.

Āyasmā pana, pāpima, sañjīvo araññagatopi rukkhamūlagatopi suññāgāragatopi appakasireneva saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjati.

10.2

Once upon a time, Sañjīva was sitting at the root of a certain tree having attained the cessation of perception and feeling.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, pāpima, āyasmā sañjīvo aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpanno nisinno hoti.

10.3

Some cowherds, shepherds, farmers, and passers-by saw him sitting there

Addasaṁsu kho, pāpima, gopālakā pasupālakā kassakā pathāvino āyasmantaṁ sañjīvaṁ aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpannaṁ nisinnaṁ;

10.4

and said,

disvāna tesaṁ etadahosi:

10.5

‘It’s incredible, it’s amazing!

‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata, bho.

10.6

This ascetic passed away while sitting.

Ayaṁ samaṇo nisinnakova kālaṅkato.

10.7

We should cremate him.’

Handa naṁ dahāmā’ti.

10.8

They collected grass, wood, and cow-dung, heaped it all on Sañjīva’s body, set it on fire, and left.

Atha kho te, pāpima, gopālakā pasupālakā kassakā pathāvino tiṇañca kaṭṭhañca gomayañca saṅkaḍḍhitvā āyasmato sañjīvassa kāye upacinitvā aggiṁ datvā pakkamiṁsu.

11.1

Then, when the night had passed, Sañjīva emerged from that attainment, shook out his robes, and, since it was morning, he robed up and entered the village for alms.

Atha kho, pāpima, āyasmā sañjīvo tassā rattiyā accayena tāya samāpattiyā vuṭṭhahitvā cīvarāni papphoṭetvā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

11.2

Those cowherds, shepherds, farmers, and passers-by saw him wandering for alms

Addasaṁsu kho te, pāpima, gopālakā pasupālakā kassakā pathāvino āyasmantaṁ sañjīvaṁ piṇḍāya carantaṁ;

11.3

and said,

disvāna nesaṁ etadahosi:

11.4

‘It’s incredible, it’s amazing!

‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata, bho.

11.5

This ascetic passed away while sitting, and now he has come back to life!’

Ayaṁ samaṇo nisinnakova kālaṅkato, svāyaṁ paṭisañjīvito’ti.

11.6

And that’s how he came to be known as Sañjīva.

Iminā kho evaṁ, pāpima, pariyāyena āyasmato sañjīvassa sañjīvoteva samaññā udapādi.

12.1

Then it occurred to Māra Dūsī,

Atha kho, pāpima, dūsissa mārassa etadahosi:

12.2

‘I don’t know the course of rebirth of these ethical bhikkhū of good character.

‘imesaṁ kho ahaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ sīlavantānaṁ kalyāṇadhammānaṁ neva jānāmi āgatiṁ vā gatiṁ vā.

12.3

Why don’t I take possession of these brahmins and householders and say,

Yannūnāhaṁ brāhmaṇagahapatike anvāviseyyaṁ—

12.4

“Come, all of you, abuse, attack, harass, and trouble the ethical bhikkhū of good character.

etha, tumhe bhikkhū sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme akkosatha paribhāsatha rosetha vihesetha.

12.5

Hopefully by doing this we can upset their minds so that Māra Dūsī can find a vulnerability.”’

Appeva nāma tumhehi akkosiyamānānaṁ paribhāsiyamānānaṁ rosiyamānānaṁ vihesiyamānānaṁ siyā cittassa aññathattaṁ, yathā taṁ dūsī māro labhetha otāran’ti.

12.6

And that’s exactly what he did.

Atha kho te, pāpima, dūsī māro brāhmaṇagahapatike anvāvisi:

12.7

‘etha, tumhe bhikkhū sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme akkosatha paribhāsatha rosetha vihesetha.

12.8

Appeva nāma tumhehi akkosiyamānānaṁ paribhāsiyamānānaṁ rosiyamānānaṁ vihesiyamānānaṁ siyā cittassa aññathattaṁ, yathā taṁ dūsī māro labhetha otāran’ti.

