23.8 The Story about Māra
Māravatthu

“Friends are good whenever need arises,” this doctrinal instruction was given by the Teacher while he was dwelling in a forest-hut in the Himālaya country with reference to Māra.

Tradition has it that at this time kings who exercised rule oppressed the subjects over whom they ruled. As the Fortunate One saw men punished and persecuted under the rule of these wicked kings, he was moved to compassion. {4.32} And he considered thus within himself: “Is it not possible to exercise sovereignty without killing or causing to kill, without conquering or causing to conquer, without sorrow or causing sorrow, with justice and righteousness?” Now Māra the Wicked One perceived within himself the thought that was passing through the mind of the Fortunate One, and thought thus: “The ascetic Gotama is considering within himself: ‘Is it not possible to exercise sovereignty?’ It must be that he now desires to exercise sovereignty. [30.214] And this thing which is called sovereignty is an occasion of heedlessness. If he does exercise sovereignty, I may be able to catch him off his guard. I will therefore go and arouse his ambition.”

Accordingly Māra the Wicked One approached the Teacher and said: “Venerable Sir, let the Fortunate One exercise sovereignty; let the Happy One exercise sovereignty, without killing or causing to kill, without conquering or causing to conquer, without sorrow or causing sorrow, with justice and righteousness.”

The Teacher said to Māra: “Wicked One, what do you see in me that makes you speak thus to me?” Māra said to the Teacher: “Venerable Sir, the Fortunate One has developed to the full the four bases of psychic power. For should the Fortunate One resolve: ‘Let the Himālaya, king of mountains, be turned to gold,’ that mountain would be gold. I too will do with this wealth all those things which can be done with wealth. Thus you shall rule justly and righteously.” Then said the Teacher:

A mountain made solely of gold,
the finest gold, even twice as
much would not be enough for one.
Knowing this, live equanimous. {4.33}

He who has seen suffering, and
what it is based on, how can a person
incline towards sensual pleasures?
Knowing attachment is a bond,
he should train for its removal.

With these verses did the Teacher arouse and alarm the Wicked One. Then he said to him: “I will admonish you yet again. Wicked One, I have nothing in common with you. Thus do I admonish you.” So saying, he pronounced the following verses:

331. Atthamhi jātamhi sukhā sahāyā,
tuṭṭhī sukhā yā itarītarena,
puññaṁ sukhaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi,
sabbassa dukkhassa sukhaṁ pahāṇaṁ.

Friends are good whenever need arises,
being content with everything is good,
at the break-up of life merit is good,
abandoning of suffering is good.

332. Sukhā matteyyatā loke, atho petteyyatā sukhā,
sukhā sāmaññatā loke, atho brahmaññatā sukhā.

Having respect for one’s mother is good,
having respect for one’s father is good,
having respect for ascetics is good,
having respect for true Brahmins is good.

333. Sukhaṁ yāva jarā sīlaṁ, sukhā saddhā patiṭṭhitā,
sukho paññāya paṭilābho, pāpānaṁ akaraṇaṁ sukhaṁ.

Virtuous conduct till old age is good,
the establishing of faith is good,
the acquisition of wisdom is good,
doing nothing wicked is also good.

At the end of the teaching many Devatās had comprehension of the Dhamma.