Mahā-samaya Sutta The Great Meeting

 [Evam-me sutaṃ.] Ekaṃ samayaṃ Bhagavā, Sakkesu viharati Kapilavatthusmiṃ Mahāvane, mahatā bhikkhu-saṅghena saddhiṃ pañca-mattehi bhikkhu-satehi sabbeheva arahantehi. Dasahi ca loka-dhātūthi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti Bhagavantaṃ dassanāya bhikkhu-saṅghañca.

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 Sangha 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 Sangha.

Atha kho catunnaṃ suddhāvāsa-kāyikānaṃ devānaṃ etadahosi, "Ayaṃ kho Bhagavā Sakkesu viharati Kapilavatthusmiṃ Mahāvane, mahatā bhikkhu-saṅghena saddhiṃ pañca-mattehi bhikkhu-satehi, sabbeheva arahantehi. Dasahi ca loka-dhātūthi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti Bhagavantaṃ dassanāya bhikkhu-saṅghañca. Yannūna mayampi 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 Sangha 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 Sangha. 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 sammiñjitaṃ vā bāhaṃ pasāreyya, pasāritaṃ vā bāhaṃ sammiñjeyya, evameva suddhāvāsesu devesu antarahitā Bhagavato purato pāturahaṃsu. Atho kho tā devatā Bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhaṃsu, ekamantaṃ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā Bhagavato santike imaṃ gāthaṃ 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 pavanasmiṃ

Deva-kāyā samāgatā

Āgatamha imaṃ dhamma-samayaṃ

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 Sangha."

Atha kho aparā devatā Bhagavato santike imaṃ gāthaṃ abhāsi.

Tatra bhikkhavo samādahaṃsu

Cittaṃ attano ujukam-akaṃsu

Sārathī va nettāni gahetvā

Indriyāni rakkhanti paṇḍitāti.

Then another devatā recited this verse in the Blessed One's presence:

"The bhikkhus there 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 imaṃ gāthaṃ abhāsi.

Chetvā khīlaṃ chetvā palīghaṃ

Inda-khīlaṃ 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 imaṃ gāthaṃ abhāsi.

Ye keci Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gatāse

Na te gamissanti apāya-bhūmiṃ

Pahāya mānusaṃ dehaṃ

Deva-kāyaṃ 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 Tathāgataṃ dassanāya bhikkhu-saṅghañca. Yepi te bhikkhave ahesuṃ atītam-addhānaṃ arahanto Sammā-sambuddhā, tesampi Bhagavantānaṃ eta-paramāyeva devatā sannipatitā ahesuṃ, seyyathāpi mayhaṃ etarahi. Yepi te bhikkhave bhavissanti anāgatam-addhānaṃ arahanto Sammā-sambuddhā, tesampi Bhagavantānaṃ eta-paramāyeva devatā sannipatitā bhavissanti, seyyathāpi mayhaṃ etarahi.

Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Monks, most of the devatās from ten world-systems have gathered in order to see the Tathagata & the Bhikkhu Sangha. 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-kāyānaṃ nāmāni. Kittayissāmi bhikkhave deva-kāyānaṃ nāmāni. Desissāmi bhikkhave deva-kāyānaṃ nāmāni. Taṃ suṇātha sādhukaṃ manasikarotha bhāsissāmīti."

"Evam-bhanteti" kho te bhikkhū Bhagavato paccassosuṃ. Bhagavā etad-avoca.

I will detail for 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-gabbharaṃ

Pahitattā samāhitā

Puthū sīhāva sallīnā

Loma-haṃsābhisambhuno

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-akaruṃ

Sutvā Buddhassa sāsanaṃ

Tesam-pāturahu ñāṇaṃ

Amanussāna dassanaṃ

Appeke satam-addakkhuṃ

Sahassaṃ atha sattariṃ

Sataṃ eke sahassānaṃ

Amanussānam-addasuṃ

Appekenantam-addakkhuṃ

Disā sabbā phuṭā ahuṃ

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 a diligent 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.

Tañca sabbaṃ abhiññāya

Vavakkhitvāna cakkhumā

Tato āmantayi Satthā

Sāvake sāsane rate

"Deva-kāyā abhikkantā

Te vijānātha bhikkhavo

Ye vohaṃ 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 abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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 abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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 abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

From Mount Sāta 3,000 yakkhas of varied hue,

powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,

rejoicing, have approached the monks' forest meeting.

Iccete soḷasa-sahassā

Yakkhā nānatta-vaṇṇino

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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 abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

500 yakkhas from Vessāmitta, of varied hue,

powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,

rejoicing, have approached the monks' forest meeting.

