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SN 4.5PTS (1st ed) SN 1.1051 min read

Māra’s Snares (2nd)

Dutiyamārapāsasutta

When the Buddha explains to the mendicants how he has realized freedom, and so have his mendicant followers, Māra claims he is still trapped.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.5Linked Discourses 4.5
  • 0.21. Paṭhamavagga1. Lifespan

0.3DutiyamārapāsasuttaMāra’s Snares (2nd)

1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye.At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana.11.2Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,1.3“bhikkhavo”ti.“Mendicants!”

1.4“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.“Venerable sir,” they replied.1.5Bhagavā etadavoca:The Buddha said this:

2.1“Muttāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbapāsehi ye dibbā ye ca mānusā.“Mendicants, I am freed from all snares, both human and heavenly.2.2Tumhepi, bhikkhave, muttā sabbapāsehi ye dibbā ye ca mānusā.You are also freed from all snares, both human and heavenly.

2.3Caratha, bhikkhave, cārikaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ.Wander forth, mendicants, for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.2.4Mā ekena dve agamittha.Let not two go by one road.

2.5Desetha, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsetha.Teach the Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.2.6Santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā, assavanatā dhammassa parihāyanti.There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They’re in decline because they haven’t heard the teaching.22.7Bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro.There will be those who understand the teaching!

2.8Ahampi, bhikkhave, yena uruvelā senānigamo tenupasaṅkamissāmi dhammadesanāyā”ti.I will travel to the town of Senā in Uruvelā in order to teach the Dhamma.”3

2.9Atha 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“Baddhosi sabbapāsehi,“You’re bound by all snares,3.2ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;both human and heavenly.3.3Mahābandhanabaddhosi,You’re bound by the great bond:3.4na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.you won’t escape me, ascetic!”

4.1“Muttāhaṁ sabbapāsehi,“I’m freed from all snares,4.2Ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;both human and heavenly.4.3Mahābandhanamuttomhi,I’m freed from the great bonds;4.4Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.You’re beaten, terminator!”

5.1Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.Then Māra … vanished right there.

Translator’s notes

  1. This event is also told in the Vinaya (Kd 1:11.1.2). It is regarded as an archetypal event for all Buddhas, and hence is told in the context of the past Buddha Vipassī (DN 14:3.22.4).

    ↩ sn4.5:1.1

  2. Also at SN 6.1:5.6, MN 26:20.6, etc.

    ↩ sn4.5:2.6

  3. Senā was where the Buddha attained Awakening, the pilgrimage site of Bodhgaya (MN 26:17.1). The events on his return to Uruvelā are told in the Vinaya (Kd 1:15.1.1). The Buddha encountered three Kassapa brothers who were fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetics, and converted them with their retinues.

    ↩ sn4.5:2.8