Mahā-samaya Sutta
The Great Meeting
[Evam-me sutaṁ.] Ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā, Sakkesu viharati Kapilavatthusmiṁ Mahāvane, mahatā bhikkhu-saṅghena saddhiṁ pañca-mattehi bhikkhu-satehi sabbeh’eva arahantehi. Dasahi ca loka-dhātūhi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti Bhagavantaṁ dassanāya bhikkhu-saṅghañ-ca.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Great Wood, together with a large Saṅgha of approximately five hundred bhikkhus, all of them arahants. And most of the devatās from ten world-systems had gathered in order to see the Blessed One & the Bhikkhu Saṅgha.
Atha kho catunnaṁ suddhāvāsa-kāyikānaṁ devānaṁ etad-ahosi, “Ayaṁ kho Bhagavā Sakkesu viharati Kapilavatthusmiṁ Mahāvane, mahatā bhikkhu-saṅghena saddhiṁ pañca-mattehi bhikkhu-satehi sabbeh’eva arahantehi.
Dasahi ca loka-dhātūhi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti Bhagavantaṁ dassanāya bhikkhu-saṅghañ-ca. Yannūna mayam-pi yena Bhagavā ten’upasaṅkameyyāma, upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavato santike pacceka-gāthā bhāseyyāmāti.”
Then the thought occurred to four devatās of the ranks from the Pure Abodes: “The Blessed One is dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Great Wood, together with a large Saṅgha of about five hundred bhikkhus, all of them arahants. And most of the devatās from ten world-systems have gathered in order to see the Blessed One & the Bhikkhu Saṅgha. Let us also approach the Blessed One and, on arrival, let us each speak a verse in his presence.”
Atha kho tā devatā seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso sammiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ sammiñjeyya, evam-eva suddhāvāsesu devesu antarahitā Bhagavato purato pāturahaṁsu. Atha kho tā devatā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekam-antaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekam-antaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā Bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi.
Then, just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm, those devatās disappeared from among the devas of the Pure Abodes and reappeared before the Blessed One. Having paid homage to the Blessed One, they stood to one side. As they were standing there, one devatā recited this verse in the Blessed One’s presence:
“Mahā-samayo pavanasmiṁ
Deva-kāyā samāgatā
Āgatamha imaṁ dhamma-samayaṁ
Dakkhitāyeva aparājita-saṅghanti.”
“A great meeting in the woods:
The deva hosts have assembled.
We have come to this Dhamma meeting
to see the unvanquished Saṅgha.”
Atha kho aparā devatā Bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi.
“Tatra bhikkhavo samādahaṁsu
Cittaṁ attano ujukam-akaṁsu
Sārathī va nettāni gahetvā
Indriyāni rakkhanti paṇḍitāti.”
Then another devatā recited this verse in the Blessed One’s presence:
“There the bhikkhus are concentrated,
have straightened their own minds.
Like a charioteer holding the reins,
the wise ones guard their faculties.”
Atha kho aparā devatā Bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi.
“Chetvā khīlaṁ chetvā palīghaṁ
Inda-khīlam-ohaccam-anejā,
Te caranti suddhā vimalā
Cakkhumatā sudantā susu-nāgāti.”
Then another devatā recited this verse in the Blessed One’s presence:
“Having cut through barrenness, cut the cross-bar,
having uprooted Indra’s pillar, unstirred,
they wander about pure, unstained,
young nāgas well tamed by the One with Vision.
Atha kho aparā devatā Bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi.
“Ye keci Buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatāse
Na te gamissanti apāya-bhūmiṁ.
Pahāya mānusaṁ dehaṁ
Deva-kāyaṁ paripūressantīti.”
Then another devatā recited this verse in the Blessed One’s presence:
“Those who have gone to the Buddha for refuge
will not go to the plane of woe.
On discarding the human body,
they will fill the hosts of the devas.”
Atha kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi, “Yebhuyyena bhikkhave dasasu loka-dhātūsu devatā sannipatitā honti Tathāgataṁ dassanāya bhikkhu-saṅghañ-ca.
Ye’pi te bhikkhave ahesuṁ atītam-addhānaṁ arahanto Sammā-sambuddhā, tesam-pi Bhagavantānaṁ eta-paramāyeva devatā sannipatitā ahesuṁ, seyyathāpi mayhaṁ etarahi.