Kumbhīro Rājagahiko

Vepullassa nivesanaṃ

Bhiyyo naṃ sata-sahassaṃ

Yakkhānaṃ payirupāsati

Kumbhīro Rājagahiko

Sop'āga samitiṃ vanaṃ.

Kumbhīra from Rājagaha, who dwells on Mount Vepulla, accompanied by more than 100,000 yakkhas — Kumbhīra from Rājagaha: He, too, has come to the forest meeting.

Purimañca disaṃ rājā

arrayed with powerful armies

Mahārājā yasassi so

Puttāpi tassa bahavo

Inda-nāmā mahabbalā

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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.

Dakkhiṇañca disaṃ rājā

Virūḷho tappasāsati

Kumbhaṇḍānaṃ ādhipati

Mahārājā yasassi so

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Inda-nāmā mahabbalā

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

And Virūḷha, who rules as king of the Southern Direction,

rejoicing, have approached the monks' forest meeting.

Powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,

rejoicing, they have approached the monks' forest meeting.

Pacchimañca disaṃ rājā

Virūpakkho pasāsati

Nāgānaṃ ādhipati

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

Then come the Sahabhu devas,

Inda-nāmā mahabbalā

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

Athāgū Harayo devā

Ye ca Lohitavāsino

and many are his sons named Indra, of great strength.

Powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,

rejoicing, they have approached the monks' forest meeting.

Uttarañca disaṃ rājā

Kuvero tappasāsati

Yakkhānaṃ ādhipati

Mahārājā yasassi so

Puttāpi tassa bahavo

Inda-nāmā mahabbalā

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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-disaṃ Dhataraṭṭho

Dakkhiṇena Virūḷhako

Pacchimena Virūpakkho

Kuvero uttaraṃ disaṃ

Cattāro te mahārājā

Samantā caturo disā

Daddallamānā aṭṭhaṃsu

Vane Kāpilavatthave

Powerful, effulgent, glamorous, prestigious,

Virūpakkha from the West,

Kuvera from the Northern Direction:

These four Great Kings encompassing the four directions,

resplendent, stand in the Kāpilavastu forest.

Tesaṃ māyāvino dāsā

Virūḷhaka from the South,

Viṭū ca Viṭuṭo saha

Candano Kāma-seṭṭho ca

Kinnughaṇḍu Nighaṇḍu ca

Panādo Opamañño ca

Deva-sūto ca Mātali

Cittaseno ca gandhabbo

Naḷorājā Janosabho

Āgū Pañcasikho ceva

Timbarū Suriyavacchasā

Ete caññe ca rājāno

Gandhabbā saha rājubhi

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

Pañcasikha has come

— deceptive, treacherous —

Māyā, Kuṭeṇḍu, Veṭeṇḍu, Viṭu with Viṭuṭa,

Candana, the Chief of Sensual Pleasure,

Kinnughaṇḍu, Nighaṇḍu,

Panāda, the Mimic, Mātali, the deva's charioteer,

Cittasena the gandhabba, King Nāḷa, the Bull of the People,

Kambalas, Assataras, Payāgas, & their kin.

with Timbaru [and his daughter,] Suriyavacchasā.

These & other kings, gandhabbas with their kings,

rejoicing, have approached the monks' forest meeting.

Athāgū Nābhasā nāgā

Vesālā saha Tacchakā

Kambal'Assatarā āgū

Pāyāgā saha ñātibhi

Yāmunā Dhataraṭṭhā ca

Āgū nāgā yasassino

Erāvaṇṇo mahānāgo Jitā vajira-hatthena

"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Then there have also come nāgas

from Lake Nābhasa, Vesālī & Tacchaka.

Pahārādo Namucī saha

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

arrayed with powerful armies

Citrā Supaṇṇā iti tesa'nāmaṃ

Abhayantadā nāga-rājānamāsi

Supaṇṇato khemam-akāsi Buddho

Saṇhāhi vācāhi upavhayantā

Nāgā Supaṇṇā saraṇam-akaṃsu Buddhaṃ

They who swoop down swiftly on nāga kings,

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

(Garuḍas) came from the sky to the midst of the forest.

Citra & Supaṇṇa are their names.

But the Buddha made the nāga kings safe,

made them secure from Supaṇṇa.

