Māra the Wicked challenges the Buddha in verse on māra’s snares (1st); the Teacher answers with wisdom and declares his defeat.

SN 4.4 Māra’s Snares (1st)

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Mayhaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā yoniso sammappadhānā anuttarā vimutti anuppattā, anuttarā vimutti sacchikatā. Tumhepi, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā yoniso sammappadhānā anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ anupāpuṇātha, anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ sacchikarothā”ti.

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

“Baddhosi mārapāsena,
ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;
Mārabandhanabaddhosi,
na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.

“Muttāhaṁ mārapāsena,
Ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;
Mārabandhanamuttomhi,
Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Mendicants!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Mayhaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā yoniso sammappadhānā anuttarā vimutti anuppattā, anuttarā vimutti sacchikatā.

“Mendicants, I have attained and realized supreme freedom through rational application of mind and rational right effort.

Tumhepi, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā yoniso sammappadhānā anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ anupāpuṇātha, anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ sacchikarothā”ti.

You too should attain and realize supreme freedom through rational application of mind and rational right effort.”

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:

“Baddhosi mārapāsena,

“You’re bound by Māra’s snares,

ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;

both human and heavenly.

Mārabandhanabaddhosi,

You’re bound by Māra’s bonds:

na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.

you won’t escape me, ascetic!”

“Muttāhaṁ mārapāsena,

“I’m freed from Māra’s snares,

Ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;

both human and heavenly.

Mārabandhanamuttomhi,

I’m freed from Māra’s bonds.

Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

You’re beaten, terminator!”

Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra … vanished right there.

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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Right effort

Right effort

Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma, padhāna
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026