13.1

Then those brahmins and householders abused, attacked, harassed, and troubled the ethical bhikkhū of good character:

Atha kho te, pāpima, brāhmaṇagahapatikā anvāvisiṭṭhā dūsinā mārena bhikkhū sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme akkosanti paribhāsanti rosenti vihesenti:

13.2

‘These shavelings, fake ascetics, riffraff, black spawn from the feet of our Kinsman, say, “We practice absorption meditation! We practice absorption meditation!” Slouching, downcast, and dopey, they meditate and concentrate and contemplate and ruminate.

‘ime pana muṇḍakā samaṇakā ibbhā kiṇhā bandhupādāpaccā “jhāyinosmā jhāyinosmā”ti pattakkhandhā adhomukhā madhurakajātā jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti.

13.3

They’re just like an owl on a branch, which meditates and concentrates and contemplates and ruminates as it hunts a mouse.

Seyyathāpi nāma ulūko rukkhasākhāyaṁ mūsikaṁ maggayamāno jhāyati pajjhāyati nijjhāyati apajjhāyati;

13.4

evamevime muṇḍakā samaṇakā ibbhā kiṇhā bandhupādāpaccā “jhāyinosmā jhāyinosmā”ti pattakkhandhā adhomukhā madhurakajātā jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti.

13.5

They’re just like a jackal on a river-bank, which meditates and concentrates and contemplates and ruminates as it hunts a fish.

Seyyathāpi nāma kotthu nadītīre macche maggayamāno jhāyati pajjhāyati nijjhāyati apajjhāyati;

13.6

evamevime muṇḍakā samaṇakā ibbhā kiṇhā bandhupādāpaccā “jhāyinosmā jhāyinosmā”ti pattakkhandhā adhomukhā madhurakajātā jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti.

13.7

They’re just like a cat by an alley or a drain or a dustbin, which meditates and concentrates and contemplates and ruminates as it hunts a mouse.

Seyyathāpi nāma biḷāro sandhisamalasaṅkaṭīre mūsikaṁ maggayamāno jhāyati pajjhāyati nijjhāyati apajjhāyati;

13.8

evamevime muṇḍakā samaṇakā ibbhā kiṇhā bandhupādāpaccā “jhāyinosmā jhāyinosmā”ti pattakkhandhā adhomukhā madhurakajātā jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti.

13.9

They’re just like an unladen donkey by an alley or a drain or a dustbin, which meditates and concentrates and contemplates and ruminates.

Seyyathāpi nāma gadrabho vahacchinno sandhisamalasaṅkaṭīre jhāyati pajjhāyati nijjhāyati apajjhāyati;

13.10

In the same way, these shavelings, fake ascetics, riffraff, black spawn from the feet of our Kinsman, say, “We practice absorption meditation! We practice absorption meditation!” Slouching, downcast, and dopey, they meditate and concentrate and contemplate and ruminate.’

evamevime muṇḍakā samaṇakā ibbhā kiṇhā bandhupādāpaccā “jhāyinosmā jhāyinosmā”ti pattakkhandhā adhomukhā madhurakajātā jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyantī’ti.

13.11

Most of the people who died at that time—when their body broke up, after death—were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

Ye kho pana, pāpima, tena samayena manussā kālaṁ karonti yebhuyyena kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjanti.

14.1

Then Kakusandha the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, addressed the bhikkhū:

Atha kho, pāpima, kakusandho bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhikkhū āmantesi:

14.2

‘Bhikkhū, the brahmins and householders have been possessed by Māra Dūsī.

‘anvāviṭṭhā kho, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇagahapatikā dūsinā mārena—

14.3

He told them to abuse you in the hope of upsetting your minds so that he can find a vulnerability.

etha, tumhe bhikkhū sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme akkosatha paribhāsatha rosetha vihesetha, appeva nāma tumhehi akkosiyamānānaṁ paribhāsiyamānānaṁ rosiyamānānaṁ vihesiyamānānaṁ siyā cittassa aññathattaṁ, yathā taṁ dūsī māro labhetha otāran’ti.

