1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ 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.

1.3Tena 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.

1.4Atha 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.¹

1.5Atha 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:

2.1“Saṁsaraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ,“Transmigrating for such a long time,2.2vaṇṇaṁ katvā subhāsubhaṁ;you’ve made forms beautiful and ugly.2.3Alaṁ te tena pāpima,Enough of this, Wicked One!2.4nihato tvamasi antaka.You’re beaten, terminator.

3.1Ye ca kāyena vācāya,Those who are well restrained3.2manasā ca susaṁvutā;in body, speech, and mind3.3Na te māravasānugā,don’t fall under Māra’s sway,3.4na te mārassa baddhagū”ti.nor are they your footmen.”²

4.1Atha kho māro …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.Then Māra … vanished right there.