1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati silāvatiyaṁ.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans near Silāvatī.

1.2Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato avidūre appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharati.Now at that time Venerable Samiddhi was meditating not far from the Buddha, diligent, keen, and resolute.¹1.3Atha kho āyasmato samiddhissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:Then as Venerable Samiddhi was in private retreat this thought came to his mind,1.4“lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,“I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate,1.5yassa me satthā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho.to have a teacher who is a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha!1.6Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate,1.7yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito.to have gone forth in a teaching and training so well explained!1.8Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate,1.9yassa me sabrahmacārino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā”ti.to have spiritual companions who are ethical and of good character.”

1.10Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato samiddhissa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yenāyasmā samiddhi tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmato samiddhissa avidūre mahantaṁ bhayabheravaṁ saddamakāsi, apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyati.And then Māra the Wicked, knowing Samiddhi’s train of thought, went up to him and made a terrifyingly loud noise close by him. It seemed as if the earth was shattering.

2.1Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno āyasmā samiddhi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Samiddhi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. The Buddha said,2.2“idhāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato avidūre appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharāmi.2.3Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:2.4‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,2.5yassa me satthā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho.2.6Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,2.7yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito.2.8Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,2.9yassa me sabrahmacārino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā’ti.2.10Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, avidūre mahābhayabheravasaddo ahosi, apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyatī”ti.3.1“Nesā, samiddhi, pathavī undrīyati.“Samiddhi, that’s not the earth shattering.3.2Māro eso pāpimā tuyhaṁ vicakkhukammāya āgato.That’s Māra the Wicked come to pull the wool over your eyes!3.3Gaccha tvaṁ, samiddhi, tattheva appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharāhī”ti.Go back to that same place, Samiddhi, and meditate, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

3.4“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.“Yes, sir,” replied Samiddhi. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

3.5Dutiyampi kho āyasmā samiddhi tattheva appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihāsi.And for a second time Samiddhi was meditating in that same place, diligent, ardent, and resolute.3.6Dutiyampi kho āyasmato samiddhissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa …pe…And for a second time he had the same thought …3.7dutiyampi kho māro pāpimā āyasmato samiddhissa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya …pe…and Māra made an earth-shattering noise.3.8apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyati.

3.9Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:Then Samiddhi addressed Māra the Wicked in verse:

4.1“Saddhāyāhaṁ pabbajito,“I went forth out of faith4.2agārasmā anagāriyaṁ;from the lay life to homelessness.4.3Sati paññā ca me buddhā,My mindfulness and wisdom are mature,²4.4cittañca susamāhitaṁ;my mind is serene in immersion.4.5Kāmaṁ karassu rūpāni,Make whatever illusions you want,4.6neva maṁ byādhayissasī”ti.it won’t bother me.”

5.1Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ samiddhi bhikkhū”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The mendicant Samiddhi knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.