14.4

Come, all of you bhikkhū, meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

Etha, tumhe, bhikkhave, mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharatha, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharatha.

14.5

Meditate spreading a heart full of compassion …

Karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

14.6

Meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing …

muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

14.7

Meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’

upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharatha, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharathā’ti.

15.1

When those bhikkhū were instructed and advised by the Buddha Kakusandha in this way, they went to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, where they meditated spreading a heart full of love …

Atha kho te, pāpima, bhikkhū kakusandhena bhagavatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena evaṁ ovadiyamānā evaṁ anusāsiyamānā araññagatāpi rukkhamūlagatāpi suññāgāragatāpi mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā vihariṁsu, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā vihariṁsu.

15.2

compassion …

Karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

15.3

rejoicing …

muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

15.4

equanimity.

upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā vihariṁsu, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā vihariṁsu.

16.1

Then it occurred to Māra Dūsī,

Atha kho, pāpima, dūsissa mārassa etadahosi:

16.2

‘Even when I do this I don’t know the course of rebirth of these ethical bhikkhū of good character. Why don’t I take possession of these brahmins and householders and say,

‘evampi kho ahaṁ karonto imesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ sīlavantānaṁ kalyāṇadhammānaṁ neva jānāmi āgatiṁ vā gatiṁ vā, yannūnāhaṁ brāhmaṇagahapatike anvāviseyyaṁ:

16.3

“Come, all of you, honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the ethical bhikkhū of good character.

“etha, tumhe bhikkhū sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme sakkarotha garuṁ karotha mānetha pūjetha,

16.4

Hopefully by doing this we can upset their minds so that Māra Dūsī can find a vulnerability.”’

appeva nāma tumhehi sakkariyamānānaṁ garukariyamānānaṁ māniyamānānaṁ pūjiyamānānaṁ siyā cittassa aññathattaṁ, yathā taṁ dūsī māro labhetha otāran”’ti.

17.1

And that’s exactly what he did.

Atha kho te, pāpima, dūsī māro brāhmaṇagahapatike anvāvisi:

17.2

‘etha, tumhe bhikkhū sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme sakkarotha garuṁ karotha mānetha pūjetha,

17.3

appeva nāma tumhehi sakkariyamānānaṁ garukariyamānānaṁ māniyamānānaṁ pūjiyamānānaṁ siyā cittassa aññathattaṁ, yathā taṁ dūsī māro labhetha otāran’ti.

17.4

Then those brahmins and householders honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated the ethical bhikkhū of good character.

Atha kho te, pāpima, brāhmaṇagahapatikā anvāviṭṭhā dūsinā mārena bhikkhū sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti.

17.5

Most of the people who died at that time—when their body broke up, after death—were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Ye kho pana, pāpima, tena samayena manussā kālaṁ karonti yebhuyyena kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti.

18.1

Then Kakusandha the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, addressed the bhikkhū:

Atha kho, pāpima, kakusandho bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhikkhū āmantesi:

18.2

‘Bhikkhū, the brahmins and householders have been possessed by Māra Dūsī.

‘anvāviṭṭhā kho, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇagahapatikā dūsinā mārena:

18.3

He told them to venerate you

“etha, tumhe bhikkhū sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme sakkarotha garuṁ karotha mānetha pūjetha,

18.4

in the hope of upsetting your minds so that he can find a vulnerability.

appeva nāma tumhehi sakkariyamānānaṁ garukariyamānānaṁ māniyamānānaṁ pūjiyamānānaṁ siyā cittassa aññathattaṁ, yathā taṁ dūsī māro labhetha otāran”ti.

