Māra the Wicked challenges the Buddha in verse on māra’s snares (2nd); the Teacher answers with wisdom and declares his defeat.

SN 4.5 Māra’s Snares (2nd)

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

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

“Muttāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbapāsehi ye dibbā ye ca mānusā. Tumhepi, bhikkhave, muttā sabbapāsehi ye dibbā ye ca mānusā.

Caratha, bhikkhave, cārikaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. ekena dve agamittha.

Desetha, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsetha. Santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā, assavanatā dhammassa parihāyanti. Bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro.

Ahampi, bhikkhave, yena uruvelā senānigamo tenupasaṅkamissāmi dhammadesanāyā”ti.

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

“Baddhosi sabbapāsehi,
ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;
Mahābandhanabaddhosi,
na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.

“Muttāhaṁ sabbapāsehi,
Ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;
Mahābandhanamuttomhi,
Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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:

“Muttāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbapāsehi ye dibbā ye ca mānusā.

“Mendicants, I am freed from all snares, both human and heavenly.

Tumhepi, bhikkhave, muttā sabbapāsehi ye dibbā ye ca mānusā.

You are also freed from all snares, both human and heavenly.

Caratha, bhikkhave, cārikaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ.

Wander forth, mendicants, for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

ekena dve agamittha.

Let not two go by one road.

Desetha, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsetha.

Teach the Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.

Santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā, assavanatā dhammassa parihāyanti.

There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They’re in decline because they haven’t heard the teaching.

Bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro.

There will be those who understand the teaching!

Ahampi, bhikkhave, yena uruvelā senānigamo tenupasaṅkamissāmi dhammadesanāyā”ti.

I will travel to the town of Senā in Uruvelā in order to teach the Dhamma.”

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 sabbapāsehi,

“You’re bound by all snares,

ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;

both human and heavenly.

Mahābandhanabaddhosi,

You’re bound by the great bond:

na me samaṇa mokkhasī”ti.

you won’t escape me, ascetic!”

“Muttāhaṁ sabbapāsehi,

“I’m freed from all snares,

Ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;

both human and heavenly.

Mahābandhanamuttomhi,

I’m freed from the great bonds;

Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

You’re beaten, terminator!”

Atha kho māro pāpimā …pe… tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra … 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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Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026