1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at sīlavati . Now on that occasion the Venerable Samiddhi was dwelling not far from the Blessed One—diligent, ardent, and resolute. [n.305] Samiddhi has already appeared at SN1.20. Then, while the Venerable Samiddhi was alone in seclusion, a reflection arose in his mind thus: "It is indeed a gain for me, it is well gained by me, that my teacher is the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One! It is indeed a gain for me, it is well gained by me, that I have gone forth in this well-expounded Dhamma and Discipline! It is indeed a gain for me, it is well gained by me, that my companions in the holy life are virtuous, of good character!"

Then Māra the Evil One, having known with his own mind the reflection in the mind of the Venerable Samiddhi, approached him and, not far from him, made a loud noise, frightful and terrifying, as though the earth were splitting open. [n.306] As at SN4.17; see n. 291.

2Then the Venerable Samiddhi approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and reported what had happened.

3The Blessed One said: "That was not the earth splitting open, Samiddhi. That was Māra the Evil One, who had come in order to confound you. Go back, Samiddhi, and dwell diligent, ardent, and resolute."

"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Samiddhi replied. sn.i.120 Then he rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, and departed, keeping him on the right.

A second time, while the Venerable Samiddhi was alone in seclusion, a reflection arose in his mind … And a second time Māra the Evil One … … made a loud noise, frightful and terrifying, as though the earth were splitting open.

Then the Venerable Samiddhi, having understood, "This is Māra the Evil One," addressed him in verse:

5Then Māra the Evil One, realizing, "The bhikkhu Samiddhi knows me," sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu vihārati silāvatiyaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato avidūre appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihārati. Atha kho āyasmato samiddhissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: "lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me satthā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me sabrahmacārino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā"ti.

Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato samiddhissa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yenāyasmā samiddhi tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmato samiddhissa avidūre mahantaṁ bhayabheravaṁ saddamakāsi, apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyati.

2Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno āyasmā samiddhi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Idhāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato avidūre appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me satthā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me sabrahmacārino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, avidūre mahābhayabheravasaddo ahosi, apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyatī"ti.

3"Nesā, samiddhi, pathavī undrīyati. Māro eso pāpimā tuyhaṁ vicakkhukammāya āgato. Gaccha tvaṁ, samiddhi, tattheva appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharāhī"ti.

"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi. Dutiyampi kho āyasmā samiddhi tattheva appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihāsi.

Dutiyampi kho āyasmato samiddhissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa … pe … dutiyampi kho māro pāpimā āyasmato samiddhissa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya … pe … apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyati.

Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

5Atha kho māro pāpimā "jānāti maṁ samiddhi bhikkhū"ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.