SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 4 Connected Discourses With Māra – Mārasaṁyutta > SN 4.23 With Godhika

Linked Discourses 4.23 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.23

3. Māra – 3. Tatiyavagga

SN 4.23 With Godhika – Godhikasutta

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 Venerable Godhika was staying on the slopes of Isigili at the Black Rock.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā godhiko isigilipasse viharati kāḷasilāyaṁ.

Then Venerable Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Atha kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

But then he fell away from that temporary freedom of heart.

Atha kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.

For a second …

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.

third …

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi.

fourth …

Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto …pe… vimuttiṁ phusi.

Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi.

fifth …

Pañcamampi kho āyasmā godhiko …pe… cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

Pañcamampi kho āyasmā …pe… vimuttiyā parihāyi.

sixth time Godhika experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Chaṭṭhampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

But for a sixth time he fell away from it.

Chaṭṭhampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.

For a seventh time Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Sattamampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.

Then he thought,

Atha kho āyasmato godhikassa etadahosi:

“I’ve fallen away from this temporary freedom of heart no less than six times.

“yāva chaṭṭhaṁ khvāhaṁ sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihīno.

Why don’t I slit my wrists?”

Yannūnāhaṁ satthaṁ āhareyyan”ti.

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

Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato godhikassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“O great hero, O greatly wise!

“Mahāvīra mahāpañña,

Shining with power and glory.

iddhiyā yasasā jala;

You’ve gone beyond all threats and perils,

Sabbaverabhayātīta,

I bow to your feet, O seer!

pāde vandāmi cakkhuma.

Great hero, master of death,

Sāvako te mahāvīra,

your disciple longs for death,

maraṇaṁ maraṇābhibhū;

he’s planning for it.

Ākaṅkhati cetayati,

Stop him, O light-bringer!

taṁ nisedha jutindhara.

For how, Blessed One, can a disciple of yours,

Kathañhi bhagavā tuyhaṁ,

one who loves your teaching,

Sāvako sāsane rato;

a trainee who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire,

Appattamānaso sekkho,

take his own life, O renowned one?”

Kālaṁ kayirā janesutā”ti.

Now at that time Venerable Godhika had already slit his wrists.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmatā godhikena satthaṁ āharitaṁ hoti.

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:

“This is how the wise act,

“Evañhi dhīrā kubbanti,

for they don’t long for life.

nāvakaṅkhanti jīvitaṁ;

Having plucked out craving, root and all,

Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,

Godhika is extinguished.”

godhiko parinibbuto”ti.

Then the Buddha said to the bhikkhū,

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Come, bhikkhū, let’s go to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili where Godhika, who came from a good family, slit his wrists.”

“āyāma, bhikkhave, yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamissāma yattha godhikena kulaputtena satthaṁ āharitan”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

Then the Buddha together with several bhikkhū went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili.

Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkami.

The Buddha saw Godhika off in the distance lying on his cot, having cast off the aggregates.

Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ godhikaṁ dūratova mañcake vivattakkhandhaṁ semānaṁ.

Now at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between.

Tena kho pana samayena dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ, gacchati adho, gacchati anudisaṁ.

Then the Buddha said to the bhikkhū,

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Bhikkhū, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?”

“passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ, gacchati adho, gacchati anudisan”ti?

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“That’s Māra the Wicked searching for Godhika’s consciousness, wondering:

“Eso kho, bhikkhave, māro pāpimā godhikassa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ samanvesati:

‘Where is Godhika’s consciousness established?’

‘kattha godhikassa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitan’ti?

But since his consciousness is not established, Godhika is extinguished.”

Appatiṭṭhitena ca, bhikkhave, viññāṇena godhiko kulaputto parinibbuto”ti.

Then Māra, carrying his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood apple, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

Atha kho māro pāpimā beluvapaṇḍuvīṇaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Above, below, all round,

“Uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyaṁ,

in the four quarters and in-between,

disā anudisā svahaṁ;

I’ve been searching without success:

Anvesaṁ nādhigacchāmi,

where has that Godhika got to?”

godhiko so kuhiṁ gato”ti.

“He was a wise and steadfast sage,

“Yo dhīro dhitisampanno,

a meditator who loved absorption.

jhāyī jhānarato sadā;

By day and by night he applied himself,

Ahorattaṁ anuyuñjaṁ,

without concern for his life.

jīvitaṁ anikāmayaṁ.

He defeated the army of death,

Jetvāna maccuno senaṁ,

and won’t return for any future life.

anāgantvā punabbhavaṁ;

Having plucked out craving, root and all

Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,

Godhika is extinguished.”

godhiko parinibbuto”ti.

So stricken with sorrow

Tassa sokaparetassa,

that his harp dropped from his armpit,

vīṇā kacchā abhassatha;

that spirit, downcast,

Tato so dummano yakkho,

vanished right there.

tatthevantaradhāyathāti.