Ye’pi te bhikkhave bhavissanti anāgatam-addhānaṁ arahanto Sammā-sambuddhā, tesam-pi Bhagavantānaṁ eta-paramāyeva devatā sannipatitā bhavissanti, seyyathāpi mayhaṁ etarahi.
Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: “Monks, most of the devatās from ten world-systems have gathered in order to see the Tathāgata & the Bhikkhu Saṅgha. Those who, in the past, were Pure Ones, Rightly Self-awakened, at most had their devatā-gathering like mine at the present. Those who, in the future, will be Pure Ones, Rightly Self-awakened, will at most have their devatā-gathering like mine at the present.
Ācikkhissāmi bhikkhave deva-kāyānaṁ nāmāni.
Kittayissāmi bhikkhave deva-kāyānaṁ nāmāni.
Desissāmi bhikkhave deva-kāyānaṁ nāmāni. Taṁ suṇātha sādhukaṁ manasikarotha bhāsissāmīti.”
“Evam-bhante” ti kho te bhikkhū Bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etad-avoca.
“I will tell you the names of the deva hosts. I will describe to you the names of the deva hosts. I will teach you the names of the deva hosts. Listen & pay close attention. I will speak.”
“As you say, lord,” the monks replied. The Blessed One said:
“Silokam-anukassāmi
Yattha bhummā tadassitā
Ye sitā giri-gabbharaṁ
Pahitattā samāhitā
Puthū sīhāva sallīnā
Loma-haṁsābhisambhuno
Odāta-manasā suddhā
Vippasannam-anāvilā
I recite a verse of tribute.
Those who live where spirits dwell,
who live in mountain caves, resolute, concentrated,
many, like hidden lions, who have overcome horripilation,
white-hearted, pure, serene, & undisturbed:
Bhiyyo pañca-sate ñatvā
Vane Kāpilavatthave
Tato āmantayi Satthā
Sāvake sāsane rate
‘Deva-kāyā abhikkantā
Te vijānātha bhikkhavo.’
Te ca ātappam-akaruṁ
Sutvā Buddhassa sāsanaṁ
Tesam-pāturahu ñāṇaṁ
Amanussāna dassanaṁ
Appeke satam-addakkhuṁ
Sahassaṁ atha sattariṁ
Sataṁ eke sahassānaṁ
Amanussānam-addasuṁ
Appekenantam-addakkhuṁ
Disā sabbā phuṭā ahuṁ
Knowing that more than 500 of them
had come to the forest of Kapilavastu,
the Teacher then said to them, disciples delighting in his instruction,
“The deva hosts have approached. Detect them, monks!”
Listening to the Awakened One’s instruction,
they made an ardent effort.
Knowledge appeared to them, vision of non-human beings.
Some saw 100, some 1,000, some 70,000,
some had vision of 100,000 non-human beings.
Some gained vision of innumerable devas filling every direction.
Tañ-ca sabbaṁ abhiññāya
Vavakkhitvāna cakkhumā
Tato āmantayi Satthā
Sāvake sāsane rate
‘Deva-kāyā abhikkantā
Te vijānātha bhikkhavo
Ye vohaṁ kittayissāmi
Girāhi anupubbaso.’
Realizing all this, the One-with-Vision felt moved to speak.
The Teacher then said to them,
disciples delighting in his instruction,
“The deva hosts have approached. Detect them, monks,
as I describe their glories, one by one.
Satta-sahassā va yakkhā
Bhummā Kāpilavatthavā
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
7,000 yakkhas inhabiting the land of Kāpilavastu,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Cha-sahassā hemavatā
Yakkhā nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
6,000 yakkhas from the Himālayas, of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Sātāgirā ti-sahassā
Yakkhā nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
From Mount Sāta 3,000 yakkhas of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Icc’ete soḷasa-sahassā
Yakkhā nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
These 16,000 yakkhas of varied hue
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Vessāmittā pañca-satā
Yakkhā nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
500 yakkhas from Vessāmitta, of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Kumbhīro Rājagahiko
Vepullassa nivesanaṁ
Bhiyyo naṁ sata-sahassaṁ
Yakkhānaṁ payirupāsati
Kumbhīro Rājagahiko
So-p’āga samitiṁ vanaṁ.
Kumbhīra from Rājagaha, who dwells on Mount Vepulla,
attended to by more than 100,000 yakkhas—
Kumbhīra from Rājagaha: He, too, has come to the forest meeting.
