Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
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.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
So I have heard.
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.
Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind,
“I am truly freed from that grueling work!
Thank goodness I’m freed from that pointless grueling work.
Thank goodness I’m freed and have attained awakening.”
And then Māra the Wicked, knowing the Buddha’s train of thought, went up to him and addressed him in verse:
“You’ve left the practice of mortification
by which sons of men purify themselves.
You’re impure, but think yourself pure;
you’ve strayed from the path of purity.”
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:
“I realized that it’s pointless;
all that endless mortification
is as futile
as oars and rudder on dry land.
Ethics, immersion, and wisdom:
by developing this path to awakening
I attained ultimate purity.
You’re beaten, terminator!”
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.
Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:
“mutto vatamhi tāya dukkarakārikāya.
Sādhu mutto vatamhi tāya anatthasaṁhitāya dukkarakārikāya.
Sādhu vatamhi mutto bodhiṁ samajjhagan”ti.
Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“Tapokammā apakkamma,
yena sujjhanti māṇavā;
Asuddho maññasi suddho,
suddhimaggā aparaddho”ti.
Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:
“Anatthasaṁhitaṁ ñatvā,
yaṁ kiñci amaraṁ tapaṁ;
Sabbaṁ natthāvahaṁ hoti,
phiyārittaṁva dhammani.
Sīlaṁ samādhi paññañca,
Maggaṁ bodhāya bhāvayaṁ;
Pattosmi paramaṁ suddhiṁ,
Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.
Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti, dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.