18.5

Come, all you bhikkhū, meditate observing the ugliness of the body, perceiving the repulsiveness of food, perceiving dissatisfaction with the whole world, and observing the anicca of all conditions.’

Etha, tumhe, bhikkhave, asubhānupassino kāye viharatha, āhāre paṭikūlasaññino, sabbaloke anabhiratisaññino, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassino’ti.

19.1

When those bhikkhū were instructed and advised by the Buddha Kakusandha in this way, they went to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, where they meditated observing the ugliness of the body, perceiving the repulsiveness of food, perceiving dissatisfaction with the whole world, and observing the anicca of all conditions.

Atha kho te, pāpima, bhikkhū kakusandhena bhagavatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena evaṁ ovadiyamānā evaṁ anusāsiyamānā araññagatāpi rukkhamūlagatāpi suññāgāragatāpi asubhānupassino kāye vihariṁsu, āhāre paṭikūlasaññino, sabbaloke anabhiratisaññino, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassino.

20.1

Then the Buddha Kakusandha robed up in the morning and, taking this bowl and robe, entered the village for alms with Venerable Vidhura as his second monk.

Atha kho, pāpima, kakusandho bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya āyasmatā vidhurena pacchāsamaṇena gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

21.1

Then Māra Dūsī took possession of a certain boy, picked up a rock, and hit Vidhura on the head, cracking it open.

Atha kho, pāpima, dūsī māro aññataraṁ kumārakaṁ anvāvisitvā sakkharaṁ gahetvā āyasmato vidhurassa sīse pahāramadāsi; sīsaṁ vobhindi.

21.2

Then Vidhura, with blood pouring from his cracked skull, still followed behind the Buddha Kakusandha.

Atha kho, pāpima, āyasmā vidhuro bhinnena sīsena lohitena gaḷantena kakusandhaṁyeva bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.

21.3

Then the Buddha Kakusandha turned his whole body, the way that elephants do, to look back, saying,

Atha kho, pāpima, kakusandho bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho nāgāpalokitaṁ apalokesi:

21.4

‘This Māra Dūsī knows no bounds.’

‘na vāyaṁ dūsī māro mattamaññāsī’ti.

21.5

And with that look Māra Dūsī fell from that place and was reborn in the Great Hell.

Sahāpalokanāya ca pana, pāpima, dūsī māro tamhā ca ṭhānā cavi mahānirayañca upapajji.

22.1

Now that Great Hell is known by three names:

Tassa kho pana, pāpima, mahānirayassa tayo nāmadheyyā honti—

22.2

‘The Six Fields of Contact’ and also ‘The Impaling With Spikes’ and also ‘Individually Painful’.

chaphassāyataniko itipi, saṅkusamāhato itipi, paccattavedaniyo itipi.

22.3

Then the wardens of hell came to me and said,

Atha kho maṁ, pāpima, nirayapālā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ:

22.4

‘When spike meets spike in your heart,

‘yadā kho te, mārisa, saṅkunā saṅku hadaye samāgaccheyya.

22.5

you will know that

Atha naṁ tvaṁ jāneyyāsi:

22.6

you’ve been roasting in hell for a thousand years.’

“vassasahassaṁ me niraye paccamānassā”’ti.

23.1

I roasted for many years, many centuries, many millennia in that Great Hell.

So kho ahaṁ, pāpima, bahūni vassāni bahūni vassasatāni bahūni vassasahassāni tasmiṁ mahāniraye apacciṁ.

23.2

For ten thousand years I roasted in the annex of that Great Hell, experiencing the pain called ‘this is emergence’.

Dasavassasahassāni tasseva mahānirayassa ussade apacciṁ vuṭṭhānimaṁ nāma vedanaṁ vediyamāno.

23.3

My body was in human form,

Tassa mayhaṁ, pāpima, evarūpo kāyo hoti, seyyathāpi manussassa.

23.4

but I had the head of a fish.

Evarūpaṁ sīsaṁ hoti, seyyathāpi macchassa.