Addressing one another with affectionate words,

Suriyam-āgū purakkhitā

Nakkhattāni purakkhitvā

Samuddaṃ asurā sitā

Bhātaro Vāsavassete

Iddhimanto yasassino

Kālakañjā mahābhismā

Asurā Dānaveghasā

Vepacitti Sucitti ca

The devas dependent on the sun

Satañca Bali-puttānaṃ

Sabbe Veroca-nāmakā

Sannayhitvā baliṃ senaṃ

Rāhu-bhaddam-upāgamuṃ

Samayodāni bhaddante

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitaṃ vanaṃ

"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-āgamuṃ

Varuṇā Vāruṇā devā

Somo ca Yasasā saha

Mettā-Karuṇā-kāyikā

Āgū devā yasassino

Dasete dasadhā kāyā

Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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

Vasūnaṃ Vāsavo seṭṭho

Sakkop'āga purindado

Dasete dasadhā kāyā

Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

Veṇḍu (Vi.sṇu) & 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 spites 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.

Athāgū Sahabhū devā

Jalam-aggi-sikhāriva

Ariṭṭhakā ca Rojā ca

Ummā-pupphanibhāsino

Varuṇā Sahadhammā ca

Accutā ca Anejakā

Sūleyya-Rucirā āgū

Āgū Vāsavanesino

Dasete dasadhā kāyā

Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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-padūskikā āgū

Āgū Mano-padūsikā

Athāgū Harayo devā

Ye ca Lohitavāsino

Pāragā Mahāpāragā

Āgū devā yasassino

Dasete dasadhā kāyā

Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

Samānas, Great Samānas,

Mānusas, Super Manusas,

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

Thanayaṃ āgā Pajunno

Yo disā abhivassati

Dasete dasadhā kāyā

Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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 in all directions:

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

Athāgū Paranimmitā

Dasete dasadhā kāyā

Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino

Iddhimanto jutimanto

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino

Modamānā abhikkāmuṃ

Bhikkhūnaṃ samitiṃ vanaṃ.

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.

Saṭṭhete deva-nikāyā

Sabbe nānatta-vaṇṇino

Nāmanvayena āgañchuṃ

Ye caññe sadisā saha

'Pavuttha-jātim-akkhīlaṃ

Ogha-tiṇṇam-anāsavaṃ

Dakkhemoghataraṃ nāgaṃ

Candaṃ va asitātitaṃ.'

These 60 deva groups, all of varied hue,

have come arranged in order,

together with others in like manner [thinking:]

'We'll see him who has transcended birth,

who has no bounds, who has crossed over the flood,

the Mighty One, beyond evil, like the moon freed from a cloud.'

Subrahmā Paramatto ca

Puttā iddhimato saha

Sanaṅkumāro Tisso ca

Sop'āga samitiṃ vanaṃ.

Sahassa-brahma-lokānaṃ

Mahā-brahmābhitiṭṭhati

Upapanno jutimanto

Bhismā-kāyo yasassi so

Desettha issarā āgū

Pacceka-vasavattino

Tesañca majjhato āgā

Hārito parivārito."

Subrahmā and Paramatta Brahma,

together with sons of the Powerful One,

Sanaṅkumāra and Tissa:

They too have come to the forest meeting.

Great Brahmā, who stands over 1,000 Brahma worlds,

who arose there spontaneously, effulgent:

Prestigious is he, with a terrifying body.

And ten brahma sovereigns, each the lord of his own realm —

and in their midst has come Harita Brahma

surrounded by his retinue."

Te ca sabbe abhikkante

Sinde deve sabrahmake

Māra-senā abhikkāmi

Passa kaṇhassa mandiyaṃ

"Etha gaṇhatha bandhatha

Rāgena bandhamatthu vo

Samantā parivāretha

Mā vo muñcittha koci naṃ."

Iti tattha mahāseno

Kaṇha-senaṃ apesayi

Pāṇinā talam-āhacca

Saraṃ katvāna bheravaṃ

Yathā pāvussako megho

Thanayanto savijjuko

Tadā so paccudāvatti

Saṅkuddho asayaṃ-vase

When all these devas with Indras and Brahmas had come,

Māra 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 war-lord urged on his dark army,

slapping the ground with his hand,

making a horrendous din, as when

a storm cloud bursts with thunder,

lightning, and torrents of rain.

But then he withdrew — enraged,

with none under his sway.

Tañca sabbaṃ abhiññāya

Vavakkhitvāna cakkhumā

Tato āmantayi Satthā

Sāvake sāsane rate

"Māra-senā abhikkantā

Te vijānātha bhikkhavo"

Te ca ātappam-akaruṃ

Sutvā Buddhassa sāsanaṃ

Vītarāgehi pakkāmuṃ

Nesaṃ lomampi iñjayuṃ

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 a diligent 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.