Verse 200

Dhammapada Verse 200

The Story of Mara

On one occasion, the Buddha saw in his vision that five hundred maidens from Pancasala village were due to attain Sotapatti Fruition. So he went to stay near that village. The five hundred maidens went to the riverside to have a bath; after the bath they returned to the village fully dressed up, because it was a festival day. About the same time, the Buddha entered Pancasila village for alms-food but none of the villagers offered him anything because they had been possessed by Mara.

On his return the Buddha met Mara, who promptly asked him whether he had received much alms-food.

The Buddha saw the hand of Mara in his failure to get any alms-food on that day and replied, "You wicked Mara! It was you who turned the villagers against me. Because they were possessed by you they did not offer any alms-food to me. Am I not right ?" Mara made no reply to that question, but he thought that it would be fun to entice the Buddha back to the village and get the villagers to insult the Buddha by making fun of him. So he suggested, "O Buddha, why don't you go back to the village again? This time, you are sure to get some food."

Just then, the five hundred village maidens arrived on the scene and paid obeisance to the Buddha. In their presence, Mara taunted the Buddha, "O Buddha, since you received no alms-food this morning, you must be feeling the pangs of hunger!" To him the Buddha replied, "O wicked Mara, even though we do not get any food, like the Abhassara brahmas who live only on the delightful satisfaction (piti) and bliss (sukha) of jhana, we shall live on the delightful satisfaction and bliss of the Dhamma."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Susukham vata jivama
yesam no natthi kincanam¹
pitibhakkha bhavissama
deva abhassara² yatha.

Verse 200: Indeed we live very happily, without any anxiety (i.e., without greed, ill will and ignorance); like the Abhassara brahmas we shall live on delightful satisfaction (piti) as our food.

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1. natthi kincanam: without any anxiety, here it means without greed, ill will and ignorance (raga, dosa and moha).
2. deva abhassara: Abhassara brahmas are the radiant brahmas of the abode of the second Rupavacara Jhana Brahmaloka.

Verses 331, 332 and 333

Dhammapada Verses 331, 332 and 333

The Story of Mara

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Once, while the Buddha was residing near the Himalayas, he found that many people were being ill-treated by some wicked kings. It then occurred to him whether it would be possible to prevent them from ill-treating those who should not be ill-treated and make the kings rule justly and wisely. Mara knew what the Buddha was thinking and planned to entice the Buddha to rule as a king. To him the Buddha replied, "O wicked Mara! Your teaching and my teaching are quite different. You and I cannot have any discussion. This is my teaching".

Then the Buddha spoke in three verses as follows:

Atthamhi jatamhi sukha sahaya
tutthi sukha ya itaritarena
punnam sukham jivitasankhayamhi
sabbassa dukkhassa sukham pahanam.

Verse 331: It is good to have friends when the need arises; it is good to be content with anything that is available; it is good to have merit when life is about to end; it is good to be rid of all dukkha.

Sukha matteyya loke
atho petteyyata sukha
sukha samannata loke
atho brahmannata sukha.

Verse 332: In this world it is good to be dutiful to one's mother; also it is good to be dutiful to one's father. In this world it is good to minister unto samanas¹; also it is good to minister unto brahmanas².

Sukham yava jara silam
sukha saddha patitthita
sukho pannaya patilabho
papanam akaranam sukham.

Verse 333: It is good to have virtue till old age, it is good to have unshakable faith, it is good to gain wisdom, it is good to do no evil.

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1. Samana: Recluses.
2. Brahmanas: here means Buddhas, paccekabuddhas or arahats. (The Commentary)

Verses 349 and 350

Dhammapada Verses 349 and 350

The Story of Culadhanuggaha, the Skilful Archer

Once a young bhikkhu took his alms-food in one of the shelters specially built for bhikkhus in town. After his meal he felt like drinking water. So he went to a house and asked for some drinking water, and a young woman came out to give him some water. As soon as this young woman saw the young bhikkhu she fell in love with him. Wishing to entice him, she invited the young bhikkhu to come to her house whenever he felt thirsty. After some time, she invited him to her house for alms-food. On that day, she told him that they had everything they could wish for in the house, but that there was no male to look after their affairs, etc. Hearing those words, the young bhikkhu took the hint and he soon found himself to be more and more attached to the young, attractive woman. He became very much dissatisfied with his life as a bhikkhu and was getting thin. Other bhikkhus reported about him to the Buddha.

The Buddha called the young bhikkhu to his presence and said to him, "My son, listen to me. This young woman will be your undoing just as she had been to you in a previous existence. In one of your previous existences you were a very skilful archer and she was your wife. On one occasion, while the two of you were travelling, you came upon a gang of highwaymen. She fell in love with the gang leader. So, while you and the gang leader were engaged in fighting and you called out to her to give you the sword, she gave the sword to the robber who promptly killed you. Thus, she was the cause of your death. Now, too, she will be the cause of your ruin if you go after her and leave my Order for her sake."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Vitakkamathitassa jantuno
tibbaragassa subbhanupassino
bhiyyo tanha pavaddhati
esa kho dalham karoti bandhanam.

Verse 349: In a man who is disturbed by (sensual) thoughts, whose passions are strong, and who keeps seeing objects as being pleasant, craving grows more and more. Indeed, he makes his bondage strong.

Vitakkupasame ca yo rato
asubham bhavayate sada sato
esa kho byanti kahiti
esa cheechati marabandhanam.

Verse 350: A man who takes delight in calming (sensual) thoughts, who is ever mindful, and meditates on the impurity (of the body, etc.) will certainly get rid (of craving); this man will cut the bond of Mara.

Verses 351 and 352

Dhammapada Verses 351 and 352

The Story of Mara

On one occasion, a large number of bhikkhus arrived at the Jetavana monastery. To put up the guest bhikkhus, Samanera Rahula had to go and sleep near the door, just outside the chamber of the Buddha. Mara, wanting to annoy the Buddha through his son, took the form of an elephant and encircling the head of the samanera with his trunk made an alarming noise hoping to frighten him. But Rahula was unmoved. The Buddha, from his chamber, knew what was happening, and said, "O wicked Mara! Even a thousand such as you would not be able to frighten my son. My son has no fear, he is free from craving, he is vigilant, he is wise."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Nitthangato asantasi
vitatanho anangano
acchindi bhavasallani
antimoyam samussayo.

Verse 351: He who has attained arahatship is free from fear, free from craving, and free from moral defilements. He has cut off the thorns of existence (such as lust). This is the last existence² (for him).

Vitatanho anadano
niruttipadakovido¹
akkharanam sannipatam
janna pubbaparani ca
sa ve "antimasariro
mahpanno mahapuriso" ti vuccati.

Verse 352: He who is free from craving and from attachment, who is skilled in the knowledge of the significance of terms, who knows the grouping of letters and their sequence is indeed called "one who has lived his last, a man of great wisdom, a great man."

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1. niruttipadakovido: skilled in niruttipatisambhida i.e., skilled in the knowledge of words.
2. lit., body.