SN4:4 Māra's Snare (1)
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Baraṇasi in the Deer Park at Isipatana. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Bhikkhus!" [n.269] This discourse is also at Vin I 22, 24–36, set soon after the Buddha’s first rains residence at the Deer Park in Isipatana. The Buddha had already sent out his first sixty arahant disciples to spread the Dhamma. The present admonition, it seems, is addressed to the newly ordained bhikkhus who had come to the Buddha in response to the missionary work of the first disciples.
"Venerable sir!" those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:
2"Bhikkhus, by careful attention, by careful right striving, I have arrived at unsurpassed liberation, I have realized unsurpassed liberation. You too, bhikkhus, by careful attention, by careful right striving, must arrive at unsurpassed liberation, must realize unsurpassed liberation." [n.270] Spk: Careful attention (yoniso manasikara) is attention that is the right means (upayamanasikara). Careful right striving (yoniso sammappadhana) is energy that is the right means, energy that is the causal basis (upayaviriya karaṇaviriya). Unsurpassed liberation (anuttaravimutti) is liberation of the fruit of arahantship. On the role of careful attention, see SN46.51. Right striving is the fourfold right effort; see SN45.8, SN49.1.
Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse: [n.271] Spk: Māra approached and spoke, thinking: “He won’t be satisfied that he himself put forth energy and attained arahantship. Now he is eager to get others to attain it. Let me stop him!”
3v.452 "You are bound by Māra's snare
Both celestial and human;
You are bound by Māra's bondage:
You won’t escape me, ascetic!"
[n.271] Spk: Māra's snare (marapasa) is the snare of the defilements, that is, the celestial and human cords of sensual pleasure.
The Blessed One:
4v.453 "I am freed from Māra's snare
Both celestial and human;
I am freed from Māra's bondage:
You’re defeated, End-maker!"
5Then Māra the Evil One … disappeared right there.
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ vihārati isipatane migadāye. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "bhikkhavo"ti.
"Bhadante"ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
2"Mayhaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā yoniso sammappadhānā anuttarā vimutti anuppattā, anuttarā vimutti sacchikatā. Tumhepi, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā yoniso sammappadhānā anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ anupāpuṇātha, anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ sacchikarothā"ti.
Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
3"Baddhosi mārapāsena,
ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;
Mārabandhanabaddhosi,
na me samaṇa mokkhasī"ti.
4"Muttāhaṁ mārapāsena,
Ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;
Mārabandhanamuttomhi,
Nihato tvamasi antakā"ti.
5Atha kho māro pāpimā … pe … tatthevantaradhāyīti.