Māra's daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust try to seduce the Buddha with beauty and allure; he teaches them on the dangers of form, feeling, and the path of those freed from sensuality, leaving them defeated.

SN 4.25 Māra’s Daughters

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato santike imā nibbejanīyā gāthāyo abhāsitvā tamhā ṭhānā apakkamma bhagavato avidūre pathaviyaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno kaṭṭhena bhūmiṁ vilikhanto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

“Kenāsi dummano tāta,
purisaṁ kaṁ nu socasi;
Mayaṁ taṁ rāgapāsena,
āraññamiva kuñjaraṁ;
Bandhitvā ānayissāma,
vasago te bhavissatī”ti.

“Arahaṁ sugato loke,
na rāgena suvānayo;
Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,
tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan”ti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti. Atha kho bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ: “uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā. Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti. Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ: “uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā. Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti. Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti. Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti. Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe… yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā …pe… anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti. Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe… mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe… anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma etadavocuṁ: “saccaṁ kira no pitā avoca:

‘Arahaṁ sugato loke,
na rāgena suvānayo;
Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,
tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan’ti.

Yañhi mayaṁ samaṇaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ avītarāgaṁ iminā upakkamena upakkameyyāma hadayaṁ vāssa phaleyya, uṇhaṁ lohitaṁ mukhato uggaccheyya, ummādaṁ pāpuṇeyya cittakkhepaṁ vā. Seyyathā pana naḷo harito luto ussussati visussati milāyati; evameva ussusseyya visusseyya milāyeyyā”ti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho taṇhā māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Sokāvatiṇṇo nu vanamhi jhāyasi,
Vittaṁ nu jīno uda patthayāno;
Āguṁ nu gāmasmimakāsi kiñci,
Kasmā janena na karosi sakkhiṁ;
Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci te”ti.

“Atthassa pattiṁ hadayassa santiṁ,
Jetvāna senaṁ piyasātarūpaṁ;
Ekohaṁ jhāyaṁ sukhamanubodhiṁ,
Tasmā janena na karomi sakkhiṁ;
Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci me”ti.

Atha kho arati māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Kathaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,
Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;
Kathaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,
Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.

“Passaddhakāyo suvimuttacitto,
Asaṅkharāno satimā anoko;
Aññāya dhammaṁ avitakkajhāyī,
Na kuppati na sarati na thino.

Evaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,
Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;
Evaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,
Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.

Atha kho ragā māradhītā bhagavato santike gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Acchejja taṇhaṁ gaṇasaṅghacārī,
Addhā carissanti bahū ca saddhā;
Bahuṁ vatāyaṁ janataṁ anoko,
Acchejja nessati maccurājassa pāran”ti.

“Nayanti ve mahāvīrā,
saddhammena tathāgatā;
Dhammena nayamānānaṁ,
usūyā vijānatan”ti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu. Addasā kho māro pāpimā taṇhañca aratiñca ragañca māradhītaro dūratova āgacchantiyo. Disvāna gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“Bālā kumudanāḷehi,
pabbataṁ abhimatthatha;
Giriṁ nakhena khanatha,
ayo dantehi khādatha.

Selaṁva sirasūhacca,
pātāle gādhamesatha;
Khāṇuṁva urasāsajja,
nibbijjāpetha gotamā”ti.

“Daddallamānā āgañchuṁ,
taṇhā ca aratī ragā;
tattha panudī satthā,
tūlaṁ bhaṭṭhaṁva māluto”ti.

Tatiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sambahulā samiddhi ca,
Godhikaṁ sattavassāni;
Dhītaraṁ desitaṁ buddha,
Seṭṭhena imaṁ mārapañcakanti.

Mārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho māro pāpimā bhagavato santike imā nibbejanīyā gāthāyo abhāsitvā tamhā ṭhānā apakkamma bhagavato avidūre pathaviyaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno kaṭṭhena bhūmiṁ vilikhanto.

