SA 1198（一一九八） 旷野

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, there was a bhikṣuṇī named Ārāḍī who was staying in the Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma in Śrāvastī. One morning, Ārāḍī bhikṣuṇī put on her robes, took her alms bowl, and entered Śrāvastī to beg for food. After eating, she returned to the monastery, put away her robes and bowl, washed her feet, took her sitting mat, put it on her right shoulder, and went to the Andhavana forest to sit in meditation.

At that time, Māra the Evil One thought, "Now the Śramaṇa Gautama is staying at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. He has a disciple named Ārāḍī bhikṣuṇī who is staying in the Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma in Śrāvastī. This morning, Ārāḍī bhikṣuṇī put on her robes, took her alms bowl, and entered Śrāvastī to beg for food. After eating, she returned to the monastery, put away her robes and bowl, washed her feet, took her sitting mat, put it on her right shoulder, and went to the Andhavana forest to sit in meditation. I shall now go there to create obstacles for her." He then transformed himself into a young man of handsome appearance and went to where the bhikṣuṇī was. He said to the bhikṣuṇī, "Elder Sister! Where are you going?"

The bhikṣuṇī replied, "Virtuous one! I am going to a place of solitude."

At that time, Māra the Evil One spoke a verse, saying:

In the world, there is no escape. What is the use of
seeking solitude? Return to enjoying the five desires, lest you regret it later.

At that time, the bhikṣuṇī Ārāḍī had this thought: "Who is this, wanting to frighten me? Is it a human or a non-human, a deceitful person?"

The mind immediately thought: "This must be the evil Māra wanting to disturb me." Having realized it, he spoke a verse:

There is an escape from the world, I myself know what
I have attained. You, the lowly evil Māra, do not know
that path. Just as a sharp knife harms, so too are
the five desires. Just as cutting flesh forms, so too is
the suffering aggregate. As you said before, those who enjoy the
five desires, that is not enjoyable, it is a place of
great terror. Free from all joy and pleasure, abandoning all great
darkness, extinguishing and realizing it, dwelling peacefully, free from all taints
Recognizing you, the evil Māra, you will soon disappear on your own.

At that time, Māra Pāpīyān thought: "That bhikṣuṇī Ārāḍā has already known my mind." He was distressed and unhappy, and then disappeared.