1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti.Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.

2.1Atha kho mārassa pāpimato etadahosi:Then Māra thought,2.2“ayaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti.“The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.2.3Yannūnāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkameyyaṁ vicakkhukammāyā”ti.Why don’t I go and pull the wool over their eyes?”

2.4Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

3.1“Kinnu sīhova nadasi,“Why now do you roar like a lion?3.2parisāyaṁ visārado;You’re so self-assured in the assembly!3.3Paṭimallo hi te atthi,For there is someone who’ll wrestle with you,3.4vijitāvī nu maññasī”ti.so why do you imagine you’re the victor?”

4.1“Nadanti ve mahāvīrā,“The great heroes they roar,4.2parisāsu visāradā;self-assured in the assemblies.4.3Tathāgatā balappattā,The Realized One, attained to power,¹4.4tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.has crossed over clinging to the world.”

5.1Atha 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.