Venerable Rādha asks how Māra is defined; the Buddha teaches that where there are the five aggregates there is Māra, and that seeing them rightly leads through disillusionment and dispassion to freedom and extinguishment.

SN 23.11 About Māra

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā rādho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“‘māro, māro’ti, bhante, vuccati. Katamo nu kho, bhante, māro”ti?

“Rūpaṁ kho, rādha, māro, vedanā māro, saññā māro, saṅkhārā māro, viññāṇaṁ māro.

Evaṁ passaṁ, rādha, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi nibbindati, saññāyapi nibbindati, saṅkhāresupi nibbindati, viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā rādho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Seated to one side, Venerable Rādha said to the Buddha:

“‘māro, māro’ti, bhante, vuccati.

“Sir, they speak of ‘Māra’.

Katamo nu kho, bhante, māro”ti?

How is Māra defined?”

“Rūpaṁ kho, rādha, māro, vedanā māro, saññā māro, saṅkhārā māro, viññāṇaṁ māro.

“Rādha, form is Māra, feeling is Māra, perception is Māra, choices are Māra, consciousness is Māra.

Evaṁ passaṁ, rādha, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi nibbindati, saññāyapi nibbindati, saṅkhāresupi nibbindati, viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati.

Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Last updated on July 27, 2026