1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Then the Venerable Samiddhi approached the Blessed One … and said to him: [n.29] See SN1.20, SN4.22. "Venerable sir, it is said, ‘Māra, Māra.’ In what way, venerable sir, might there be Māra or the description of Māra?" [n.30] Māro vā assa mārapaññatti vā. Spk: By "Māra" he asks about death (maraṇa); "the description of Māra" is the description, name, appellation "Māra." Cp. 23.11–12.

2"Where there is the eye, Samiddhi, where there are forms, sn.iv.39 eye-consciousness, things to be cognized by eye-consciousness, there Māra exists or the description of Māra.

"Where there is the ear … the mind, where there are mental phenomena, mind-consciousness, things to be cognized by mind-consciousness, there Māra exists or the description of Māra.

3"Where there is no eye, Samiddhi, no forms, no eye-consciousness, no things to be cognized by eye-consciousness, there Māra does not exist nor any description of Māra.

"Where there is no ear … no mind, no mental phenomena, no mind-consciousness, no things to be cognized by mind-consciousness, there Māra does not exist nor any description of Māra."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe vihārati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi yena bhagavā … pe … bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "‘māro, māro’ti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, māro vā assa mārapaññatti vā"ti?

2"Yattha kho, samiddhi, atthi cakkhu, atthi rūpā, atthi cakkhuviññāṇaṁ, atthi cakkhuviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, atthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā.

Atthi sotaṁ, atthi saddā, atthi sotaviññāṇaṁ, atthi sotaviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, atthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā. Atthi ghānaṁ, atthi gandhā, atthi ghānaviññāṇaṁ, atthi ghānaviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, atthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā. Atthi jivhā, atthi rasā, atthi jivhāviññāṇaṁ, atthi jivhāviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, atthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā. Atthi kāyo, atthi phoṭṭhabbā, atthi kāyaviññāṇaṁ, atthi kāyaviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, atthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā. Atthi mano, atthi dhammā, atthi manoviññāṇaṁ, atthi manoviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, atthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā.

3Yattha ca kho, samiddhi, natthi cakkhu, natthi rūpā, natthi cakkhuviññāṇaṁ, natthi cakkhuviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, natthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā.

Natthi sotaṁ … pe … natthi ghānaṁ … pe … natthi jivhā, natthi rasā, natthi jivhāviññāṇaṁ, natthi jivhāviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, natthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā. Natthi kāyo … pe … . Natthi mano, natthi dhammā, natthi manoviññāṇaṁ, natthi manoviññāṇaviññātabbā dhammā, natthi tattha māro vā mārapaññatti vā"ti.

Tatiyaṁ.