Piṇḍasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.18

Linked Discourses 4.18

2. Dutiyavagga

2. Rule

Piṇḍasutta

Alms Food

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā magadhesu viharati pañcasālāyaṁ brāhmaṇagāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans near the brahmin village of Pañcasālā.

Tena kho pana samayena pañcasālāyaṁ brāhmaṇagāme kumārikānaṁ pāhunakāni bhavanti.

Now at that time in Pañcasālā the young maidens were occupied with guests.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya pañcasālaṁ brāhmaṇagāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Pañcasālā for alms.

Tena kho pana samayena pañcasāleyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā mārena pāpimatā anvāviṭṭhā bhavanti:

Now at that time Māra had possessed the brahmins and householders of Pañcasālā, so that they thought,

“mā samaṇo gotamo piṇḍamalatthā”ti.

“Don’t let the ascetic Gotama get any alms!”

Atha kho bhagavā yathādhotena pattena pañcasālaṁ brāhmaṇagāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi tathādhotena pattena paṭikkami.

Then the Buddha left the village with his bowl as clean-washed as it was when he entered for alms.

Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and said to him,

“api tvaṁ, samaṇa, piṇḍamalatthā”ti?

“Well, ascetic, did you get any alms?”

“Tathā nu tvaṁ, pāpima, akāsi yathāhaṁ piṇḍaṁ na labheyyan”ti.

“Wicked One, did you make sure I didn’t get any alms?”

“Tena hi, bhante, bhagavā dutiyampi pañcasālaṁ brāhmaṇagāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisatu.

“Well then, sir, let the Buddha enter Pañcasālā a second time for alms.

Tathāhaṁ karissāmi yathā bhagavā piṇḍaṁ lacchatī”ti.

I’ll make sure you get alms.”

“Apuññaṁ pasavi māro,

“Māra has produced wickedness

āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ;

in attacking the Realized One.

Kiṁ nu maññasi pāpima,

Wicked One, do you imagine that

na me pāpaṁ vipaccati.

your wickedness won’t bear fruit?

Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,

Let us live so very happily,

yesaṁ no natthi kiñcanaṁ;

we who have nothing.

Pītibhakkhā bhavissāma,

We shall feed on rapture,

devā ābhassarā yathā”ti.

like the gods of sublime luminosity.”

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.