• Linked Discourses 4.3 Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.3
  • 1. Lifespan 1. Paį¹­hamavagga

Beautiful Subhasutta

So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the NeraƱjarā River. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā neraƱjarāya tÄ«re ajapālanigrodhamÅ«le paį¹­hamābhisambuddho.

Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.

Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, approached him, and while not far away, displayed a rainbow of bright colors, both beautiful and ugly. Atha kho māro pāpimā, bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo, yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā bhagavato avidÅ«re uccāvacā vaṇṇanibhā upadaṁseti, subhā ceva asubhā ca.

Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse: Atha kho bhagavā ā€œmāro ayaṁ pāpimÄā€ iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

ā€œTransmigrating for such a long time, ā€œSaṁsaraṁ dÄ«ghamaddhānaṁ, you’ve made forms beautiful and ugly. vaṇṇaṁ katvā subhāsubhaṁ; Enough of this, Wicked One! Alaṁ te tena pāpima, You’re beaten, terminator. nihato tvamasi antaka.

Those who are well restrained Ye ca kāyena vācāya, in body, speech, and mind manasā ca susaṁvutā; don’t fall under Māra’s sway, Na te māravasānugā, nor are they your footmen.ā€ na te mārassa baddhagÅ«ā€ti.

Then Māra … vanished right there. Atha kho māro …pe… tatthevantaradhāyÄ«ti.