Sappasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.6

Linked Discourses 4.6

1. Paṭhamavagga

1. Lifespan

Sappasutta

A Cobra

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.

Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo mahantaṁ sapparājavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, manifested in the form of a big cobra king and approached him.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī ekarukkhikā nāvā;

Its body was like a big canoe carved from a single tree.

evamassa kāyo hoti.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahantaṁ soṇḍikākiḷañjaṁ;

Its hood was like a large brewer’s sieve.

evamassa phaṇo hoti.

Seyyathāpi nāma mahatī kosalikā kaṁsapāti;

Its eyes were like big bronze cups from Kosala.

evamassa akkhīni bhavanti.

Seyyathāpi nāma deve gaḷagaḷāyante vijjullatā niccharanti;

Its tongue flickered from its mouth like lightning flashes in a thunderstorm.

evamassa mukhato jivhā niccharati.

Seyyathāpi nāma kammāragaggariyā dhamamānāya saddo hoti;

The sound of its breathing was like the puffing of a blacksmith’s bellows.

evamassa assāsapassāsānaṁ saddo hoti.

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:

“Yo suññagehāni sevati,

“One who frequents empty buildings

Seyyā so muni attasaññato;

for lodging—that sage is self-restrained.

Vossajja careyya tattha so,

It’s appropriate for that sort

Patirūpañhi tathāvidhassa taṁ.

to live there after relinquishing.

Carakā bahū bheravā bahū,

Though there are lots of creepy crawlies,

Atho ḍaṁsasarīsapā bahū;

and lots of flies and reptiles,

Lomampi na tattha iñjaye,

they wouldn’t stir a hair

Suññāgāragato mahāmuni.

of a great sage in that empty hut.

Nabhaṁ phaleyya pathavī caleyya,

Though the firmament may split
and the earth may quake,

Sabbepi pāṇā uda santaseyyuṁ;

and all creatures be stricken with fear;

Sallampi ce urasi pakappayeyyuṁ,

and even if an arrow’s aimed at their breast,

Upadhīsu tāṇaṁ na karonti buddhā”ti.

the Buddhas take no shelter in attachments.”

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.