Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta‘s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.
Then |Māra::embodiment of all forces that keeps beings trapped in the cycle of rebirth [māra]| the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he recited this verse in the Blessed One‘s presence:
“One with children delights because of children,
one with cattle delights in the same way because of cattle;
A person’s delight is due to |acquisitions::attachment, taking as mine, appropriation, sense of ownership, identification [upadhi]|,
without acquisitions, one does not delight.”
[The Blessed One]: “One with children |sorrows::grieves [socati]| because of children,
one with cattle sorrows in the same way because of cattle;
A person’s sorrow is due to acquisitions,
without acquisitions, one does not sorrow.”
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking, “The Blessed One knows me, the Well-Gone One knows me,” dejected and disappointed, disappeared right there.