Purimañ-ca disaṁ rājā
Dhataraṭṭho pasāsati
Gandhabbānaṁ ādhipati
Mahārājā yasassi so
Puttāpi tassa bahavo
Inda-nāmā mahabbalā
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
And Dhataraṭṭha, who rules as king of the Eastern Direction,
as lord of the gandhabbas: A glorious, great king is he,
and many are his sons named Indra, of great strength.
Powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, they have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Dakkhiṇañ-ca disaṁ rājā
Virūḷho tappasāsati
Kumbhaṇḍānaṁ ādhipati
Mahārājā yasassi so
Puttāpi tassa bahavo
Inda-nāmā mahabbalā
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
And Virūḷha, who rules as king of the Southern Direction,
as lord of the kumbaṇḍas: A glorious, great king is he,
and many are his sons named Indra, of great strength.
Powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, they have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Pacchimañ-ca disaṁ rājā
Virūpakkho pasāsati
Nāgānaṁ ādhipati
Mahārājā yasassi so
Puttāpi tassa bahavo
Inda-nāmā mahabbalā
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
And Virūpakkha, who rules as king of the Western Direction,
as lord of the nāgas: A glorious, great king is he,
and many are his sons named Indra, of great strength.
Powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, they have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Uttarañ-ca disaṁ rājā
Kuvero tappasāsati
Yakkhānaṁ ādhipati
Mahārājā yasassi so
Puttāpi tassa bahavo
Inda-nāmā mahabbalā
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
And Kuvera, who rules as king of the Northern Direction,
as lord of the yakkhas: A glorious, great king is he,
and many are his sons named Indra, of great strength.
Powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, they have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Purima-disaṁ Dhataraṭṭho
Dakkhiṇena Virūḷhako
Pacchimena Virūpakkho
Kuvero uttaraṁ disaṁ
Cattāro te mahārājā
Samantā caturo disā
Daddallamānā aṭṭhaṁsu
Vane Kāpilavatthave
Dhataraṭṭha from the Eastern Direction, Virūḷhaka from the South,
Virūpakkha from the West, Kuvera from the Northern Direction:
These four Great Kings encompassing the four directions,
resplendent, stand in the Kāpilavastu forest.
Tesaṁ māyāvino dāsā
Āgū vañcanikā saṭhā
Māyā Kuṭeṇḍu Veṭeṇḍu
Viṭū ca Viṭuṭo saha
Candano Kāma-seṭṭho ca
Kinnughaṇḍu Nighaṇḍu ca
Panādo Opamañño ca
Deva-sūto ca Mātali
Cittaseno ca gandhabbo
Naḷo rājā Janosabho
Āgū Pañcasikho c’eva
Timbarū Suriyavacchasā
Ete c’aññe ca rājāno
Gandhabbā saha rājubhi
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
Their deceitful vassals have also come—deceptive, treacherous—
Māyā, Kuṭeṇḍu, Veṭeṇḍu, Viṭu with Viṭuṭa,
Candana, the Chief of Sensuality, Kinnughaṇḍu, Nighaṇḍu,
Panāda, the Mimic, Mātali, the deva’s charioteer,
Cittasena the gandhabba, King Naḷa, the Bull of the People,
Pañcasikha has come with Timbaru & Suriyavacchasā.
These & other kings, gandhabbas with their kings,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Ath’āgū Nābhasā nāgā
Vesālā saha Tacchakā
Kambal’Assatarā āgū
Pāyāgā saha ñātibhi
Yāmunā Dhataraṭṭhā ca
Āgū nāgā yasassino
Erāvaṇṇo mahānāgo
So-p’āga samitiṁ vanaṁ.
Then there have also come nāgas from Lake Nābhasa,
Vesālī & Tacchaka.
Kambalas, Assataras, Payāgas, & their kin.
And from the River Yāmuna comes the prestigious nāga, Dhataraṭṭha.
The great nāga Eravaṇṇa: He, too, has come to the forest meeting.
Ye nāga-rāje sahasā haranti
Dibbā dijā pakkhi visuddha-cakkhū
Vehāyasā te vana-majjha-pattā
Citrā Supaṇṇā iti tesa’nāmaṁ
Abhayantadā nāga-rājānamāsi
Supaṇṇato khemam-akāsi Buddho
Saṇhāhi vācāhi upavhayantā
Nāgā Supaṇṇā saraṇam-akaṁsu Buddhaṁ
They who swoop down swiftly on nāga kings,
divine, twice-born, winged, their eyesight pure:
(Garuḍas) came from the sky to the midst of the forest.
