Tapokammasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.1

Linked Discourses 4.1

1. Paṭhamavagga

1. Lifespan

Tapokammasutta

Mortification

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.

At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.

Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:

Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind,

“mutto vatamhi tāya dukkarakārikāya.

“I am truly freed from that grueling work!

Sādhu mutto vatamhi tāya anatthasaṁhitāya dukkarakārikāya.

Thank goodness I’m freed from that pointless grueling work.

Sādhu vatamhi mutto bodhiṁ samajjhagan”ti.

Thank goodness I’m freed and have attained awakening.”

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

And then Māra the Wicked, knowing the Buddha’s train of thought, went up to him and addressed him in verse:

“Tapokammā apakkamma,

“You’ve left the practice of mortification

yena sujjhanti māṇavā;

by which sons of men purify themselves.

Asuddho maññasi suddho,

You’re impure, but think yourself pure;

suddhimaggā aparaddho”ti.

you’ve strayed from the path of purity.”

Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:

“Anatthasaṁhitaṁ ñatvā,

“I realized that it’s pointless;

yaṁ kiñci amaraṁ tapaṁ;

all that endless mortification

Sabbaṁ natthāvahaṁ hoti,

is as futile

phiyārittaṁva dhammani.

as oars and rudder on dry land.

Sīlaṁ samādhi paññañca,

Ethics, immersion, and wisdom:

Maggaṁ bodhāya bhāvayaṁ;

by developing this path to awakening

Pattosmi paramaṁ suddhiṁ,

I attained ultimate purity.

Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

You’re beaten, terminator!”

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti, dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.