4 Marasainyutta

Connected Discourses with Mra

2 (1) Austere Practice
I. THE I!"T "#$CHAPTE! (%IE "PA&)
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Uruvel on the bank of the river Nerajara
at the foot of the Goatherds Ban!an Tree just after he had beco"e full! enlightened.#$% Then& while the Blessed
One was alone in seclusion& a reflection arose in his "ind thus' (I a" indeed freed fro" that gruelling asceticis") It
is good indeed that I a" freed fro" that useless gruelling asceticis") It is good that& stead! and "indful& I have
attained enlighten"ent)*#$
Then +ara the ,vil One& having known with his own "ind the reflection in the Blessed Ones "ind&
a--roached the Blessed One and addressed hi" in verse'
..$ (/aving deviated fro" the austere -ractice
B! which "en -urif! the"selves&
Being i"-ure& !ou think !oure -ure' 0#1#2
3ou have "issed the -ath to -urit!.*#$#
Then the Blessed One& having understood& (This is +4ra the ,vil One&* re-lied to hi" in verses'
..5 (/aving known as useless an! austerit!
6i"ed at the i""ortal state&#$1
That all such -enances are futile
7ike oars and rudder on dr! land&#$.
..8 B! develo-ing the -ath to enlighten"ent9
:irtue& concentration& and wisdo"9
I have attained su-re"e -urit!'
3oure defeated& ,nd;"aker)*#$<
Then +ara the ,vil One& reali=ing& (The Blessed One knows "e& the >ortunate One knows "e&* sad and
disa--ointed& disa--eared right there.
2 (2) The 'in( E)e*hant
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Uruvela on the bank of the river Nerajara
at the foot of the Goatherds Ban!an Tree just after he had beco"e full! enlightened. ?@%.A 0#112 Now on that
occasion the Blessed One was sitting out in the o-en air in the thick darkness of the night while it was dri==ling.#$$
Then +4ra the ,vil One& wishing to arouse fear& tre-idation& and terror in the Blessed One& "anifested hi"self
in the for" of a giant king ele-hant and a--roached the Blessed One. /is head was like a huge block of steatiteB his
tusks were like -ure silverB his trunk was like a huge -lough -ole.
Then the Blessed One& having understood& (This is +4ra the ,vil One&* addressed hi" in verse'
..C (3ouve wandered through the long course
Dreating beautiful and hideous sha-es.
,nough& ,vil One& with that trick of !ours'
3oure defeated& ,nd;"aker)*#$5
Then +4ra the ,vil One& reali=ing& (The Blessed One knows "e& the >ortunate One knows "e&* sad and
disa--ointed& disa--eared right there.
+ (+) $eauti,u)
0#1.2 Ehile dwelling at Uruvela. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting out in the o-en air in the
thick darkness of the night while it was dri==ling. Then +ara the ,vil One& wishing to arouse fear& tre-idation& and
terror in the Blessed One& a--roached the Blessed One and& not far fro" hi"& dis-la!ed diverse lustrous sha-es&
both beautiful and hideous. Then the Blessed One& having understood& (This is +4ra the ,vil One&* addressed hi"
in verses'
.<% (3ouve wandered on through the long course
Dreating beautiful and hideous sha-es.
,nough& ,vil One& with that trick of !ours'
3oure defeated& ,nd;"aker)
.<@ (Those who are well restrained
In bod!& s-eech& and "ind&
Fo not co"e under +ras control
Nor beco"e +aras hench"en.*#$8
Then +ara the ,vil One ... disa--eared right there. ?@%<A
4 (4) Mara-s "nare (1)
0#1<2 Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Barnasi in the Feer Gark at
Isi-atana. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus' (Bhikkhus)*#$C
:enerable sir)* those bhikkhus re-lied. The Blessed One said this'
Bhikkhus& b! careful attention& b! careful right striving. I have arrived at unsur-assed liberation& I have
reali=ed unsur-assed liberation. 3ou too& bhikkhus& b! careful attention& b! careful right striving& "ust arrive at
unsur-assed liberation& "ust reali=e unsur-assed liberation.*#5%
Then +ra the ,vil One a--roached the Blessed One and addressed hi" in verse'#5@
.<# (3ou are bound b! +4ras snare
Both celestial and hu"anB
3ou are bound b! +ras bondage'
3ou wont esca-e "e& ascetic)*#5#
?The Blessed One'A
.<1 (@ a" freed fro" +aras snare
Both celestial and hu"anB
I a" freed fro" +4ras bondage' 0#1$2
3oure defeated& ,nd;"aker)*
Then +4ra the ,vil One ... disa--eared right there.
. (.) M/ra-s "nare (2)
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Baraiasi in the Feer Gark at Isi-atana. There
the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus' (Bhikkhus)*
:enerable sir)* those bhikkhus re-lied. The Blessed One said this'
Bhikkhus& I a" freed fro" all snares& both celestial and hu"an. 3ou too& bhikkhus& are freed fro" all snares& both
celestial and hu"an. Eander forth& % bhikkhus& for the welfare of the "ultitude& for the ha--iness of the "ultitude&
out of co"-assion for the world& for the good& welfare& and ha--iness of devas and hu"ans. 7et not two go the
sa"e wa!. Teach& % bhikkhus& the Fha""a that is good in the beginning& good in the "iddle& good in the end& with
the right "eaning and -hrasing. Heveal the -erfectl! co"-lete and -urified hol! life. There are beings with little
dust in their e!es who are falling awa! because the! do not hear the Fha""a. ?@%$A There will be those who will
understand the Fha""a. I too& bhikkhus& will go to Ienaniga"a in Uruvela in order to teach the Fha""a.*#51
0#152
Then +4ra the ,vil One a--roached the Blessed One and addressed hi" in verse'#5.