24.1

What kind of hell was that,

Kīdiso nirayo āsi,

24.2

where Dūsī was roasted

yattha dūsī apaccatha;

24.3

after attacking the disciple Vidhura

Vidhuraṁ sāvakamāsajja,

24.4

along with the brahmin Kakusandha?

kakusandhañca brāhmaṇaṁ.

24.5

There were 100 iron spikes,

Sataṁ āsi ayosaṅkū,

24.6

each one individually painful.

sabbe paccattavedanā;

24.7

That’s the kind of hell

Īdiso nirayo āsi,

24.8

where Dūsī was roasted

yattha dūsī apaccatha;

24.9

after attacking the disciple Vidhura

Vidhuraṁ sāvakamāsajja,

24.10

along with the brahmin Kakusandha.

kakusandhañca brāhmaṇaṁ.

24.11

Dark One, if you attack

Yo etamabhijānāti,

24.12

a bhikkhu who directly knows this,

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

24.13

a disciple of the Buddha,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

24.14

you’ll fall into suffering.

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

25.1

There are mansions that last for an eon

Majjhe sarassa tiṭṭhanti,

25.2

standing in the middle of a lake.

vimānā kappaṭṭhāyino;

25.3

Sapphire-colored, brilliant,

Veḷuriyavaṇṇā rucirā,

25.4

they sparkle and shine.

accimanto pabhassarā;

25.5

Dancing there are nymphs

Accharā tattha naccanti,

25.6

shining in all different colors.

puthu nānattavaṇṇiyo.

25.7

Dark One, if you attack

Yo etamabhijānāti,

25.8

a bhikkhu who directly knows this,

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

25.9

a disciple of the Buddha,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

25.10

you’ll fall into suffering.

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

26.1

I’m the one who, urged by the Buddha,

Yo ve buddhena codito,

26.2

shook the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother

bhikkhu saṅghassa pekkhato;

26.3

with his big toe

Migāramātupāsādaṁ,

26.4

as the Saṅgha of bhikkhū watched.

pādaṅguṭṭhena kampayi.

26.5

Dark One, if you attack

Yo etamabhijānāti,

26.6

a bhikkhu who directly knows this,

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

26.7

a disciple of the Buddha,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

26.8

you’ll fall into suffering.

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

27.1

I’m the one who shook the Palace of Victory

Yo vejayantaṁ pāsādaṁ,

27.2

with his big toe

pādaṅguṭṭhena kampayi;

27.3

owing to psychic power,

Iddhibalenupatthaddho,

27.4

inspiring deities to awe.

saṁvejesi ca devatā.

27.5

Dark One, if you attack

Yo etamabhijānāti,

27.6

a bhikkhu who directly knows this,

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

27.7

a disciple of the Buddha,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

27.8

you’ll fall into suffering.

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

28.1

I’m the one who asked Sakka

Yo vejayantapāsāde,

28.2

in the Palace of Victory:

sakkaṁ so paripucchati;

28.3

‘Vāsava, do you know the freedom

Api vāsava jānāsi,

28.4

that comes with the ending of craving?’

taṇhākkhayavimuttiyo;

28.5

And I’m the one to whom Sakka

Tassa sakko viyākāsi,

28.6

admitted the truth when asked.

pañhaṁ puṭṭho yathātathaṁ.

28.7

Dark One, if you attack

Yo etamabhijānāti,

28.8

a bhikkhu who directly knows this,

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

28.9

a disciple of the Buddha,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

28.10

you’ll fall into suffering.

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

29.1

I’m the one who asked Brahmā

Yo brahmaṁ paripucchati,

29.2

in the Hall of Justice before the assembly:

sudhammāyābhito sabhaṁ;

29.3

‘Friend, do you still have the same view

Ajjāpi tyāvuso diṭṭhi,

29.4

that you had in the past?

yā te diṭṭhi pure ahu;

29.5

Or do you see the radiance

Passasi vītivattantaṁ,

29.6

transcending the Brahmā realm?’

brahmaloke pabhassaraṁ.