And then Māra the Wicked, after reciting these verses of disillusionment in the Buddha’s presence, left that place. He sat cross-legged on the ground not far from the Buddha, silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, scratching the ground with a stick.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to Māra the Wicked, and addressed him in verse:

“Kenāsi dummano tāta,

“Why so downhearted, dad?

purisaṁ kaṁ nu socasi;

What man are you upset about?

Mayaṁ taṁ rāgapāsena,

We’ll catch him with the snare of lust,

āraññamiva kuñjaraṁ;

like an elephant in the wild.

Bandhitvā ānayissāma,

We’ll tie him up and bring him back—

vasago te bhavissatī”ti.

he’ll fall under your sway!”

“Arahaṁ sugato loke,

“In this world he is the perfected one, the Holy One.

na rāgena suvānayo;

He’s not easily seduced by lust.

Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,

He has slipped free of Māra’s dominion;

tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan”ti.

that’s why I’m so upset.”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to the Buddha, and said to him,

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”

Atha kho bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

But the Buddha ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ:

Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side to think up a plan.

“uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā.

“Men have a diverse spectrum of tastes.

Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.

Why don’t we each manifest in the form of a hundred young maidens?”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ kumārivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

So that’s what they did. Then they went up to the Buddha and said to him,

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”

Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma evaṁ samacintesuṁ:

Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side to think up a plan.

“uccāvacā kho purisānaṁ adhippāyā.

“Men have a diverse spectrum of tastes.

Yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.

Why don’t we each manifest in the form of a hundred women who have never given birth?”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekasataṁ ekasataṁ avijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

So that’s what they did. Then they went up to the Buddha and said to him,

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

“We serve at your feet, ascetic.”

Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust …

yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

sakiṁ vijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

each manifested in the form of a hundred women who have given birth once …

“pāde te, samaṇa, paricāremā”ti.

Tampi bhagavā na manasākāsi, yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

yannūna mayaṁ ekasataṁ ekasataṁ duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

duvijātavaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe…

women who have given birth twice …

yathā taṁ anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmā”ti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

majjhimitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā …pe…

middle-aged women …

anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimmineyyāmāti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca …pe…

mahitthivaṇṇasataṁ abhinimminitvā yena bhagavā …pe…

old women …

anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto.

But the Buddha still ignored them, since he was freed with the supreme ending of attachments.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro ekamantaṁ apakkamma etadavocuṁ:

Then Craving, Malignancy, and Lust withdrew to one side and said,

“saccaṁ kira no pitā avoca:

“What our father said is true:

‘Arahaṁ sugato loke,

‘In this world he is the perfected one, the Holy One.

na rāgena suvānayo;

He’s not easily seduced by lust.

Māradheyyaṁ atikkanto,

He has slipped free of Māra’s dominion;

tasmā socāmahaṁ bhusan’ti.

that’s why I’m so upset.’

Yañhi mayaṁ samaṇaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ avītarāgaṁ iminā upakkamena upakkameyyāma hadayaṁ vāssa phaleyya, uṇhaṁ lohitaṁ mukhato uggaccheyya, ummādaṁ pāpuṇeyya cittakkhepaṁ vā.

For if we had come on to any ascetic or brahmin like this who was not free of lust, his heart would explode, or he’d spew hot blood from his mouth, or he’d go mad or lose his mind.

Seyyathā pana naḷo harito luto ussussati visussati milāyati;

He’d dry up, wither away, and shrivel up like a green reed that was mowed down.”

evameva ussusseyya visusseyya milāyeyyā”ti.

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to the Buddha, and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho taṇhā māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Māra’s daughter Craving addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Sokāvatiṇṇo nu vanamhi jhāyasi,

“Are you swamped by sorrow that you meditate in the forest?

Vittaṁ nu jīno uda patthayāno;

Have you lost a fortune, or do you long for one?

Āguṁ nu gāmasmimakāsi kiñci,

Or perhaps you’ve committed some crime in the village?

Kasmā janena na karosi sakkhiṁ;

Why don’t you get too close to people?

Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci te”ti.

And why does no-one get close to you?”

