The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding māra’s snare (1st), guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.114 Māra’s Snare (1st)

“Santi, bhikkhave, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āvāsagato mārassa, mārassa vasaṁ gato, paṭimukkassa mārapāso. Baddho so mārabandhanena yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe….

Santi, bhikkhave, jivhāviññeyyā rasā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āvāsagato mārassa, mārassa vasaṁ gato, paṭimukkassa mārapāso. Baddho so mārabandhanena …pe….

Santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āvāsagato mārassa, mārassa vasaṁ gato, paṭimukkassa mārapāso. Baddho so mārabandhanena yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe…

Santi ca kho, bhikkhave, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso. Mutto so mārabandhanena na yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe….

Santi, bhikkhave, jivhāviññeyyā rasā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso. Mutto so mārabandhanena na yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe….

Santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso. Mutto so mārabandhanena na yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Santi, bhikkhave, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

“Mendicants, there are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati

If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them,

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āvāsagato mārassa, mārassa vasaṁ gato, paṭimukkassa mārapāso.

they’re called a mendicant trapped in Māra’s lair, fallen under Māra’s sway, and caught in Māra’s snare.

Baddho so mārabandhanena yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe….

They’re bound by Māra’s bonds, and the Wicked One can do with them what he wants.

Santi, bhikkhave, jivhāviññeyyā rasā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

There are sounds … smells … tastes … touches …

Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āvāsagato mārassa, mārassa vasaṁ gato, paṭimukkassa mārapāso. Baddho so mārabandhanena …pe….

Santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

There are ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati

If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keep clinging to them,

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āvāsagato mārassa, mārassa vasaṁ gato, paṭimukkassa mārapāso.

they’re called a mendicant trapped in Māra’s lair, fallen under Māra’s sway, and caught in Māra’s snare.

Baddho so mārabandhanena yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe…

They’re bound by Māra, and the Wicked One can do with them what he wants.

Santi ca kho, bhikkhave, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

There are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati

If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them,

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso.

they’re called a mendicant not trapped in Māra’s lair, not fallen under Māra’s sway, and released from Māra’s snare.

Mutto so mārabandhanena na yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe….

They’re free from Māra’s bonds, and the Wicked One cannot do with them what he wants.

Santi, bhikkhave, jivhāviññeyyā rasā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

There are sounds … smells … tastes … touches …

Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso. Mutto so mārabandhanena na yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe….

Santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

There are ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati

If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them,

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso.

they’re called a mendicant not trapped in Māra’s lair, not fallen under Māra’s sway, and released from Māra’s snare.

Mutto so mārabandhanena na yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato”ti.

They’re free from Māra’s bonds, and the Wicked One cannot do with them what he wants.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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Last updated on July 27, 2026