SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 4 Connected Discourses With Māra – Mārasaṁyutta > SN 4.6 A Serpent

Linked Discourses 4.6 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.6

1. Life Span – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 4.6 A Serpent – Sappasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.

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.

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo mahantaṁ sapparājavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

Its body was like a huge canoe carved from a single tree.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī ekarukkhikā nāvā;

evamassa kāyo hoti.

Its hood was like a large brewer’s sieve.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahantaṁ soṇḍikākiḷañjaṁ;

evamassa phaṇo hoti.

Its eyes were like those big bronze dishes from Kosala.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī kosalikā kaṁsapāti;

evamassa akkhīni bhavanti.

Its tongue flickered from its mouth like lightning flashes in a thunderstorm.

Seyyathāpi nāma deve gaḷagaḷāyante vijjullatā niccharanti;

evamassa mukhato jivhā niccharati.

The sound of its breathing was like the puffing of a blacksmith’s bellows.

Seyyathāpi nāma kammāragaggariyā dhamamānāya saddo hoti;

evamassa assāsapassāsānaṁ saddo hoti.

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:

“A self-controlled sage frequents

“Yo suññagehāni sevati,

empty buildings for lodging.

Seyyā so muni attasaññato;

It’s appropriate for such a person

Vossajja careyya tattha so,

to live there after relinquishing.

Patirūpañhi tathāvidhassa taṁ.

Though there are lots of creepy crawlies,

Carakā bahū bheravā bahū,

and lots of flies and snakes,

Atho ḍaṁsasarīsapā bahū;

they wouldn’t stir a hair

Lomampi na tattha iñjaye,

of a great sage in that empty hut.

Suññāgāragato mahāmuni.

Though the sky may split and the earth may quake,

Nabhaṁ phaleyya pathavī caleyya,

and all creatures be stricken with fear;

Sabbepi pāṇā uda santaseyyuṁ;

and even if an arrow’s aimed at their breast,

Sallampi ce urasi pakappayeyyuṁ,

the Buddhas take no shelter in attachments.”

Upadhīsu tāṇaṁ na karonti buddhā”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.