Citra & Supaṇṇa are their names.
But the Buddha, giving safety to the nāga kings,
made them secure from Supaṇṇa.
Addressing one another with affectionate words,
the nāgas & Supaṇṇas made the Buddha their refuge.
Jitā vajira-hatthena
Samuddaṁ asurā sitā
Bhātaro Vāsavassete
Iddhimanto yasassino
Kālakañjā mahābhismā
Asurā Dānaveghasā
Vepacitti Sucitti ca
Pahārādo Namucī saha
Satañ-ca Bali-puttānaṁ
Sabbe Veroca-nāmakā
Sannayhitvā baliṁ senaṁ
Rāhu-bhaddam-upāgamuṁ
Samayo’dāni bhaddante
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
“Defeated by Indra of the thunderbolt hand,
Asuras dwelling in the ocean,
Vāsava’s brothers—powerful, prestigious—
Greatly terrifying Kālakañjas, the Dānaveghasa asuras,
Vepacitti & Sucitti, Pahārāda, with Namucī,
and Bali’s hundred sons, all named Veroca,
arrayed with powerful armies have approached their honored Rāhu
[and said]: ‘Now is the occasion, sir, of the monk’s forest meeting.’
Āpo ca devā Paṭhavī ca
Tejo Vāyo tad-āgamuṁ
Varuṇā Vāruṇā devā
Somo ca Yasasā saha
Mettā-Karuṇā-kāyikā
Āgū devā yasassino
Das’ete dasadhā kāyā
Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
Devas of water, earth, fire, & wind have come here.
Varuṇas, Vāruṇas, Soma together with Yasa,
the prestigious devas of the hosts of goodwill & compassion have come.
These ten ten-fold hosts, all of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Veṇḍū ca devā Sahalī ca
Asamā ca duve Yamā
Candassūpanisā devā
Candam-āgū purakkhitā
Suriyassūpanisā devā
Suriyam-āgū purakkhitā
Nakkhattāni purakkhitvā
Āgū mandavalāhakā
Vasūnaṁ Vāsavo seṭṭho
Sakkop’āga purindado
Das’ete dasadhā kāyā
Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
Veṇḍu (Visṇu) & Sahalī, Asama & the Yama twins,
the devas dependent on the moon, surrounding the moon have come.
The devas dependent on the sun, surrounding the sun have come.
Devas surrounding the zodiac stars
and the sprites of the clouds have come.
Sakka, chief of the Vasus, the ancient donor, has come.
These ten ten-fold hosts, all of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Ath’āgū Sahabhū devā
Jalam-aggi-sikhāriva
Ariṭṭhakā ca Rojā ca
Ummā-pupphanibhāsino
Varuṇā Sahadhammā ca
Accutā ca Anejakā
Sūleyya-Rucirā āgū
Āgū Vāsavanesino
Das’ete dasadhā kāyā
Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
Then come the Sahabhu devas, blazing like crests of fire-flame.
The Ariṭṭakas, Rojas, cornflower blue.
Varuṇas & Sahadhammas, Accutas & Anejakas,
Sūleyyas & Ruciras, and Vasavanesis have come.
These ten ten-fold hosts, all of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Samānā Mahāsamānā
Mānusā Mānusuttamā
Khiḍḍā-padūsikā āgū
Āgū Mano-padūsikā
Ath’āgū Harayo devā
Ye ca Lohitavāsino
Pāragā Mahāpāragā
Āgū devā yasassino
Das’ete dasadhā kāyā
Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
Samānas, Great Samānas, Mānusas, Super Mānusas,
the devas corrupted by fun have come,
as well as devas corrupted by mind.
Then come green-gold devas and those wearing red.
Pāragas, Great Pāragas, prestigious devas have come.
These ten ten-fold hosts, all of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Sukkā Karumhā Aruṇā
Āgū Veghanasā saha
Odātagayhā pāmokkhā
Āgū devā Vicakkhaṇā
Sadāmattā Hāragajā
Missakā ca yasassino
Thanayaṁ āgā Pajunno
Yo disā abhivassati
Das’ete dasadhā kāyā
Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
White devas, ruddy-green devas, dawn-devas
have come with the Veghanas headed by devas totally in white.
The Vicakkhaṇas have come.
