SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 4 Connected Discourses With Māra – Mārasaṁyutta > SN 4.20 Ruling

Linked Discourses 4.20 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.20

2. Rule – 2. Dutiyavagga

SN 4.20 Ruling – Rajjasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans, in a wilderness hut on the slopes of the Himalayas.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu viharati himavantapadese araññakuṭikāyaṁ.

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

Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:

“I wonder if it’s possible to rule legitimately, without killing or having someone kill for you; without conquering or having someone conquer for you; without sorrowing or causing sorrow?”

“sakkā nu kho rajjaṁ kāretuṁ ahanaṁ aghātayaṁ ajinaṁ ajāpayaṁ asocaṁ asocāpayaṁ dhammenā”ti?

And then Māra the Wicked, knowing what the Buddha was thinking, went up to him and said,

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

“Rule, Blessed One! Rule, Holy One! Rule legitimately, without killing or having someone kill for you; without conquering or having someone conquer for you; without sorrowing or causing sorrow!”

“kāretu, bhante, bhagavā rajjaṁ, kāretu, sugato, rajjaṁ ahanaṁ aghātayaṁ ajinaṁ ajāpayaṁ asocaṁ asocāpayaṁ dhammenā”ti.

“But what do you see, Wicked One, that you say this to me?”

“Kiṁ pana me tvaṁ, pāpima, passasi yaṁ maṁ tvaṁ evaṁ vadesi:

‘kāretu, bhante, bhagavā rajjaṁ, kāretu sugato, rajjaṁ ahanaṁ aghātayaṁ ajinaṁ ajāpayaṁ asocaṁ asocāpayaṁ dhammenā’”ti?

“The Blessed One, sir, has developed and cultivated the four bases for psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them.

“Bhagavatā kho, bhante, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā.

If he wished, the Blessed One need only determine that the Himalaya, king of mountains, was gold, and it would turn into gold.”

Ākaṅkhamāno ca, bhante, bhagavā himavantaṁ pabbatarājaṁ suvaṇṇaṁ tveva adhimucceyya suvaṇṇañca panassā”ti.

“Take a golden mountain,

“Pabbatassa suvaṇṇassa,

made entirely of gold, and double it—

jātarūpassa kevalo;

it’s still not enough for one!

Dvittāva nālamekassa,

Knowing this, live a moral life.

iti vidvā samañcare.

When a person has seen where suffering comes from

Yo dukkhamaddakkhi yatonidānaṁ,

how could they incline towards sensual pleasures?

Kāmesu so jantu kathaṁ nameyya;

Realizing that attachment is a snare in the world,

Upadhiṁ viditvā saṅgoti loke,

a person would train to remove it.”

Tasseva jantu vinayāya sikkhe”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.

Dutiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Pāsāṇo sīho sakalikaṁ,

Patirūpañca mānasaṁ;