SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 4 Connected Discourses With Māra – Mārasaṁyutta > SN 4.1 Mortification

Linked Discourses 4.1 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.1

1. Life Span – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 4.1 Mortification – Tapokammasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying near Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.

Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind,

Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:

“I am truly freed from that grueling work!

“mutto vatamhi tāya dukkarakārikāya.

Thank goodness I’m freed from that pointless grueling work.

Sādhu mutto vatamhi tāya anatthasaṁhitāya dukkarakārikāya.

Thank goodness that, steadfast and mindful, I have attained awakening.”

Sādhu vatamhi mutto bodhiṁ samajjhagan”ti.

And then Māra the Wicked, knowing what the Buddha was thinking, went up to him and addressed him in verse:

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“You’ve departed from the practice of mortification

“Tapokammā apakkamma,

by which humans purify themselves.

ye na sujjhanti māṇavā;

You’re impure, but think yourself pure;

Asuddho maññasi suddho,

you’ve strayed from the path of purity.”

suddhimaggā aparaddho”ti.

Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:

Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“I realized that it’s pointless;

“Anatthasaṁhitaṁ ñatvā,

all that mortification in search of immortality

yaṁ kiñci amaraṁ tapaṁ;

is as futile

Sabbaṁ natthāvahaṁ hoti,

as oars and rudder on dry land.

phiyārittaṁva dhammani.

Ethics, samādhi, and wisdom:

Sīlaṁ samādhi paññañca,

by developing this path to awakening

Maggaṁ bodhāya bhāvayaṁ;

I attained ultimate purity.

Pattosmi paramaṁ suddhiṁ,

You’re beaten, terminator!”

Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti, dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.