SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 4 Connected Discourses With Māra – Mārasaṁyutta > SN 4.16 The Alms Bowls

Linked Discourses 4.16 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.16

2. Rule – 2. Dutiyavagga

SN 4.16 The Alms Bowls – Pattasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Now at that time the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the bhikkhū with a Dhamma talk on the topic of the five grasping aggregates.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā pañcannaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ upādāya bhikkhūnaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti.

And those bhikkhū were paying heed, paying attention, engaging wholeheartedly, and lending an ear.

Te ca bhikkhū aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti.

Then Māra thought,

Atha kho mārassa pāpimato etadahosi:

“This ascetic Gotama is educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the bhikkhū with a Dhamma talk on the topic of the five grasping aggregates.

“ayaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo pañcannaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ upādāya bhikkhūnaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti.

And the bhikkhū are paying heed, paying attention, engaging wholeheartedly, and lending an ear.

Te ca bhikkhū aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti.

Why don’t I go and pull the wool over their eyes?”

Yannūnāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkameyyaṁ vicakkhukammāyā”ti.

At that time several alms bowls were placed in the open air.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā pattā abbhokāse nikkhittā honti.

Then Māra the Wicked manifested in the form of an ox and approached those bowls.

Atha kho māro pāpimā balībaddavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena te pattā tenupasaṅkami.

One of the bhikkhū said to another,

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

“Bhikkhu, bhikkhu, that ox will break the bowls.”

“bhikkhu bhikkhu, eso balībaddo patte bhindeyyā”ti.

When this was said, the Buddha said to that bhikkhu,

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

“Bhikkhu, that’s no ox.

“na so, bhikkhu, balībaddo.

That’s Māra the Wicked come to pull the wool over your eyes!”

Māro eso pāpimā tumhākaṁ vicakkhukammāya āgato”ti.

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

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

“Sights, feeling, and perception,

“Rūpaṁ vedayitaṁ saññā,

consciousness and what is chosen:

viññāṇaṁ yañca saṅkhataṁ;

‘I am not this’ and ‘this is not mine’;

Nesohamasmi netaṁ me,

that’s how to be free of desire for them.

evaṁ tattha virajjati.

When you’re detached, secure,

Evaṁ virattaṁ khemattaṁ,

all fetters transcended,

sabbasaṁyojanātigaṁ;

though Māra and his army chase everywhere

Anvesaṁ sabbaṭṭhānesu,

they never find you.”

mārasenāpi nājjhagā”ti.

Then Māra … vanished right there.

Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.