While the Buddha teaches with a lion's roar among mendicants, Māra challenges him in verse; the Buddha answers, declaring the defeat of the Wicked One.

SN 4.12 Lion

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti.

Atha kho mārassa pāpimato etadahosi: “ayaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti. Yannūnāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkameyyaṁ vicakkhukammāyā”ti.

Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Kinnu sīhova nadasi,
parisāyaṁ visārado;
Paṭimallo hi te atthi,
vijitāvī nu maññasī”ti.

“Nadanti ve mahāvīrā,
parisāsu visāradā;
Tathāgatā balappattā,
tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti.

Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.

Atha kho mārassa pāpimato etadahosi:

Then Māra thought,

“ayaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti.

“The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.

Yannūnāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkameyyaṁ vicakkhukammāyā”ti.

Why don’t I go and pull the wool over their eyes?”

Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

“Kinnu sīhova nadasi,

“Why now do you roar like a lion?

parisāyaṁ visārado;

You’re so self-assured in the assembly!

Paṭimallo hi te atthi,

For there is someone who’ll wrestle with you,

vijitāvī nu maññasī”ti.

so why do you imagine you’re the victor?”

“Nadanti ve mahāvīrā,

“The great heroes they roar,

parisāsu visāradā;

self-assured in the assemblies.

Tathāgatā balappattā,

The Realized One, attained to power,

tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.

has crossed over clinging to the world.”

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.

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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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026