1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu viharati ekasālāyaṁ brāhmaṇagāme.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans near the brahmin village of Ekasālā.¹

1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā mahatiyā gihiparisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti.Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly of laypeople.

2.1Atha kho mārassa pāpimato etadahosi:Then Māra thought,2.2“ayaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo mahatiyā gihiparisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti.“The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly of laypeople.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“Netaṁ tava patirūpaṁ,“It’s not appropriate for you²3.2yadaññamanusāsasi;to instruct others.3.3Anurodhavirodhesu,As you engage in this,3.4mā sajjittho tadācaran”ti.don’t get caught up in favoring and opposing.”³

4.1“Hitānukampī sambuddho,“The Buddha instructs others4.2yadaññamanusāsati;out of compassion for their welfare.4.3Anurodhavirodhehi,The Realized One is liberated4.4vippamutto tathāgato”ti.from favoring and opposing.”

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.