Sadāmatta, Hāragajas, & the prestigious multi-coloreds,
Pajunna, the thunderer, who brings rain to the lands:
These ten ten-fold hosts, all of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Khemiyā Tusitā Yāmā
Kaṭṭhakā ca yasassino
Lambitakā Lāmaseṭṭhā
Jotināmā ca āsavā
Nimmānaratino āgū
Ath’āgū Paranimmitā
Das’ete dasadhā kāyā
Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino
Iddhimanto jutimanto
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino
Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ
Bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.
The Khemiyas, Tusitas, & Yāmas, the prestigious Kaṭṭhakas,
Lambitakas & Lāma chiefs, the Jotināmas & Āsavas,
the Nimmānaratis have come, as have the Paranimmitas.
These ten ten-fold hosts, all of varied hue,
powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,
rejoicing, have approached the monks’ forest meeting.
Saṭṭh’ete deva-nikāyā
Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino
Nāmanvayena āgañchuṁ
Ye c’aññe sadisā saha
‘Pavuttha-jātim-akkhīlaṁ
Ogha-tiṇṇam-anāsavaṁ
Dakkhem’oghataraṁ nāgaṁ
Candaṁ va asitātitaṁ.’
These 60 deva groups, all of varied hue, have come arranged in order,
together with others in like manner [thinking:]
‘We’ll see the one who has transcended birth, who has no bounds,
who has crossed over the flood, fermentation-free,
the Mighty One, crossing over the flood,
like the moon emerging from the dark fortnight.’
Subrahmā Paramatto ca
Puttā iddhimato saha
Sanaṅkumāro Tisso ca
So-p’āga samitiṁ vanaṁ.
Sahassa-brahma-lokānaṁ
Mahā-brahmābhitiṭṭhati
Upapanno jutimanto
Bhismā-kāyo yasassi so
Das’ettha issarā āgū
Pacceka-vasavattino
Tesañ-ca majjhato āgā
Hārito parivārito.”
Subrahmā & Paramatta, together with sons of the Powerful One,
Sanaṅkumāra & Tissa: They too have come to the forest meeting.
Great Brahmā, who stands over 1,000 Brahmā worlds,
who arose there spontaneously, effulgent:
Prestigious is he, with a terrifying body.
Ten brahmā sovereigns, each the lord of his own realm, have come—
and in their midst has come Harita surrounded by his retinue.”
Te ca sabbe abhikkante
S’inde deve sabrahmake
Māra-senā abhikkāmi
Passa kaṇhassa mandiyaṁ
‘Etha gaṇhatha bandhatha
Rāgena bandhamatthu vo
Samantā parivāretha
Mā vo muñcittha koci naṁ.’
Iti tattha mahāseno
Kaṇha-senaṁ apesayi
Pāṇinā talam-āhacca
Saraṁ katvāna bheravaṁ
Yathā pāvussako megho
Thanayanto savijjuko.
Tadā so paccudāvatti
Saṅkuddho asayaṁ-vase.
When all these devas with Indras & Brahmās had come,
Māra’s army came as well.
Now look at the Dark One’s foolishness!
[He said:] ‘Come seize them! Bind them!
Tie them down with passion!
Surround them on every side!
Don’t let anyone at all escape!’
Thus the great warlord urged on his dark army,
slapping the ground with his hand,
making a horrendous din,
as when a storm cloud bursts with thunder,
lightning, & torrents of rain.
But then he withdrew—enraged,
with none under his sway.
Tañ-ca sabbaṁ abhiññāya
Vavakkhitvāna cakkhumā
Tato āmantayi Satthā
Sāvake sāsane rate
‘Māra-senā abhikkantā
Te vijānātha bhikkhavo.’
Te ca ātappam-akaruṁ
Sutvā Buddhassa sāsanaṁ.
Vītarāgehi pakkāmuṁ
Nesaṁ lomam-pi iñjayuṁ.
Sabbe vijita-saṅgāmā
Bhayātītā yasassino.
Modanti saha bhūtehi,
Sāvakā te janesutāti.”
Realizing all this,
the One-with-Vision felt moved to speak.
The Teacher then said to them,
disciples delighting in his instruction,
‘Māra’s army has approached. Detect them, monks!’
Listening to the Awakened One’s instruction,
they made an ardent effort.
The army retreated from those without passion,
without raising even a hair on their bodies.
Having all won the battle—prestigious, past fear—
they rejoice with all beings:
disciples outstanding among the human race.”
