Subhasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.3

Linked Discourses 4.3

1. Paṭhamavagga

1. Lifespan

Subhasutta

Beautiful

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.

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 Nerañjarā River.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.

Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.

Atha kho māro pāpimā, bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato avidūre uccāvacā vaṇṇanibhā upadaṁseti, subhā ceva asubhā ca.

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 bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:

“Saṁsaraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ,

“Transmigrating for such a long time,

vaṇṇaṁ katvā subhāsubhaṁ;

you’ve made forms beautiful and ugly.

Alaṁ te tena pāpima,

Enough of this, Wicked One!

nihato tvamasi antaka.

You’re beaten, terminator.

Ye ca kāyena vācāya,

Those who are well restrained

manasā ca susaṁvutā;

in body, speech, and mind

Na te māravasānugā,

don’t fall under Māra’s sway,

na te mārassa baddhagū”ti.

nor are they your footmen.”

Atha kho māro …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra … vanished right there.