“Atthassa pattiṁ hadayassa santiṁ,

“I’ve reached the goal, peace of heart.

Jetvāna senaṁ piyasātarūpaṁ;

Having conquered the army of the likable and pleasant,

Ekohaṁ jhāyaṁ sukhamanubodhiṁ,

alone, practicing absorption, I awakened to bliss.

Tasmā janena na karomi sakkhiṁ;

That’s why I don’t get too close to people,

Sakkhī na sampajjati kenaci me”ti.

and no-one gets too close to me.”

Atha kho arati māradhītā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Māra’s daughter Malignancy addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Kathaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,

“How does a mendicant who has crossed five floods

Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;

usually meditate here while crossing the sixth?

Kathaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,

How do they usually practice absorption so that sensual perceptions

Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.

are blocked out and don’t get hold of them?”

“Passaddhakāyo suvimuttacitto,

“With tranquil body and mind well freed,

Asaṅkharāno satimā anoko;

without making choices, mindful, homeless;

Aññāya dhammaṁ avitakkajhāyī,

understanding the teaching, they practice absorption without placing the mind;

Na kuppati na sarati na thino.

they’re not shaking or drifting or rigid.

Evaṁvihārībahulodha bhikkhu,

That’s how a mendicant who has crossed five floods

Pañcoghatiṇṇo atarīdha chaṭṭhaṁ;

usually meditates here while crossing the sixth.

Evaṁ jhāyiṁ bahulaṁ kāmasaññā,

That’s how they usually practice absorption so that sensual perceptions

Paribāhirā honti aladdha yo tan”ti.

are blocked out and don’t get hold of them.”

Atha kho ragā māradhītā bhagavato santike gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Māra’s daughter Lust addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Acchejja taṇhaṁ gaṇasaṅghacārī,

“He lives with his community after cutting off craving,

Addhā carissanti bahū ca saddhā;

and many of the faithful will cross over for sure.

Bahuṁ vatāyaṁ janataṁ anoko,

Alas, this homeless one will snatch many men away,

Acchejja nessati maccurājassa pāran”ti.

and lead them past the King of Death!”

“Nayanti ve mahāvīrā,

“The great heroes they lead

saddhammena tathāgatā;

by means of the true teaching.

Dhammena nayamānānaṁ,

When the Realized Ones are leading by the teaching,

usūyā vijānatan”ti.

how could anyone who knows be jealous?”

Atha kho taṇhā ca arati ca ragā ca māradhītaro yena māro pāpimā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.

Then Māra’s daughters Craving, Malignancy, and Lust went up to Māra the Wicked.

Addasā kho māro pāpimā taṇhañca aratiñca ragañca māradhītaro dūratova āgacchantiyo.

Māra the Wicked saw them coming off in the distance,

Disvāna gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

and addressed them in verse:

“Bālā kumudanāḷehi,

“Fools! You drill into a mountain

pabbataṁ abhimatthatha;

with lotus stalks!

Giriṁ nakhena khanatha,

You dig up a hill with your nails!

ayo dantehi khādatha.

You chew iron with your teeth!

Selaṁva sirasūhacca,

You seek a footing in the abyss, as it were,

pātāle gādhamesatha;

while lifting a rock with your head!

Khāṇuṁva urasāsajja,

After attacking a stump with your breast, as it were,

nibbijjāpetha gotamā”ti.

you leave Gotama disappointed.”

“Daddallamānā āgañchuṁ,

They came dazzling—

taṇhā ca aratī ragā;

Craving, Malignancy, and Lust.

tattha panudī satthā,

But the Teacher brushed them off right there,

tūlaṁ bhaṭṭhaṁva māluto”ti.

like the gale, a fallen tuft.

Tatiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sambahulā samiddhi ca,

Godhikaṁ sattavassāni;

Dhītaraṁ desitaṁ buddha,

Seṭṭhena imaṁ mārapañcakanti.

Mārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses with Māra are complete.

Topics & Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Passion

Passion

Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Last updated on July 27, 2026