29.7

And I’m the one to whom Brahmā

Tassa brahmā viyākāsi,

29.8

truthfully admitted his progress:

anupubbaṁ yathātathaṁ;

29.9

‘Good sir, I don’t have that view

Na me mārisa sā diṭṭhi,

29.10

that I had in the past.

yā me diṭṭhi pure ahu.

29.11

I see the radiance

Passāmi vītivattantaṁ,

29.12

transcending the Brahmā realm.

brahmaloke pabhassaraṁ;

29.13

So how could I say today

Sohaṁ ajja kathaṁ vajjaṁ,

29.14

that I am permanent and eternal?’

ahaṁ niccomhi sassato.

29.15

Dark One, if you attack

Yo etamabhijānāti,

29.16

a bhikkhu who directly knows this,

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

29.17

a disciple of the Buddha,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

29.18

you’ll fall into suffering.

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

30.1

I’m the one who has touched the peak of Mount Meru

Yo mahāmeruno kūṭaṁ,

30.2

using the power of meditative liberation.

vimokkhena aphassayi;

30.3

I’ve visited the forests of the people

Vanaṁ pubbavidehānaṁ,

30.4

who dwell in the Eastern Continent.

ye ca bhūmisayā narā.

30.5

Dark One, if you attack

Yo etamabhijānāti,

30.6

a bhikkhu who directly knows this,

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

30.7

a disciple of the Buddha,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

30.8

you’ll fall into suffering.

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

31.1

Though a fire doesn’t think,

Na ve aggi cetayati,

31.2

‘I’ll burn the fool!’

‘ahaṁ bālaṁ ḍahāmī’ti;

31.3

Still the fool who attacks

Bālo ca jalitaṁ aggiṁ,

31.4

the fire gets burnt.

āsajja naṁ sa ḍayhati.

31.5

In the same way, Māra,

Evameva tuvaṁ māra,

31.6

in attacking the Realized One,

āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ;

31.7

you’ll only burn yourself,

Sayaṁ ḍahissasi attānaṁ,

31.8

like a fool touching the flames.

bālo aggiṁva samphusaṁ.

31.9

Māra’s done a bad thing

Apuññaṁ pasavī māro,

31.10

in attacking the Realized One.

āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ;

31.11

Wicked One, do you imagine that

Kiṁ nu maññasi pāpima,

31.12

your wickedness won’t bear fruit?

na me pāpaṁ vipaccati.

31.13

Your deeds heap up wickedness

Karoto cīyati pāpaṁ,

31.14

that will last a long time, terminator!

cirarattāya antaka;

31.15

Forget about the Buddha, Māra!

Māra nibbinda buddhamhā,

31.16

And give up your hopes for the bhikkhū!”

āsaṁ mākāsi bhikkhusu.

31.17

That is how, in the Bhesekaḷā grove,

Iti māraṁ atajjesi,

31.18

the bhikkhu rebuked Māra.

bhikkhu bhesakaḷāvane;

31.19

That spirit, downcast,

Tato so dummano yakkho,

31.20

disappeared right there!

tatthevantaradhāyathā”ti.

31.21

Māratajjanīyasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.

31.22

Cūḷayamakavaggo niṭṭhito pañcamo.

32.0

Tassuddānaṁ

32.1

Sāleyya verañjaduve ca tuṭṭhi,

32.2

Cūḷamahādhammasamādānañca;

32.3

Vīmaṁsakā kosambi ca brāhmaṇo,

32.4

Dūsī ca māro dasamo ca vaggo.

33.0

Idaṁ vaggānamuddānaṁ

33.1

Mūlapariyāyo ceva,

33.2

sīhanādo ca uttamo;

33.3

Kakaco ceva gosiṅgo,

33.4

sāleyyo ca ime pañca.

33.5

Mūlapaṇṇāsakaṁ samattaṁ.