At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans near Silāvatī. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati silāvatiyaṁ.

Now at that time Venerable Samiddhi was meditating not far from the Buddha, diligent, keen, and resolute. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato avidūre appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharati. Then as Venerable Samiddhi was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, Atha kho āyasmato samiddhissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, “lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, to have a teacher who is a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha! yassa me satthā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, to have gone forth in a teaching and training so well explained! yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito. I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, to have spiritual companions who are ethical and of good character.” yassa me sabrahmacārino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā”ti.

And then Māra the Wicked, knowing Samiddhi’s train of thought, went up to him and made a terrifyingly loud noise close by him. It seemed as if the earth was shattering. Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato samiddhissa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yenāyasmā samiddhi tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmato samiddhissa avidūre mahantaṁ bhayabheravaṁ saddamakāsi, apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyati.

Then Samiddhi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. The Buddha said, Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno āyasmā samiddhi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idhāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato avidūre appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me satthā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito. Lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me sabrahmacārino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, avidūre mahābhayabheravasaddo ahosi, apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyatī”ti. “Samiddhi, that’s not the earth shattering. “Nesā, samiddhi, pathavī undrīyati. That’s Māra the Wicked come to pull the wool over your eyes! Māro eso pāpimā tuyhaṁ vicakkhukammāya āgato. Go back to that same place, Samiddhi, and meditate, diligent, keen, and resolute.” Gaccha tvaṁ, samiddhi, tattheva appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharāhī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” replied Samiddhi. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

And for a second time Samiddhi was meditating in that same place, diligent, ardent, and resolute. Dutiyampi kho āyasmā samiddhi tattheva appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihāsi. And for a second time he had the same thought … Dutiyampi kho āyasmato samiddhissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa …pe… and Māra made an earth-shattering noise. dutiyampi kho māro pāpimā āyasmato samiddhissa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya …pe… apissudaṁ pathavī maññe undrīyati.

Then Samiddhi addressed Māra the Wicked One in verse: Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“I went forth out of faith “Saddhāyāhaṁ pabbajito, from the lay life to homelessness. agārasmā anagāriyaṁ; My mindfulness and wisdom are mature, Sati paññā ca me buddhā, my mind is serene in immersion. cittañca susamāhitaṁ; Make whatever illusions you want, Kāmaṁ karassu rūpāni, it won’t bother me.” neva maṁ byādhayissasī”ti.

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The mendicant Samiddhi knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there. Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ samiddhi bhikkhū”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.