.<. (3ou are bound b! all the snares
Both celestial and hu"anB
3ou are bound b! the great bondage'
3ou wont esca-e "e& ascetic)*
?The Blessed One'A
.<< (@ a" freed fro" all the snares
Both celestial and hu"anB
I a" freed fro" the great bondage'
3oure defeated& ,nd;"aker)*
$ J$K Ier-ent
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Hajagaha in the Ba"boo Grove& the ILuirrel
Ianctuar!. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting out in the o-en in the thick darkness of the night
while it was dri==ling. Then +ara the ,vil One ... "anifested hi"self in the for" of a giant king ser-ent and
a--roached the Blessed One. 0#182 Its bod! was like a huge boat "ade fro" a single tree trunkB its hood& like a
large brewers sieveB its e!es& like the large bron=e dishes of MosalaB its tongue darting out fro" its "outh& like
flashes of lightning e"itted when the sk! thundersB the sound of its breathing in and out& like the sound of a s"iths
bellows filling with air.
Then the Blessed One& having understood& (This is +ara the ,vil One&* addressed +4ra the ,vil One in verses'
.<$ (/e who resorts to e"-t! huts for lodging9 /e is the sage& self;controlled.
/e should live there& having relinLuished all'
That is -ro-er for one like hi".#5<
.<5 (Though "an! creatures crawl about&
+an! terrors& flies& ser-ents& ?@%5A 0#1C2
The great sage gone to his e"-t! hut
Itirs not a hair because of the".
.<8 (Though the sk! "ight s-lit& the earth Luake& 6nd all creatures be stricken with terror& Though "en brandish a
dart at their breast& The enlightened take no shelter iii acLuisitions.*#5$
Then +ara the ,vil One ... disa--eared right there.
5 J5K Ilee-
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Hajagaha in the Ba"boo Grove& the ILuirrel Ianctuar!. Then&
when the night was fading& the Blessed One& having s-ent "uch of the night walking back and forth in the o-en&
washed his feet& entered his dwelling& and la! down on his right side in the lions -osture& with one leg overla--ing
the other& "indful and clearl! co"-rehending& having attended to the idea of rising.
Then +ara the ,vil One a--roached the Blessed One and addressed hi" in verse' 0#.%2
.<C (Ehat& !ou slee-N Eh! do !ou slee-N
Ehats this& !ou slee- like a wretchN#
Thinking OThe huts e"-t! !ou slee-'
Ehats this& !ou slee- when the sun has risenN*
?The Blessed One'K
.$% (Eithin hi" craving no longer lurks&
,ntangling and binding& to lead hi" an!whereB
Eith the destruction of all acLuisitions
The 6wakened One slee-s'
Eh! should this concern !ou& +araN*#58
Then +ara the ,vil One ... disa--eared right there.
8 J8K /e Felights
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Iavatthi in Petas Grove& 6natha-iiQlikas
Gark.
Then +ara the ,vil One a--roached the Blessed One and recited this verse in the -resence of the Blessed One'
.$@ (One who has sons delights in sons&
One with cattle delights in cattle. ?@%8A 0#.@2
6cLuisitions trul! are a "ans delightB
Eithout acLuisitions one does not delight.*
?The Blessed One'A
.$# (One who has sons sorrows over sons&
One with cattle sorrows over cattle.
6cLuisitions trul! are a "ans sorrowB
Eithout acLuisitions one does not sorrow.*
Then +ara the ,vil One ... disa--eared right there.
C JCK 7ife I-an J@K
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Hajagaha in the Ba"boo Grove& the ILuirrel
Ianctuar!. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus' (Bhikkhus)*
:enerable sir)* those bhikkhus re-lied. The Blessed One said this'
Bhikkhus& this life s-an of hu"an beings is short. One has to go on to the future life. One should do what is
wholeso"e and lead the hol! lifeB for one who has taken birth there is no avoiding death. One who lives long&
bhikkhus& lives a hundred !ears or a little longer.*
Then +4ra the ,vil One a--roached the Blessed One and addressed hi" in verse'
.$1 (7ong is the life s-an of hu"an beings&
The good "an should not disdain it.
One should live like a "ilk;sucking bab!'
Feath has not "ade its arrival.*#5C 0#.#2
?The Blessed One'A
.$. (Ihort is the life s-an of hu"an beings&
The good "an should disdain it.
One should live like one with head afla"e'
There is no avoiding Feaths arrival.*
Then +ara the ,vil One ... disa--eared right there.
@% J@%K 7fe I-an J#K
JO-ening as in -receding sutta'K
Then +ara the ,vil One a--roached the Blessed One and addressed hi" in verse' ?@%CA
.$< (The da!s and nights do not fl! b!&
7ife does not co"e to a sto-.
The life s-an of "ortals rolls along
7ike the chariots fell! round the hub.*#8% 0#.12
?The Blessed One'A
.$$ (The da!s and nights go fl!ing b!&
7ife co"es to a sto-.
The life s-an of "ortals is de-leted
7ike the water in rivulets.*
Then +ara the ,vil One ... disa--eared right there.