The Mara Suttas

1.
Penitence and Works

I HEAR TELL

Once Upon a Time, the Lucky Man, Uruvela land,
on the banks of the Neranjara
at the root [mula] of the Goatherd's Banyon
revisiting first thing after his all-round-self-awakening.
There, alone in solitary reflection this thought came to mind:

"Free at last
from that grinding-pain-racked-body!
Thank Goodness! Free at last
from that worthless good-for-nothing,
grinding-pain-racked-body!
Thank Goodness!
Taking a stand, conscious, awake,
I've got'n the highest high-get'n."

Then Mara, The Evil One,
knowing with his mind the Lucky Man's thoughts,
drew close
Drawing close to the Lucky man, he wispaas:

"Penitential works he gives him up
What purifies the son of man.
Impure, 'I'm purified' he thinks
And thereby gives him up his Way to Purity!"

But the Lucky man heard;
and responded in kind:

"Know I well that good-for nothing
penitence at death-defeating aimed
all-for-naught is made to be
as oar and rudder on dry land and not the sea.

Give me ethics, get'n high and wise
The Way to waking up I'll place before your eyes

Purified the way to purity I've gained
Get thee gone thy thing of ends
I've had my fill of making thee amends."

And Mara, The Evil One thought:
"I am found out!
The Lucky Man recognizes me."
And pained and depressed he vanished on the spot.

2.
The Elephant

I HEAR TELL

Once Upon a Time, the Lucky Man, Uruvela land,
on the banks of the Neranjara
down by the Goatherd's Banyon
revisiting first thing after his all-round-self-awakening.

At this point in time
Bhagava had come to be sitting down in the open air
in the deep darkness of the night
and the rain was coming down from the heavens
one drop after another.

Then Mara, Death, The Evil One,
whooisshta scare the Lucky man stiff
make'es hair stan on en,
trickt he's self up in this shape
of a huge bull elephant and drew close
Head like a huge block of granite
Tusks a-gleam'n white
Trunk like a plow pole

But the Lucky Man saw:
'This is Mara, Death, The Evil One',
and he pronounced this canto:

"Long the time of lengthy rounds
now beautiful now vile the shape
Get thee gone thy thing of ends
That bag of tricks is no man's friend."

And Mara, The Evil One thought:
"I am found out!
The Lucky Man recognizes me."
And pained and depressed he vanished on the spot.

3.
Now Beautiful

Uruvela-land revisiting
At this point in time
Bhagava had come to be sitting down in the open air
in the deep darkness of the night
and the rain was coming down from the heavens
one drop after another.

Then Mara, Death, The Evil One,
who wished to scare the Lucky man stiff
and cause his hair to stand on end,
drew close.
Drawing close
he projected forth various luminous shapes,
now beautiful, now vile.

But the Lucky Man saw:
'This is Mara, Death, The Evil One',
and he pronounced this canto:

"Long the time of lengthy rounds
now beautiful now vile the shape
Get thee gone thy thing of ends
That bag of tricks is no man's friend.

Who in body, speech and mind restrained
by shimmering lights will not be sway'd
nor Mara's spell-bound vassel made to be."

And Mara, The Evil One thought:
"I am found out!
The Lucky Man recognizes me."
And pained and depressed he vanished on the spot.