• Linked Discourses 4.16 Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.16
  • 2. Rule 2. Dutiyavagga

The Alms Bowls Pattasutta

At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Now at that time the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk on the topic of the five grasping aggregates. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā paƱcannaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ upādāya bhikkhÅ«naṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti. And those mendicants were paying attention, applying the mind, concentrating wholeheartedly, and actively listening. Te ca bhikkhÅ« aį¹­į¹­hiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti.

Then Māra thought, Atha kho mārassa pāpimato etadahosi: ā€œThis ascetic Gotama is educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk on the topic of the five grasping aggregates. ā€œayaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo paƱcannaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ upādāya bhikkhÅ«naṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti. And the mendicants are paying attention, applying the mind, concentrating wholeheartedly, and actively listening. Te ca bhikkhÅ« aį¹­į¹­hiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti. Why don’t I go and pull the wool over their eyes?ā€ YannÅ«nāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaį¹…kameyyaṁ vicakkhukammāyÄā€ti.

At that time several alms bowls were placed in the open air. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā pattā abbhokāse nikkhittā honti. Then Māra the Wicked manifested in the form of an ox and approached those bowls. Atha kho māro pāpimā balÄ«baddavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena te pattā tenupasaį¹…kami.

One of the mendicants said to another, Atha kho aƱƱataro bhikkhu aƱƱataraṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca: ā€œMendicant, mendicant, that ox will break the bowls.ā€ ā€œbhikkhu bhikkhu, eso balÄ«baddo patte bhindeyyÄā€ti.

When this was said, the Buddha said to that mendicant, Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca: ā€œMendicant, that’s no ox. ā€œna so, bhikkhu, balÄ«baddo. That’s Māra the Wicked come to pull the wool over your eyes!ā€ Māro eso pāpimā tumhākaṁ vicakkhukammāya āgatoā€ti.

Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse: Atha kho bhagavā ā€œmāro ayaṁ pāpimÄā€ iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

ā€œForm, what is felt, and perception, ā€œRÅ«paṁ vedayitaṁ saƱƱā, consciousness, and what is chosen: viññāṇaṁ yaƱca saį¹…khataṁ; ā€˜I am not this’ and ā€˜this is not mine’; Nesohamasmi netaṁ me, that’s how to be free of desire for them. evaṁ tattha virajjati.

When you’re detached, secure, Evaṁ virattaṁ khemattaṁ, all fetters transcended, sabbasaṁyojanātigaṁ; though Māra and his army chase everywhere Anvesaṁ sabbaį¹­į¹­hānesu, they never find you.ā€ mārasenāpi nājjhagÄā€ti.

Then Māra … vanished right there. Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyÄ«ti.