So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence: Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Children bring you delight! “Nandati puttehi puttimā, Cattle also bring you delight! Gomā gobhi tatheva nandati; For attachments are a man’s delight; Upadhīhi narassa nandanā, without attachments there’s no delight.” Na hi so nandati yo nirūpadhī”ti.

“Your children bring you sorrow. “Socati puttehi puttimā, Your cattle also bring you sorrow. Gomā gobhi tatheva socati; For attachments are a man’s sorrow; Upadhīhi narassa socanā, without attachments there are no sorrows.” Na hi so socati yo nirūpadhī”ti.

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there. Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.