The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding māra’s snare (2nd), guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.115 Māra’s Snare (2nd)

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

Santi, bhikkhave, jivhāviññeyyā rasā …pe… santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu baddho manoviññeyyesu dhammesu, 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 mutto cakkhuviññeyyehi rūpehi, nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso. Mutto so mārabandhanena na yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato …pe….

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

Dutiyaṁ.

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 baddho cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu, āvāsagato mārassa, mārassa vasaṁ gato, paṭimukkassa mārapāso.

they’re called a mendicant who is bound in sights known by the eye. They’re 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 …pe…

There are sounds … smells … tastes … touches …

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

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 keeps clinging to them,

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

they’re called a mendicant who is bound in ideas known by the mind. They’re 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 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 mutto cakkhuviññeyyehi rūpehi, nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso.

they’re called a mendicant who is freed from sights known by the eye. They’re 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 …pe…

There are sounds … smells … tastes … touches …

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

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 mutto manoviññeyyehi dhammehi, nāvāsagato mārassa, na mārassa vasaṁ gato, ummukkassa mārapāso.

they’re called a mendicant who is freed from ideas known by the mind. They’re 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.”

Dutiyaṁ.

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