SN 5.7 With Upacālā

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho upacālā bhikkhunī pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā …pe…

Then the nun Upacālā robed up in the morning …

aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdi.

and sat at the root of a tree for the day’s meditation.

Atha kho māro pāpimā yena upacālā bhikkhunī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā upacālaṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca:

Then Māra the Wicked went up to Upacālā and said to her,

“kattha nu tvaṁ, bhikkhuni, uppajjitukāmā”ti?

“Nun, where do you want to be reborn?”

“Na khvāhaṁ, āvuso, katthaci uppajjitukāmā”ti.

“I don’t want to be reborn anywhere, sir.”

“Tāvatiṁsā ca yāmā ca,

“There are the gods of the thirty-three, and those of Yama;

tusitā cāpi devatā;

also the Joyful Deities,

Nimmānaratino devā,

the gods who love to create,

ye devā vasavattino;

and the gods who control that imagined by others.

Tattha cittaṁ paṇidhehi,

Set your heart on such places,

ratiṁ paccanubhossasī”ti.

and you’ll undergo delight.”

“Tāvatiṁsā ca yāmā ca,

“The gods of the thirty-three, and those of Yama;

tusitā cāpi devatā;

also the Joyful Deities,

Nimmānaratino devā,

the gods who love to create,

ye devā vasavattino;

and the gods who control that imagined by others—

Kāmabandhanabaddhā te,

they’re bound with the bonds of sensuality;

enti māravasaṁ puna.

they fall under your sway again.

Sabbo ādīpito loko,

All the world is on fire,

sabbo loko padhūpito;

all the world is smoldering,

Sabbo pajjālito loko,

all the world is ablaze,

sabbo loko pakampito.

all the world is rocking.

Akampitaṁ apajjalitaṁ,

My mind adores that place

aputhujjanasevitaṁ;

where Māra cannot go;

Agati yattha mārassa,

it’s not shaking or burning,

tattha me nirato mano”ti.

and not frequented by ordinary people.”

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ upacālā bhikkhunī”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The nun Upacālā knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.