SA-2 217（二一七）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. At that time, the bhikṣuṇī Padmavatī, in the morning, put on her robe, took her alms bowl, entered the city to beg for food, finished eating, washed her bowl, put away her sitting mat, and washed her feet. She then went to the forest of the eye-obtainer, sat under a tree, and peacefully contemplated, abiding in the divine state. At that time, Māra the Evil One thought, "The Śramaṇa Gautama is at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. The bhikṣuṇī Padmavatī, having put on her robe and taken her alms bowl, entered the city to beg for food, finished eating, washed her bowl, put away her sitting mat, and went to the forest of the eye-obtainer. She is sitting under a tree, abiding in the divine state. I shall disturb her." Having thought this, he transformed himself into a young brahmin and went to her, speaking a verse:

Sitting under the śāla trees, like a well-opened
flower, alone, bhikṣuṇī, are you now meditating? Without
a second companion, are you not afraid of delusion?

At that time, the bhikṣuṇī Padmavatī thought, "Who is this, disturbing me, very deceitful, is it a human or a non-human?" Entering concentration to observe, knowing it was Māra, she spoke a verse:

Hundreds of thousands of deceitful thieves, all like you, cannot
move a single hair of mine, therefore I am fearless alone.

At that time, Māra, the evil one, again spoke a verse:

I will now hide my form and enter the center of your belly
or enter between your eyebrows, causing you to be unable to see me.

At that time, the bhikṣuṇī again replied in verse:

My mind has attained mastery, well cultivating the meditative concentration of
the mind. Severing the great fetters, I am not at all
afraid of you. I have already vomited out all the fetters
attained the uprooting of the three defilements. The root of fear
is exhausted, therefore I have nothing to fear. I now dwell
here, not at all afraid of you. Even if your entire
army comes, I am still not afraid. Having severed all craving
extinguished the darkness of ignorance, attained the cessation of cessation, dwelling
in the undefiled Dharma. Therefore you should know, Māra, you have
fallen into a losing position.

At that time, Māra thought, "The bhikṣuṇī Padmāvatī well understands my mind." He was sorrowful, regretful, ashamed, and returned to his palace.